Top 5 Foods to Try in Seoul, South Korea

Dominique Brown is a student at Mississippi State University, an ISA Global Ambassador, and an ISA Guest Blogger. She studied abroad with ISA in Seoul, South Korea

In my 6-weeks on staying in Seoul, South Korea, I had the privilege of trying their local cuisine. Great Korean food can be found anywhere in the city! If you’re wondering what foods you should try on your next trip to South Korea, here are 5 of my favorites:

1. Bulgogi (불고기) – Thin Marinated Beef

This is possibly my favorite meat dish from South Korea. It’s pretty much just a pile of marinated beef that is usually served with some type of mixed vegetables. It can either come pre-cooked (as pictured) or you can cook it yourself. You can typically find Bulgogi anywhere in South Korea. The food pictured is from Korea University.

2. Donkkaseu (돈까스) – Korean Pork Cutlet

Donkkaseu, or tonkatsu as it traditionally called, is a traditional Japanese dish that consists of a breaded pork cutlet. There’s a nice little place located in Anam-dong that serves great pork cutlet for around ₩8,000 ($ 7 USD).

3. Gogigui 고기구이 – Korean Barbecue

This is probably South Korea’s most notable cuisine. You can order different kinds of meat (pork, beef, etc.) to cook on a grill right in front of you. You’re pretty much in charge of cooking your own meat, so you can cook it to your preferred tastes. Once it’s done, you can take lettuce wrap to put your meat in along with other side items like kimchi, onions, peppers, etc.

4. Korean-Style Fried Chicken

If there’s one thing you have to try while in South Korea, it’s their fried chicken. Kyochon Chicken, located near Korea University, has great chicken. It’s called one of the best chicken places in South Korea and it’s also called the Lee Minho chicken. They have 5 different flavors: honey, signature soy garlic, red, fried and salsal. My favorite to order is the honey flavor.

5. Bingsu (빙수) – Korean Shaved Ice Dessert

Bingsu is a Korean dessert that consists of shaved ice, sweetened condensed milk, fruit syrup, and a variety of fruits. It can also be topped with ice cream or frozen yogurt. This dessert can be found in a variety of cafes and even bubble tea stores located in Seoul.

I hope these places give you some ideas on what to try if you decide to take a trip to Seoul, South Korea. Happy traveling!

 

Your Discovery. Our People… The World Awaits.

Author: International Studies Abroad (ISA)

Since 1987, International Studies Abroad (ISA) has provided college students in the United States and Canada the opportunity to explore the world. ISA offers a wide variety of study abroad programs at accredited schools and universities in 73 program locations throughout the world.

Leave a Reply