100 Korean foods, in one list

The 100 dishes that actually define eating in Korea — each with a one-line intro and official nutrition data from Korea's national food database (MFDS). For the full first-hand experience, see How to Eat Like a Local.

🥓 BBQ & Meat

삼겹살 · Samgyeopsal Thick-cut grilled pork belly — Korea's default BBQ night. 불고기 · Bulgogi Thin-sliced beef in a sweet soy marinade, grilled or pan-cooked. 갈비 · Galbi Beef short ribs in a soy-sugar marinade — celebration-tier Korean BBQ. 돼지갈비 · Dwaeji Galbi Sweet marinated pork ribs, grilled at the table. 떡갈비 · Tteokgalbi Grilled patties of minced rib meat — galbi flavor, no bones. 닭갈비 · Dakgalbi Spicy chicken stir-fried on a big iron plate — Chuncheon's signature. 제육볶음 · Jeyuk Bokkeum Spicy gochujang pork stir-fry — a lunch-set legend. 곱창구이 · Gopchang Gui Grilled beef small intestines — rich, chewy, beloved with soju. 육회 · Yukhoe Korean beef tartare with pear, sesame oil and egg yolk. 족발 · Jokbal Soy-braised pig's trotters, sliced and wrapped in lettuce.

🥘 Stews (Jjigae)

김치찌개 · Kimchi Jjigae Sour-aged kimchi stew, usually with pork — the national comfort food. 된장찌개 · Doenjang Jjigae Fermented soybean-paste stew with tofu and vegetables. 순두부찌개 · Sundubu Jjigae Bubbling soft-tofu stew, served with a raw egg to crack in. 부대찌개 · Budae Jjigae 'Army stew' — sausage, spam, ramyeon and kimchi in one pot. 청국장찌개 · Cheonggukjang Extra-funky fast-fermented soybean stew — smells bold, tastes deep. 감자탕 · Gamjatang Spicy pork backbone stew with potatoes and perilla seeds.

🍲 Soups & Hot Pots

삼계탕 · Samgyetang Whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng — summer stamina food. 설렁탕 · Seolleongtang Milky ox-bone broth you season yourself with salt and scallions. 갈비탕 · Galbitang Clear beef short-rib soup — the polite lunch of choice. 곰탕 · Gomtang Slow-simmered beef soup, clearer cousin of seolleongtang. 육개장 · Yukgaejang Fiery shredded-beef soup with fernbrake and scallions. 미역국 · Miyeokguk Seaweed soup — what every Korean eats on their birthday. 순대국 · Sundae Guk Hearty pork broth loaded with Korean blood sausage. 북어국 · Bugeoguk Dried-pollock soup — Korea's gentle hangover cure. 뼈다귀해장국 · Haejangguk Pork-bone 'hangover soup' — the heavy-duty morning-after fix. 콩나물국 · Kongnamul Guk Light soybean-sprout soup, a home-table regular. 떡국 · Tteokguk Sliced rice-cake soup — eat a bowl, turn a year older (New Year). 닭백숙 · Dak Baeksuk Whole chicken gently boiled with garlic — samgyetang's plainer sibling. 곱창전골 · Gopchang Jeongol Spicy intestine hot pot that bubbles at the table. 어묵탕 · Eomuk Tang Fish-cake skewer soup — the street-stall winter warmer.

🍚 Rice & Porridge

비빔밥 · Bibimbap Rice bowl with seasoned vegetables and gochujang — mix hard, then eat. 돌솥비빔밥 · Dolsot Bibimbap Bibimbap in a sizzling stone pot — the crispy rice is the prize. 김밥 · Gimbap Seaweed rice rolls — Korea's picnic and lunchbox default. 충무김밥 · Chungmu Gimbap Plain mini rolls served with spicy squid and radish — Tongyeong style. 김치볶음밥 · Kimchi Bokkeumbap Kimchi fried rice, best with a fried egg on top. 국밥 · Gukbap Rice in hot soup — fast, cheap, and deeply Korean. 콩나물국밥 · Kongnamul Gukbap Jeonju's bean-sprout soup-rice, famous as a morning reset. 회덮밥 · Hoedeopbap Raw fish over rice and greens, mixed with chili-vinegar sauce. 누룽지 · Nurungji Scorched rice — eaten crunchy or simmered into a toasty porridge. 전복죽 · Jeonbokjuk Abalone rice porridge — the get-well-soon luxury. 팥죽 · Patjuk Red-bean porridge, traditionally eaten on the winter solstice.

🍜 Noodles & Dumplings

라면 · Ramyeon Korean instant noodles — a national institution, not a backup meal. 물냉면 · Mul Naengmyeon Buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth — the post-BBQ finisher. 비빔냉면 · Bibim Naengmyeon Cold chewy noodles in sweet-spicy sauce — naengmyeon's fiery twin. 칼국수 · Kalguksu Knife-cut wheat noodles in anchovy or clam broth. 콩국수 · Kongguksu Noodles in chilled soy-milk broth — a summer-only obsession. 잔치국수 · Janchi Guksu 'Banquet noodles' in warm anchovy broth — simple and nostalgic. 막국수 · Makguksu Gangwon-do buckwheat noodles, cold and tangy. 쫄면 · Jjolmyeon Extra-chewy noodles in sweet-spicy sauce — a bunsik-shop staple. 수제비 · Sujebi Hand-torn dough flakes in broth — rainy-day comfort food. 고기만두 · Mandu Korean dumplings — steamed, fried or floated in soup. 잡채 · Japchae Sweet-potato glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and beef.

