Kimchi
Often eaten: With every meal
Known for: Throughout Korea
Everyday meal
Photo: Gaรซl Chardon (CC BY-SA 2.0)
3 dishes to discover
Food of South Korea
South Korea is famous for its delicious and diverse food. Meals are shared with family and friends, and they often come with lots of small side dishes called 'banchan'. These dishes are meant to be shared, making dining in South Korea a fun and friendly experience.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In South Korea, meals are a wonderful way to connect with family and friends. People often sit together and share multiple dishes, called 'banchan', which makes every meal feel like a special gathering.
Eating Etiquette
In South Korea, it's respectful to wait for the eldest person to start eating before you do. When eating rice and soup, people use spoons, but chopsticks are used for most other dishes. Saying '์ ๋จน๊ฒ ์ต๋๋ค' (jal meokgesseumnida) before eating shows gratitude.
When People Eat It
Bibimbap
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Jeonju, North Jeolla Province
Everyday meal
Tteokbokki
Often eaten: Snack or street food
Known for: Seoul, especially Sindang-dong
Street food
Make It Yourself
๐ฉโ๐ณ Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Kimchi๊น์น
Makes 1 large jarIngredients
- 1 large headNapa cabbage
- 1/4 cup (70 g)Salt
- 3 tbspKorean chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 4 cloves, 1 tbspGarlic and ginger
- 3 stalksGreen onions
- 1 tspSugar
How to Make It
- 1Cut the cabbage into chunks and toss with salt. Let it sit for 2 hours, then rinse and drain.
- 2Mix the chili flakes, garlic, ginger, sugar, and a little water into a red paste.
- 3Wearing gloves, rub the paste all over the cabbage.
- 4Add the chopped green onions and mix.
- 5Pack it tightly into a clean jar, pressing down.
- 6Leave it at room temperature for 1โ2 days, then chill โ Korea's famous fermented side dish.
Bibimbap๋น๋น๋ฐฅ
Makes 2 bowlsIngredients
- 2 cups (370 g)Cooked rice
- 1 cup eachCarrot, spinach, mushrooms
- 1/2 cup (75 g)Beef strips (optional)
- 2 eggsEggs
- 2 tbspGochujang (chili paste)
- 1 tbspSesame oil
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to lightly cook each vegetable separately and season with sesame oil.
- 2Cook the beef strips quickly in a hot pan, if using.
- 3Scoop warm rice into each bowl.
- 4Arrange the vegetables and beef in neat sections on top of the rice.
- 5Fry an egg and place it in the center.
- 6Add a spoonful of gochujang and mix it all together before eating.
Tteokbokki๋ก๋ณถ์ด
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)Rice cakes (tteok)
- 2 tbspGochujang (chili paste)
- 1 tbspSugar
- 1 cupFish cakes, sliced
- 2 stalksGreen onion
- 2 cups (475 ml)Water
How to Make It
- 1Soak the rice cakes in warm water for 10 minutes if they are firm.
- 2Ask a grown-up to bring the water to a simmer in a pan.
- 3Stir in the gochujang and sugar to make a red sauce.
- 4Add the rice cakes and fish cakes.
- 5Simmer for about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens and coats the rice cakes.
- 6Sprinkle with green onion โ a chewy Korean street snack (use less paste for milder heat).
Vocabulary
Imagine you always eat with your family, but each time, instead of just one big dish, you have lots of little dishes to share together. It's a fun and tasty way to enjoy meals every day!