K-Food, Markets & Cafes
(everything you need to know about Korean food and cafe culture)
Food is one of my favorite parts of traveling in South Korea. Korean food has become insanely popular around the world, but eating Korean food in Korea is a completely different experience.
You’ll find traditional markets filled with street food, entire restaurants specializing in one specific dish, Korean BBQ restaurants, seafood markets, convenience stores packed with all kinds of snacks, and cafes that can be entire experiences all on their own.
My biggest recommendation is to try dishes you’ve never had before. You can always find familiar foods in Korea, but part of the fun is ordering something simply because you’ve never seen it before. Whether you’re visiting Korea for the first time or returning for another trip, I recommend fitting in as many food stops, markets, and cafes as you can.
Must Try Korean Foods
Korean BBQ is one of the most popular food experiences. Instead of ordering a cooked meal, you’ll typically cook meat yourself on a grill built into the table. The most popular meat is samgyeopsal, or pork belly, as well as beef, and is usually eaten with side dishes like lettuce wraps, sauces, garlic, kimchi, etc.
Bibimbap is one of my favorites, and is basically a rice dish topped with vegetables, meat, egg, and other usually served with gochujang.
Mandu are Korean dumplings that can be steamed, boiled, fried, or served in soup. They’re an easy snack or meal and are especially good when you’re exploring traditional markets.
Jjajangmyeon is a Korean-Chinese noodle dish covered in a thick black bean sauce, but you’ll only find it in Korea. The best spot to have it is Incheon’s Chinatown.
Korean Convenience Stores might sound a little silly, but it’s definitely one that shouldn’t be overlooked. CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven are packed with surprisingly good (and cheap) Korean foods, and it’s a great way to try a variety of unique finds.
Best Korean Street Foods to Try
Korean street food is one of the easiest ways to experience Korea’s food culture, and there’s a seemingly endless amount of options when it comes to street food.
There’s almost always something new on the menu when walking down the street, but some classics that I always recommend trying include :
Hotteok is a Korean pancake that’s particularly popular and is usually filled with a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts or seeds before being fried on the outside.
Tteokbokki is one of Korea’s most popular street foods, and is chewy rice cakes served in a spicy, slightly sweet red sauce.
Tteokbokki is one of Korea’s most popular street foods, and is chewy rice cakes served in a spicy, slightly sweet red sauce.
Gimbap is another favorite of mine, and is made of rice with various fillings wrapped in seaweed and sliced into small pieces. It’s cheap & easy to eat on the go.
Best Traditional Markets in South Korea
Gwangjang Market in Seoul is one of the most famous traditional markets in Korea and a popular place for visitors to try Korean street food. Since becoming “Netflix famous”, most stalls are foreigner friendly and it’s one of the most touristy markets you’ll find.
Namdaemun Market is another famous market in Seoul and one of the largest traditional markets in the city, even my Grandma used to have a stall here. You’ll find everything from food to clothing, souvenirs and even household items.
If you’re visiting Busan, Jagalchi Market is one of the markets I’d recommend adding to your itinerary. It’s famous for fresh seafood and gives you a chance to experience a meal cooked right on the spot!
If you’ve never been to a traditional market before, I recommend walking around first and to see what you want to try. Stalls usually specialize in one or two foods, and some stalls will have seating while others don’t. I also recommend bringing cash just in case, but most places now accept cards.
Korean Cafe Culture
Korea’s cafe culture is one of the most surprising things to visitors. There are cafes everywhere, and they’re usually much more than just a place to grab coffee.
You can find cafes inside traditional hanoks, huge multi-story cafes, tiny neighborhood coffee shops, themed cafes, dessert cafes, character cafes, animal cafes, art cafes, poop cafes…really the list goes on.
If you’re a fan of cafes or just want to add some unique experiences while you’re in Korea, definitely leave some extra time to explore the local cafes.
If you’re wanting to visit unique cafes, there are several neighborhoods I’d recommend exploring specifically for their cafes.
Ikseon-dong is known for its hanok cafes and cozy atmospheres.
Seongsu is one of the best neighborhoods for trendy cafes, pop-ups, and large concept spaces.
Hongdae has a huge variety of cafes, including themed cafes, animal cafes, and dessert cafes.
Unique Food Experiences in Korea
Korean Cooking Class
Taking a Korean cooking class is a great way to learn how some of your favorite dishes are made, and this way you’ll know how to make it when you get back home.
Depending on the class, you could learn how to make kimchi, bibimbap, Korean pancakes, and traditional dishes and banchans.
Visit a Traditional Tea House
A traditional tea experience is a great option if you want something quieter, slower, and more cultural.
Visit a Korean Bakery
Korean bakeries have become increasingly popular, and many offer a mix of traditional Korean flavors and modern pastries.
You’ll find everything from salt bread and cream-filled pastries to cakes, croissants, and seasonal desserts. From time to time there’ll be a new viral sensations, and you’ll likely see the lines coming from the bakeries.
NANTA Cooking Show
Located in Myeongdong, this non-verbal show is the perfect indoor activity. You won’t actually do any cooking or eating yourself, but after watching it last summer I can definitely say it’s a unique experience that’ll have you laughing quite a bit.
Eating in South Korea, Some Tips
Eating out in Korea isn’t as hard as many people think. You don’t need to find the highest-rated restaurant in every city to have a great meal, or to avoid getting sick like in some countries.
Some of the best restaurants are small, local businesses that specialize in one particular dish.
I always say if a restaurant is packed with locals, then that’s usually a pretty good sign. Same with street vendors and street food.
If you want to check reviews first, NAVER Map is my go-to app for reviews and photos.
