May 163 min read

My Go-To Foods in Korea

Korea has so much incredible food to choose from, and I loved everything I ate. These are some of my consistent favorites. When I ordered food to my apartment or went out with my friends, these are the foods I got weekly and could never get sick of.

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken in Korea rivals southern fried chicken in the U.S. due to the exchange of cultures during the Korean War. African American soldiers were the ones that passed their love of fried chicken to the Koreans, and now Korean fried chicken has taken on a life of its own! Many chains across Korea give fried chicken an Asian twist with Korean seasonings and sauces. My personal favorite was 처갓집(cheogatjip) fried chicken. There was a shop around the corner from my apartment with the absolute nicest owners. I would order just classic fried chicken with no sauce, and I loved that it came with fried tteok (rice cakes). It also came with a large Pepsi that I would drink for days! The breasts and thighs are cut into in a lot more pieces than typical U.S. fried chicken, making it easier to eat and share.

Sweet and Sour Pork

A box with sweer and sour pork, a container of sweet and sour sauce, a pepsi bottle, and radishes

I’ve gotten sweet and sour pork (탕수육) from many different places, and it’s always consistently good. This and 짜장면 (a noodle dish with a thick, dark pork and vegetable sauce) are the two Chinese-Korean dishes that I consistently ordered. The sweet and sour pork in Korea has a thinner batter to its U.S. counterpart and a more natural sauce filled with vegetables.

Sushi

I love sushi, and I love variety. In the areas I lived in Ulsan and Bucheon, most sushi around town was just simple nigiris. But every now and then I would find something more exciting. I had a few restaurants on my take-out rotation with great rolls and variety packs of sushi. One of my favorites in Bucheon (pictured) had fried shrimp, raw beef (another separate dish that I really love), and various cooked and raw fish. I would also sometimes order just a platter of salmon sashimi and 육회 (yukhoe - seasoned raw beef). While I probably should’ve gotten some side dishes or rice, I was obsessed with just gorging on the salmon and beef alone.

A tray with five types of raw fish sashimi

Korean BBQ

A table full of side dishes including lettuce, bean sprouts, and kimchi along with meat and garlic on a grill

An empty charcoal grill at a table with various raw meats and side dishes

I’ve had many different types of Korean BBQ. Each place has their own special meats, seasonings, and sides. Typically you get some sort of soup, rice, lettuce, garlic, radishes, and various vegetables. Meats are typically pork and beef, but I’ve also had duck and pig intestines. You cook the meat yourself at your table. Some of my favorite places were mom and pop shops with old couples making some of the best food for insanely good prices. My friends and I would feast on meat, 반찬 (banchan - side dishes), 김치찌개 (kimchi-jjigae - kimchi soup), and 계란찜 (gyeranjjim - steamed eggs) for usually only around 11,000 won per person which is currently about $8 USD. In Haeundae, we went to an all-you-can-eat BBQ place with a great variety of meats for a great price, but we didn't find many all-you-can-eat places near us in Ulsan. Usually the price is per amount of meat you order. The side dishes and some soups come free, but you pay extra for heartier soups, rice, steamed eggs, and drinks.

Samgyeopsal (Pork Belly)

Pork belly, kimchi, lettuce, soup, garlic, and various extra sides and sauces at a kitchen table

Samgyeopsal (삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ staple and my favorite choice of meat. When you don’t want to cook it yourself you can also order delivery, which comes with all the sides. It usually comes with rice, various banchan, soup, and 쌈장 ( ssamjang - a spicy garlicky bean paste sauce). I've hooked my parents on pork belly and ssamjang, and now we buy slabs of it.

Hot Pot

A mid-sized pot on an electric burner filled with soup and a small bowl filled with some soup, beef, and noodles

I honestly didn’t eat a large variety of hot pot, but I had one go-to place when I was in the mood. This particular place was in the department store where I worked, Lotte Department Store in Ulsan, and I loved going there on my lunch breaks when I needed some warmth. This bowl has a broth of your choice, thinly sliced pork, noodles, mushrooms, and various vegetables. You also get an egg to crack into it. You add everything to the pot yourself and can adjust the heat. It is almost too much food for one person, but I managed to finish it every time. That soup is good for the soul and the body, just packed with nourishment. You can see on my placemat that this giant bowl of soup was just around 11,000 won or currently about $8 USD.