For Indonesians, traditional foods certainly hold a special place in the heart. However, there is nothing wrong with trying foods from other countries, which can be equally delicious. Korean cuisine, for instance, has recently become very popular among young people.
South Korean foods offer a wide variety of flavours, ranging from savoury to sweet dishes.
So no need to worry, you can choose what appeals to your taste.
Curious about what these South Korean foods are?
Explore the list of foods below!
9 Must-Try South Korean Foods
Besides K-Drama and K-Pop, South Korea has many other fascinating cultural aspects to explore, including its traditional cuisines.
If you enjoy watching K-dramas, you have probably often found yourself craving the food shown in the series, as they look very appetizing.
Some popular foods associated with Korean culture include jjangmyeon, bibimbap, and kimbap.
1. Jajangmyeon
Jajangmyeon is a traditional South Korean noodle dish topped with a black soybean paste sauce.
For optimal taste, mix the noodles thoroughly with the black soybean sauce.
Additionally, you can also add side ingredients such as green vegetables, meat, or boiled eggs.
2. Bibimbap
The next South Korean dish is bibimbap, a rice-based meal.
Bibimbap is a classic Korean mixed rice dish, prepared by mixing rice with various toppings, such as meats and sauteed vegetables.
Then, the spicy sauce is added to the rice and topping mixture.
Therefore, one serving of bibimbap is usually sufficient to feel full.
3. Bulgogi
Bulgogi is a Korean dish made by seasoning beef.
After marinating, the beef is grilled until done.
Since it is made from beef, bulgogi is one of the high-protein foods.
4. Kimbap
Besides bibimbap, kimbap is another popular rice-based South Korean food.
At first glance, kimbap resembles the Japanese dish sushi.
However, it differs slightly in that it uses a wider variety of ingredients, including rice, seaweed, meat, carrots, cucumbers, and spinach.
5. Tteokbokki
If you want to enjoy spicy Korean dishes, you can try tteokbokki when exploring a Korean culinary festival.
Tteokbokki is a South Korean food made with rice cakes and served with spicy sauce, gochujang.
In addition to the spicy flavour of gochujang, you can taste the chewy texture of the rice cakes in tteokbokki.
6. Samgyetang
The next Korean dish is Samgyetang, made with a whole chicken rather than pieces.
Inside the whole chicken, additional ingredients are added, such as jujube (a South Asian fruit similar to a date), glutinous rice, garlic, and ginseng root.
7. Bungeoppang
Do you enjoy Korean snacks? Do not miss out on bungeoppang!
Bungeoppang is a Korean snack shaped like a fish. Bungeoppang is typically filled with sweet fillings, such as red bean paste, cream, and more.
In Korea, bungeoppang is typically sold from street stands at traditional markets.
8. Banana Milk
After discussing South Korean food, let’s move on to a popular Korean drink, banana milk.
Banana milk, as its name suggests, is made from milk and banana.
This Korean drink is commonly consumed by children. However, banana milk is also popular among adults, especially those who prefer sweet drinks.
9. Yuja Cha
In addition to banana milk, another popular Korean drink among fans of Korean culture is yuja cha.
The word “cha” means “tea” in Korean, so it refers to a traditional Korean tea.
Yuja cha is made from yuja, a Korean fruit, and is prepared by steeping it in hot water.
Yuja is classified as a citrus fruit, so it is similar to lemon and orange in Indonesia.
Therefore, yuja cha has a slightly tangy, yet refreshing flavour. Then, the brewed tea is often sweetened with honey.
That is the list of tasty Korean foods you can try at a Korean culinary festival.
During your culinary trip, you may feel thirsty while enjoying various foods.
Make sure to drink enough water to stay hydrated.
Therefore, you can prepare a 600-ml bottle of AQUA to accompany your culinary journey.
A 600-ml bottle of AQUA has convenient packaging, making it easy to carry anywhere.
The quality of AQUA is carefully preserved, as it is sourced with attention and care.
AQUA sources mineral water directly from nearby natural springs and delivers it through stainless steel pipes that resist corrosion, keeping it free of contamination.
Each 600-ml bottle of AQUA undergoes thorough research, packaging, and distribution, with strict procedures in place.
That being said, both the safety and purity of mineral water are well maintained.
So, do not forget to bring #AQUADULU along on your culinary adventure!
