Eat Like a Korean (and Embrace the Spice)

Korean food is a flavor bomb—spicy, savory, sweet, and sour in every bite. From sizzling galbi (grilled ribs) to steaming seolleongtang (ox bone soup), meals here are an event. To eat authentically, skip touristy spots and hit a pojangmacha (street food tent) for eomuk (fish cakes), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and soju with chatty locals. Look for tents buzzing with ajummas or office workers for the real deal. No Korean fluency? No problem—many restaurants have picture menus, QR code translations, or tablet ordering with English options. Apps like Papago (use its camera feature) or Google Translate can crack handwritten menus.


Banchan (side dishes) are a Korean superpower—free, refillable, and endlessly varied, from kimchi to pickled radish. If spice isn’t your vibe, say “Maeun geo silhoyo” (I don’t like spicy), but brace for some heat anyway; spice is Korea’s love language. For milder eats, try bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) or japchae (sweet potato noodles). Dining etiquette matters: don’t leave chopsticks in rice (it mimics funeral rituals), and pour drinks for others first in group settings. For a fancy experience, book a hanjeongsik meal, a banquet of tiny dishes, or hit a gukbap joint for rice-in-soup comfort.

Markets like Seoul’s Namdaemun or Busan’s Jagalchi are foodie heavens. Dare to try sannakji (wriggling octopus) or fresh hoe (raw fish). Pair it with makgeolli (fizzy rice wine) or iconic banana milk. Fun fact: servers may snip your jeon (pancakes) with scissors—embrace the quirk. Vegetarians, use HappyCow to find plant-based spots, as meat rules traditional menus. With these tips, you’ll be grilling, slurping, and snacking like a Korean food influencer by week two.

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