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Lately, the world has witnessed the rise of the influence of South Korea’s culture. Called the Hallyu wave, everything from Korean music, Korean dramas, Korean beauty and skincare products have been all the rage globally. Korean cuisine is nowhere behind on this list. Everywhere, South Korean food is fast becoming the new favourite of people worldwide. Korean cuisine has people lining up to restaurants and ever-so-excitedly trying new dishes. We bring you some of the must-try top dishes from Korean cuisine for you to relish and treat your tastebuds. Read on to know more about these world-favourite Korean dishes.
10 wildly famous dishes from Korean cuisine
1. Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki, one of the most well-known dishes of Korean cuisine, is the perfect dish for you if you like spice. Most commonly made with rice and fish cakes mixed into a sauce that is made from gochujang paste, stock and other elements, it can be customised as per your tastes and preferences as well. The spicy sauce mixed with the rice and fish cakes tastes delicious. Tteokbokki has also been made famous by K-Dramas where the actors can be seen relishing this dish, thus making the fans want to try it as well.
2. Ramen
Ramen, or Ramyeon, as it is called in South Korea, is an extremely famous Korean dish. This dish is extremely loved in South Korea and globally too. You can find many variations of this ramyeon, some soupy and some dry. Perfectly created to cater to multiple taste palettes, this is the definition of comfort food. You can make it as simple as you want, or you can also make it as fancy as you like, by adding on several ingredients. Generally served in a warm, flavourful broth accompanied with ingredients such as eggs, mushrooms, chicken or other vegetables, etc. you must once try this comfort dish for yourself and enjoy the abundance of the flavours of Korean ramyeon.
3. Korean Fried Chicken
South Korea traditionally ate steamed or boiled chicken. However, after the war that split Korea into North and South Korea, the locals were introduced to the concept of fried chicken by the American troops stationed there. Koreans then adapted this to their tastes and changed the traditional batter and started frying it twice to make it extra crispy. Nowadays, Korean fried chicken has become so famous that they have developed several new variations of it as well, such as sticky fried chicken, spicy fried chicken, sweet and sour fried chicken and so many more. This dish is worth a taste, especially for chicken lovers.
4. Kimchi
Kimchi has to be the most famous gift of Korean cuisine to the rest of the world. Korean people have been making and consuming kimchi since centuries. Now well-known to be beneficial to gut health due to it being fermented and void of any harmful elements, kimchi has been quite the favourite. Although local Koreans have many variations of kimchi, cabbage kimchi might just be one of the most well-known variations. Kimchi has been also uniquely known to be a food dish that can be eaten by itself as well as added into other recipes and made whole other dishes as well. You can make kimchi fried rice, kimchi stew, or even kimchi pancakes among several other dishes if you are looking to try kimchi.
5. Gimbap
Gimbap, or Kimbap, are rolls of rice with stuffing of vegetables/meat/eggs, wrapped around by seaweed paper sheets. Eaten as a snack, or even as a meal in itself, gimbap is known to be delicious, refreshing and light. They can also make for perfect picnic foods. Famous in South Korea and among people wanting to try Korean dishes, gimbap is one of the most famous dishes of Korean cuisine. Gimbap is especially famous since it is not too spicy, therefore perfect for people with low spice tolerances as well. It is the best choice for you if you are looking for a non-messy, non-spicy introduction to Korean cuisine.
6. Gyeran Mari
Gyeran Mari is a dish made of rolled-up omelettes with vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers etc. Another delicious option for people who prefer less spicy food, this is an extremely delectable dish that anyone can enjoy. As compared to other Korean dishes, Gyeran mari or Korean omelette is a mild but all the more delectable dish without being spicy. This is a popular breakfast item as well as a side dish for other meals.
7. Budae Jjigae
Budae jjigae, or army stew, is a dish that has an interesting connection to Korean history. After the war that divided Korea into North and South Korea respectively, what followed was a period of acute shortage of food, poverty, and destruction; as is common after any war. The locals even stocked American army base camps in their search for food items. Thus, with ingredients that the soldiers introduced them to, came budae jjigae, or army stew into existence. Now famous as a hearty meal of eggs, chicken, instant noodles, vegetables, meat (especially spam) and many more ingredients in a warm flavourful broth, this dish has become one of the most famous dishes of Korean cuisine.
8. Bibimbap
Korean people have always been big lovers of rice. Rice can also be seen as an addition to most Korean meals. One of the most famous, if not the most famous dishes made with rice as the main element is Bibimbap. Meaning a mix of rice and other ingredients such as different vegetables, meats, eggs, gochujang paste and whatnot, this is a hugely popular dish. It is loved for its abundance of flavour while not being unbearably spicy.
9. Japchae
Japchae, or stir-fried glass noodles are one of the most liked noodles-based dishes in Korean cuisine. A lighter and less spicy counterpart of other noodle dishes, Japchae is an explosion of flavour. A mouth-watering concoction of stir-fried vegetables, meats, etc. this sweet and sour noodle dish is rightfully a favourite of people both in South Korea and globally.
10. Hotteok
Korean cuisine is as much well-known for its sweet dishes as it is for its savoury ones. One of the most sweet dishes in Korean cuisine that has people wanting to try it is Hotteok. A sweet pancake with filling, Hotteok is a very famous street food in South Korea. The perfect dish to try after all the spicy and savoury dishes, Hotteok is a very appetising sweet, best for people with a sweet tooth.
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