Korean Dishes

Samgyeopsal

Fatty slices of pork belly grilled before your nose is a South Korean foodie favorite. A few slabs of this ultra-tasty pork along with garnishes of lettuce leaves, garlic and chili paste, and you’ve got a flavor to cherish.It’s not the healthiest South Korean food, but if you are a lover of pig,samgyeopsal is something you can’t miss eating when you’re in Korea!

Cost – about 8,000 Won ($7.00) per plate

Spicy Stir Fried Octopus (Nakji Bokkeum)

Koreans have a love affair with octopus. While I wasn’t able to try the famous live squirming octopus tentacles while in South Korea, I was able to get a taste of chopped octopus stir fried with a few assorted vegetables in red chili paste.The flavor reminded me of Thai pad prik gaeng, heavy on the sweet red Korean chili paste.

Cost – 7,000 – 10,000 Won ($6.14 – $8.77)

Korean Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang 설렁탕)

Ox bones simmered on low heat for hours and hours is the highlight of Korean seolleongtang. The dish is served plain, a few light noodles, slices of beef and green onions.The broth is delivered to you unsalted and unseasoned so it’s up to you to add salt, pepper, chili paste and extra green onions to your own taste.

Cost – 5,000 – 6,000 Won ($4.39 – $5.26)

Pork Bulgogi (Daeji Bulgogi )

Another famous Korean specialty barbecued meat is known as Bulgogi. While it’s normally made from beef, bulgogi can also be made with thin strips of pork or chicken.Before the meat is grilled, it’s marinated in sweet soy sauce with lots of garlic and sesame oil. The version I ate above was from the New Valley restaurant in Seoul that specializes in pork bulgogi known as Dwaeji Bulgogi.As a Thai meat lover, this daeji bulgogi was a dish I couldn’t get enough of – highly recommended!Cost – around 8,000 ($7.00) Won per plate

Chili Pickled Cabbage (Kimchi )

There are many different kinds of kimchi, the most common version is made with napa cabbage that is preserved and lightly fermented in bright red chili flakes. Love kimchi and you’re on your way to being a Korean food connoisseur!

Cost – comes free nearly every restaurant you eat , but a huge sack of homemade kimchi to eat with rice for 5,000 Won ($4.39) – it must have been 1.5 kilos!