Five South Korean Foods Every Tourist Must Try

Tourists in South Korea might feel as if every street is full of restaurants. Korean restaurants stay open late into the night. Some stay open 24/7. This means it's never too late or too early to grab a great meal. Prices are typically great for the quality. Most meals come with a plethora of free side dishes, making going out for a meal in South Korea very filling experience. If you're heading to South Korea, here are five foods you have to try.

Samgyeopsal

If you've ever eaten Korean food outside Korea, there's a good chance it was samgyeopsal. Samgyeopsal is barbecued pork belly. Every neighbourhood in every city in South Korea seems to have several restaurants serving samgyeopsal. It's typically cooked on a barbecue pit in the centre of the table. The barbecued pork belly is then eaten wrapped in leaves. You can expect to receive kimchi and other assorted side dishes at no extra charge.

For an authentic Korean barbecue service, order a bottle of soju - or several bottles, if you can handle it! Most samgyeopsal restaurants also offer rich, hearty soups for a couple of thousand Won, which is the equivalent of a few dollars. The menu also usually includes galbi, which is barbecued pork ribs marinated in a deliciously rich sauce. Most samgyeopsal restaurants will allow you to mix and match.

The best place to try samgyeospal: Palsaek Samgyeopsal - locations throughout Korea

Palsaek means 'eight kinds.' Palsaek Samgyeopsal is a chain of restaurants which improves upon a classic by offering samgyeopsal seasoned in eight different ways. These range for simple twists like salted or herb-covered samgyeopsal, to the flavour sensation of curried samgyeopsal.

Dakgalbi

Dakgalbi literally means 'chicken meat.' Dakgalbi is spicy marinated chicken, which is usually cooked in a pan in the centre of the table. Rice cakes, cabbage and sweet potato are added to dakgalbi as standard. For a small extra fee, many places will add cheese, noodles or other extras to the dish. To dine like a real Korean, wait until the meal is almost finished, then ask for some rice to be added to the pan. This is mixed in with the last part of the chicken and remaining spicy sauce to round off the meal in style.

Dakgalbi originated in the picturesque area of Chuncheon, an area of natural beauty located to the north-west of Seoul and accessible on the capital's subway network. Today, you can find dakgalbi restaurants almost anywhere.

The best place to try dakgabli: Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street - Joyan-do, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do

Chuncheon's busiest shopping area has a street which hosts 25 dakglabi restaurants. Due to the competitiveness of having so many similar restaurants side-by-side, the prices are almost identical and every restaurant strives to offer the same quality dishes as its neighbours.

Photo: Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street (Source: http://www.hulutrip.com/news/201608/406330.html)

Bibimbap

Bibimbap is a simple dish that has gained some popularity overseas in recent years. The chain Bibigo now has locations in many major cities in Europe and North America. Korean bibimbap is hearty food that is delicious as it is healthy.

When you order bibimbap, you receive a bowl of rice topped with red spicy pepper paste, vegetables, thin slices of beef and a fried egg. The 'bibim' part of the name means 'mix' and the 'bap' part means 'rice.' You use a spoon to stir the ingredients vigorously, creating a delicious spiced mix covered in egg yolk.

Bibimbap is a staple Korean food that is available all over the country. The cheapest place to eat bibimbap is at discount restaurant chains Gimbap Cheongu or Pomato. There are also branches of Bibigo in major shopping areas. Some of the best bibimbap places are small local restaurants.

The best place to try bibimbap: Gogung Jeonju - 33 Songcheonjungang-ro, Deogjin-dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do

Jeonju is to bibimbap what Chuncheon is to dakgalbi. The beautiful city of Jeonju is full of traditional Korean houses and fantastic authentic restaurants. Jeonju bibimbap is a little bit different to bibimbap served elsewhere in Korea, as it typically includes raw beef. Gogung Jeonju is the most famous bibimbap restaurant to try this local twist on staple Korean food. All the ingredients are locally sourced, making Gogung Jeonju's bibimbap a truly authentic Jeonju dish.

Photo: Gogung Jeonju Bibimbap (Source: https://jiaseemee.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/gogung/)

Seafood

The Korean peninsula is blessed with an extensive coastline. Sleepy towns and major cities on the coast all offer great fresh seafood. Tourists visiting only Seoul can find a great selection of seafood restaurants in the capital city, with Noryangjin Fish Market being one of the best places to try a signature Korean seafood dish.

Korean seafood includes a wide range of raw fish served with spicy dipping sauce, as well as more unusual items such as gaebul (spoon worm) and roe (fish eggs). For adventurous eaters, many seafood restaurants serve live octopus. This potentially dangerous and morally dubious offering tastes surprisingly good.

Photo: Live octopus (Source: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/韓式活章魚)

As with all Korean food, seafood is best enjoyed with soju.

The best place to try Korean seafood: Jagalchi Market - Jung-gu, Busan

With so many coastal towns and cities to choose from, it's hard to choose one restaurant that outdoes all others. There are countless secluded coves with small restaurants serving seafood directly on the sand, while every coastal town has its own signature dish. For the widest range of seafood though, the best option is Jagalchi Market in South Korea's second-biggest city, Busan.

Tteokbokki

As well as countless restaurants, South Korea is also famous for its street food. One of the most popular dishes is tteokbokki, a plate of stir-fried rice cakes served in spicy sauce. Tteokbokki stands can be found on the streets in busy areas of Seoul and all other Korean cities. There are also many small restaurants which specialize in tteokbokki, with the best-known being the Jaws chain.

Tteokbokki stands usually sell a variety of other street foods, such as sundae, which is a blood sausage made of intestines stuffed with noodles and various other ingredients, as well as a range of fried items which go well with the spicy tteokbokki sauce. Most tteokbokki stands offer unlimited free soup with the meal.

The best place to try: Hongik University Station Exit 9, Seoul

Hongdae is Seoul's hippest and wildest party district. This sprawling area takes its name from the Hongik University campus at its centre. Exit 9 of Hongik University subway station brings you to a busy street lined with food stalls. It's the perfect place to refuel before a long night out.

These five famous offerings just scratch the surface of the huge range of Korean dishes available. Every neighbourhood has a wealth of restaurants, while every small town has its own signature dish. A visit to South Korea should be full of culinary delights. These five dishes are a great place to start.