Korean entertainment and fashion have been sweeping across the West in recent years — but what about cuisine? While you might have tried a recipe or two at home, Korean food is at its absolute best when you sample authentic dishes in Korea itself. Several of us have been to Korea many times, and it's safe to say we've built up a menu of favourites we think you'll want to check out on your next trip out East.
In this guide, we'll take you through the best food to eat in Korea and what to expect, along with essential tips on making the most of your culinary journey. Always make sure you have an eSIM for South Korea loaded up and ready to go — that way, if you want to look up restaurants or find street food stalls nearby, you won't have to worry about roaming bills or hunting for WiFi hotspots.
Why Korean food is loved worldwide
K-Food is something of a new phenomenon in Western kitchens, with fermented dishes such as kimchi flying off supermarket shelves in the UK and beyond. Palates are opening up more and more to Korean cuisine thanks to its expert balance of sweet and salty — while being packed with lean protein and nutrients that genuinely fill you up.
From crispy seaweed to doenjang, gochujang, dalgona, and hotteok, there are plenty of savoury, sweet, salty, and crunchy dishes turning heads in the West — but the absolute best way to sample these treats is to head to Korea. There's a burgeoning street food scene alongside traditional restaurants, meaning if you're looking for a foodie adventure that breaks free from the same old routine, Korea deserves to be high on your travel bucket list.
Best food to try in Korea
After checking in with the Korea travellers among the SIMOVO crew, we narrowed down our favourite Korean food to five key dishes and dining styles you'll want to prioritise when you visit — Korean BBQ, bibimbap, tteokbokki, kimchi, and japchae.
[numbered title="Korean BBQ" pill="Shared table grill experience"]A social dining experience unlike anything in the West — meat cooked on a hot plate built into your table, with beef ribs, pork, and vegetables, often prepared by a chef who comes to cook for you.[/numbered] [numbered title="Bibimbap" pill="Classic rice bowl"]Warm rice topped with vegetables, beans, seaweed, and occasionally meat — served super-hot and mixed with chilli paste or sesame oil to taste. A genuine Korean classic.[/numbered] [numbered title="Tteokbokki" pill="Chewy rice cake snack"]Chewy, pasta-style rice cakes sold at street food stalls or served in sauce — an acquired taste for some, but a firm favourite with most of the SIMOVO team.[/numbered] [numbered title="Kimchi" pill="Fermented vegetable staple"]The Korean classic — fermented cabbage, radish, ginger, and garlic with remarkable health benefits. A side dish rather than a main, though it also forms the base of deeply warming stews.[/numbered] [numbered title="Japchae" pill="Sweet potato glass noodles"]Known as glass noodles for their translucent appearance — a stir-fry staple made from sweet potato starch, typically served with meat and vegetables and finished with toasted sesame oil.[/numbered]Korean BBQ
Korean BBQ is quite a lot different from what you'd normally fire up on the grill at home — even if you live in the US, UK, or Australia. It's a shared experience where you choose a variety of meats from a central hot plate. Korean BBQ restaurants usually have hot plates built directly into the dining tables, meaning the food comes to you. Beef ribs, pork, vegetables — at most restaurants, chefs will even come over and cook for you at the table.
Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a classic rice-based dish famous across Korea and beyond — typically made up of vegetables, beans, seaweed, and occasionally meat. If you're sampling a traditional version, you might even find a raw egg on top. Give it a try — it's a surprisingly good addition that caught even our most seasoned travellers off guard. Vegetables and meat are mixed into warm rice served piping hot, with chilli pastes or sesame oil added to taste.
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is a type of rice cake widely sold across Korea's street food scene, or served as part of a soup. It's a chewy, pasta-style snack that can also be cooked in sauce — an acquired taste for some palates, but a firm favourite with a good portion of the SIMOVO team. Rather than trying to make it yourself, make it a must-try at any street food vendor you come across. The fact that it's sold everywhere is testament to just how popular it is.
Kimchi
The Korean classic — kimchi has already made its way to Western supermarkets, but that's hardly the best way to enjoy it. Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish packed with health benefits, particularly for gut health. It's considered a side dish rather than a main course, though it also forms the base of deeply warming stews — though warming, kimchi stew can sometimes taste quite sour if you're not expecting it.
[tip title="Try kimchi at home before you travel"]Kimchi is now widely available at Korean restaurants and supermarkets in the UK. Trying it before you fly gives you a baseline for comparison — and makes it considerably easier to appreciate the quality difference when you're eating the real thing in Seoul.[/tip]Japchae
Japchae is known as glass noodles — take one look at them and you'll see why. Typically served with various meats as a side dish, this stir-fry staple is made from sweet potato starch (dangmyeon) and is one of those dishes that's deeply satisfying in a quiet, understated way. Like most of the tastiest Korean dishes, japchae is best served with a stack of vegetables and toasted sesame oil — a real warming, nutty taste that lingers long after the last bite.