🥡 Korean-Chinese

짜장면 · Jjajangmyeon Black-bean sauce noodles — moving-day and delivery royalty. 짬뽕 · Jjamppong Spicy seafood noodle soup — jjajangmyeon's eternal rival. 탕수육 · Tangsuyuk Sweet-and-sour fried pork — the 'dip or pour' debate dish.

🍢 Street Food & Bunsik

떡볶이 · Tteokbokki Chewy rice cakes in sweet-spicy gochujang sauce. 라볶이 · Rabokki Tteokbokki plus ramyeon noodles — the best of both. 순대 · Sundae Korean blood sausage with glass noodles — dip it in seasoned salt. 호떡 · Hotteok Griddled pancake with molten brown-sugar filling — winter street gold. 계란빵 · Gyeranppang Warm mini bread with a whole egg baked on top. 핫도그 · Korean Corn Dog Crunchy-coated hot dog on a stick — sugar-dusted, sometimes all cheese. 닭꼬치 · Dak Kkochi Grilled chicken skewers brushed with sweet-spicy glaze. 돈가스 · Donkatsu Korean-style pork cutlet — thin, wide, and smothered in brown sauce.

🍗 Chicken

치킨 · Korean Fried Chicken Double-fried, shatter-crisp chicken — the heart of chimaek culture. 닭강정 · Dakgangjeong Bite-size crispy chicken in a sticky sweet glaze. 안동찜닭 · Jjimdak Andong-style braised chicken with glass noodles in soy sauce. 닭볶음탕 · Dak Bokkeumtang Spicy braised chicken with potatoes and carrots — a home classic.

🦀 Seafood

고등어구이 · Godeungeo Gui Grilled mackerel — the backbone of a Korean set meal. 갈치구이 · Galchi Gui Grilled hairtail — silver-skinned, delicate, a Jeju favorite. 장어구이 · Jangeo Gui Glazed grilled eel — Korea's classic stamina food. 간장게장 · Ganjang Gejang Raw crab cured in soy sauce — nicknamed 'the rice thief'. 양념게장 · Yangnyeom Gejang Raw crab in a spicy-sweet chili marinade. 아귀찜 · Agwijjim Spicy braised monkfish piled with crunchy bean sprouts. 낙지볶음 · Nakji Bokkeum Stir-fried baby octopus in fiery chili sauce. 주꾸미볶음 · Jjukkumi Bokkeum Spicy webfoot octopus stir-fry — spring's spiciest craving. 오징어볶음 · Ojingeo Bokkeum Spicy squid stir-fry, best over rice. 물회 · Mulhoe Chilled raw-fish soup in tangy broth — a coastal summer dish. 모듬회 · Hoe (Sashimi Platter) Korean-style raw fish platter — eaten with ssamjang and lettuce wraps. 해물탕 · Haemultang Spicy seafood hot pot loaded with crab, shrimp and clams.

🥞 Jeon (Savory Pancakes)

파전 · Pajeon Green-onion pancake — the official food of rainy days. 해물파전 · Haemul Pajeon Seafood-loaded scallion pancake, made for makgeolli. 김치전 · Kimchijeon Crispy pancake made from sour kimchi — zero waste, full flavor. 감자전 · Gamjajeon Grated-potato pancake — crisp edge, chewy center. 빈대떡 · Bindaetteok Mung-bean pancake with pork and sprouts — market-stall classic.

🥬 Kimchi & Banchan

배추김치 · Kimchi Fermented napa cabbage — the one dish on every Korean table. 깍두기 · Kkakdugi Cubed radish kimchi — crunchy, juicy, born for gukbap. 동치미 · Dongchimi Icy radish water-kimchi — drink the brine, that's the point. 파김치 · Pa Kimchi Green-onion kimchi — pungent, addictive, best with samgyeopsal. 오이소박이 · Oi Sobagi Stuffed cucumber kimchi — the crunchiest of the family. 콩나물무침 · Kongnamul Muchim Seasoned soybean sprouts — the most common banchan of all. 멸치볶음 · Myeolchi Bokkeum Sweet-savory stir-fried baby anchovies — a lunchbox regular. 두부김치 · Dubu Kimchi Warm tofu with stir-fried kimchi and pork — a top-tier anju. 도토리묵무침 · Dotorimuk Acorn jelly salad with soy-scallion dressing — wobbly and refreshing. 쌈장 · Ssamjang The BBQ wrap paste — doenjang and gochujang's perfect middle. 달걀말이 · Gyeran Mari Rolled omelette, often with vegetables or gim inside. 계란찜 · Gyeran Jjim Fluffy steamed egg in a hot ttukbaegi — the BBQ-house side hero.

🍧 Desserts & Drinks

팥빙수 · Patbingsu Shaved ice piled with sweet red beans and toppings. 약과 · Yakgwa Honey-soaked fried pastry — a traditional sweet back in fashion. 식혜 · Sikhye Sweet rice drink — the classic after-sauna refreshment. 인절미 · Injeolmi Chewy rice cake dusted in roasted soybean powder.