Korean cuisine is hands down one of the most exciting and delicious cuisines on Earth. This bubbly neighbor of North Korea is not just all about kimchi, since there are more dishes that this little Asian country is famous for.
If you're lucky enough to take a trip to South Korea, you will be overwhelmed by the amount of food you can experience. Even though most Korean food is heaven to everyone's palate, there are certain food items you shouldn't miss trying out when in the country. Here are some of them:
Jjimdak (Braised Chicken). Similar to chicken curry, this Korean version is bursting with intense and savory flavor. Although the taste is somewhat on the spicy range, even those who don't like spicy food will have a hard time saying no to this wonderful dish. It is made with chicken, assorted veggies and Korean soy sauce served with glass noodles and rice cakes.
Bibimpap (Korean Mixed Fried Rice). One of the local favorites, this rice bowl is not just tasty but also very nutritious. It is made from an assortment of shredded vegetables and meat on top of white rice, and commonly seasoned with sesame oil and red pepper paste. A raw egg is usually served on the middle of this dish, which you can mix with all the ingredients to fuse all the flavors in the bowl.
Ddeokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes). A common South Korean street food, locals and tourists alike couldn't get enough of this dish. Whipped up from soft rice cake and fish cake, it is then drowned in sweet red chili sauce. You can usually see vendors selling Ddeokbokki in every street of Seoul. This dish is delicious and not too picky to eat. You can walk along the streets while eating Ddeokbokki and you can get full without fuss.
Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew). This dish was made during the Korean War when soldiers and their families have to make do with their food as food shortage enveloped the whole country. Basically, it is a bowl of hot chili paste soup mixed with ramyeon, hotdogs, spam, rice cakes and sometimes-cheese. The whole concoction is very delicious and typically served during the cold weather.