Street food culture in Korea
If there's one thing the SIMOVO team agrees on when it comes to Korean food, it's that you should always make room for street food in your Korea itinerary.
[tip title="Mark Wiens' Korean street food guide is a brilliant starting point"]Mark Wiens' guide to Korean street food is an excellent starting point if you're looking to sample the best cuisine that vendors across Seoul and beyond have to offer. Bookmark it before you travel and use it to map out a proper street food route.[/tip]Street food in Korea tends to lean toward the snacky end of the spectrum — filling enough to keep you going, but portioned for grazing rather than full meals. That's your excuse to try multiple things at once. From deep-fried dumplings and tteokbokki to tornado potatoes and Korean hot dogs, map out a journey through the streets across a week or so and work through the menu methodically.
Food tips for travelling in Korea
Here are a few must-dos when you go looking for food in Korea on your next trip.
[tip title="No tipping — the service is always included in the bill"]Regardless of where you eat in Korea — street food stall, traditional restaurant, or upmarket venue — you'll pay for the service in the final bill. There is no tipping culture. Don't leave extra money on the table; it can cause confusion.[/tip] [tip title="Always trust the crowds"]The busier the stand or restaurant, the better the quality of the food. In Korea, a queue is a reliable signal that a vendor is trusted — not just popular. And queues at street food stalls move fast.[/tip] [tip title="Use Naver alongside Google for restaurant reviews"]Naver is Korea's main search engine and gives more accurate and up-to-date information on local eateries than Google. Always check Naver first for reviews, opening hours, and directions — then cross-reference with Google for a balanced picture of ratings and opinions.[/tip] [tip title="Compare prices between stalls and restaurants"]While most Korean street food and casual dining is very affordable, some eateries in popular tourist areas are priced considerably higher. Take a few minutes to compare prices between stands and restaurants before committing — particularly in busy districts like Myeongdong.[/tip] [esim flag="🇰🇷" label="South Korea" data="10GB · 30 days" price="£10" href="/products/south-korea" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Find the best food in Korea without roaming charges[/esim] [faq] [q]What is the best food to eat in Korea?[/q] [a]The five best dishes to try in Korea are Korean BBQ (a shared table grill experience unlike anything in the West), bibimbap (warm mixed rice bowl with vegetables and chilli paste), tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes sold widely at street food stalls), kimchi (the fermented vegetable staple at the heart of Korean cuisine), and japchae (glass noodles made from sweet potato starch, stir-fried with vegetables and sesame oil). Together they give a comprehensive introduction to what Korean food does best.[/a] [q]What is Korean BBQ?[/q] [a]Korean BBQ is a style of dining in which diners grill their own meat — typically beef ribs, pork belly (samgyeopsal), and vegetables — on a hot plate built into the dining table. It is a deeply social experience, usually enjoyed with friends or family over an extended meal. At many Korean BBQ restaurants, a chef will come to the table to cook the meat for you. It is typically served with kimchi, sesame oil, garlic, and soybean paste, and wrapped in lettuce leaves.[/a] [q]What is japchae?[/q] [a]Japchae is a traditional Korean stir-fried noodle dish made from dangmyeon — sweet potato starch noodles that become semi-transparent when cooked, giving them the nickname "glass noodles." It is typically stir-fried with a colourful selection of vegetables, sliced beef or other meat, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Japchae has a subtly sweet, nutty flavour and a pleasingly chewy texture. It is served as a side dish or a main at Korean restaurants and is one of the most widely loved dishes in the country.[/a] [q]What is the best street food in Korea?[/q] [a]The best street food in Korea includes tteokbokki (spiced chewy rice cakes), gimbap (savoury seaweed rolls), Korean hot dogs (fried battered sausages, often coated in sugar), tornado potatoes (spiral-cut potatoes on a skewer), deep-fried dumplings (mandu), and hotteok (sweet filled pancakes). The best street food districts in Seoul include Myeongdong Night Market, Gwanjang Market, and the Hongdae neighbourhood.[/a] [q]Do you tip at restaurants in Korea?[/q] [a]No — tipping is not part of Korean dining culture. The service charge is always included in the final bill, and leaving extra money on the table can cause confusion or embarrassment. This applies to restaurants, street food stalls, cafes, and all other food and drink venues throughout South Korea.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for South Korea?[/q] [a]A SIMOVO South Korea eSIM is one of the most practical additions to any Korea food trip. At £10 for 10GB over 30 days, it lets you search Naver for restaurant reviews, navigate between street food districts, check vendor opening times, and stay connected throughout your stay — without roaming charges or the need to rely on restaurant WiFi.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇰🇷" label="South Korea" data="10GB · 30 days" price="£10" href="/products/south-korea" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Find the best food in Korea without roaming charges[/esim]
