It's amazing how you can easily find Food everywhere in Seoul. Just like us Filipinos, they also love their street foods. But if there's one place I would highly recommend where in you can sample many different Korean delicacies, it would be Gwangjang Market. I already mentioned this on my Day 1 post.
Some of the foods that we tried were inspired by what we saw in Korean TV shows. Please note that I only included here the local and traditional foods. For me, that's how you get to know more about the country. So, here we go!
Tteokbokki (Stir-Fried Rice Cake)
This is one of Korea's most popular food and also my favorite hehe.
This is usually seasoned with chili paste (gochujang) and sometimes being served with fish cakes or boiled eggs. I love it when the rice cake is so soft and chewy.
Bukkumi
It is a half-moon shaped pan-fried rice cake with sweet red bean filling. We had no idea what it is before we come to Korea. We just notice a very long line of people waiting to buy this, so we thought we must try it.
It is delish but at the same time heavy since the rice cake is made from glutinous rice. We just had our bibimbap that time so, we had a hard time finishing it. It is best eaten while it's hot!
Gyeran-ppang
This is also called the Korean Egg Bread. It's an oblong-shaped cake with a whole egg cracked on top of it.
It is fluffy, sweet and savory. This is perfect as a snack or for breakfast.
Bungeo-ppang
This one I'm already familiar with because I've seen it so many times in variety shows and Kdramas. This is a super popular Korean snack.
This is a fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweetened red bean paste. This is like a smaller version of Japan's taiyaki.
Bibimbap
It literally means "mixed rice". Bibimbap is one of the most well-known Korean dishes to many people.
This is served as a bowl of hot white rice topped with veggies, soy sauce, chili paste (gochujang) and fermented soy bean paste (doenjang). Slices of meat and egg are sometimes added to make it more special.
Ogyeopsal
I'm always looking forward to night time in Seoul. There are so many good eating places to choose from. At night, we always make sure to treat ourselves with their famous Korean barbecue!
Most of us are already familiar with samgyeopsal (three-layered pork), so let me introduce you to ogyeopsal. It means five-layered pork. Yes, five! The fifth layer is actually the pork skin. I also noticed that ogyeopsal has thicker slices than samgyeopsal.
It's always a fun dining experience. The grilling, the wrapping, the multiple side dishes and the soju shots over stories. Those are happy memories.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Being the foodie that I am, I researched some must-try restaurants that we should visit while in Seoul. I actually do this in every country I visit. I don't mind giving recommendations when I really liked the food and the place. I'm not being paid to do this. I just want to share good stuff to other people. :)
Tosokchon
We came here for samgyetang. I always hear about this dish in Kdramas and it sounded like it's a delicious and a comforting dish. So I looked for the most famous restaurant where we can try this and they say Tosokchon is the place.
Tosokchon is just walking distance from Gyeongbokgung so after touring the palace, this was where we had our lunch. It was a cold spring day, so having a warm soup is perfect. I actually find it weird that Koreans prefer to eat this during summer. Keep in mind though that this is a popular resto, so be prepared to queue.
Samgyetang is also known as the Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup. It has a whole chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng, jujube, chestnut and garlic. The broth is very light but pleasant. It's already a complete meal! They also serve kimchi-all-you-can and a shot of soju along with it. Don't miss this when in Seoul!
Address: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM-10:00 PMSome of the foods that we tried were inspired by what we saw in Korean TV shows. Please note that I only included here the local and traditional foods. For me, that's how you get to know more about the country. So, here we go!
Tteokbokki (Stir-Fried Rice Cake)
This is one of Korea's most popular food and also my favorite hehe.
| plain tteokbokki |
This is usually seasoned with chili paste (gochujang) and sometimes being served with fish cakes or boiled eggs. I love it when the rice cake is so soft and chewy.
Bukkumi
It is a half-moon shaped pan-fried rice cake with sweet red bean filling. We had no idea what it is before we come to Korea. We just notice a very long line of people waiting to buy this, so we thought we must try it.
| yummy bukkumi |
Gyeran-ppang
This is also called the Korean Egg Bread. It's an oblong-shaped cake with a whole egg cracked on top of it.
| it's like french toast and egg in one! |
Bungeo-ppang
This one I'm already familiar with because I've seen it so many times in variety shows and Kdramas. This is a super popular Korean snack.
| i like snacking on this on the street :) |
Bibimbap
It literally means "mixed rice". Bibimbap is one of the most well-known Korean dishes to many people.
| veggie bibimbap |
I'm always looking forward to night time in Seoul. There are so many good eating places to choose from. At night, we always make sure to treat ourselves with their famous Korean barbecue!
| eyes on the meat! handsome oppas are so distracting hahaha! ;) |
Most of us are already familiar with samgyeopsal (three-layered pork), so let me introduce you to ogyeopsal. It means five-layered pork. Yes, five! The fifth layer is actually the pork skin. I also noticed that ogyeopsal has thicker slices than samgyeopsal.
| wrap it up! |
Restaurant Recommendations:
Being the foodie that I am, I researched some must-try restaurants that we should visit while in Seoul. I actually do this in every country I visit. I don't mind giving recommendations when I really liked the food and the place. I'm not being paid to do this. I just want to share good stuff to other people. :)
Tosokchon
We came here for samgyetang. I always hear about this dish in Kdramas and it sounded like it's a delicious and a comforting dish. So I looked for the most famous restaurant where we can try this and they say Tosokchon is the place.
| the best place for samgyetang! |
Tosokchon is just walking distance from Gyeongbokgung so after touring the palace, this was where we had our lunch. It was a cold spring day, so having a warm soup is perfect. I actually find it weird that Koreans prefer to eat this during summer. Keep in mind though that this is a popular resto, so be prepared to queue.
| samgyetang |
Address: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Price: KRW 15,000/person
Yoogane
We were shopping around Myeongdong and we didn't know where to eat. I remembered seeing this when I was researching so we used Google Maps to find it - and we found it!
Yoogane
We were shopping around Myeongdong and we didn't know where to eat. I remembered seeing this when I was researching so we used Google Maps to find it - and we found it!
| dak galbi |
Yoogane is famous for dak galbi or spicy stir-fried chicken. This is made of gochujang marinated diced chicken with rice cake, cabbage, sweet potatoes and scallions. After you order, the server will cook your food right in front of you, so you don't have to worry on how to do it hehe. They also have a self service station where you can get unlimited kimchi and other side dishes.
| tired of shopping? eat! |
It is a popular choice for friends who want to get together to eat. Yes, I've seen this in dramas too haha. They are also cheaper compared to the other restaurants that we visited, so thumbs-up for that!
Note: They have 2 branches in Myeongdong. We visited the first one (further from the station).
Address: 3-1 Myeong-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Operating Hours: 10:45 AM-12:00 AM
Price: KRW 8,500/person
Palsaik
I'm totally saving the best for last. You guessed it, now it's time for samgyeopsal! Yes, this was my most favorite dining experience in Seoul. Palsaik now have branches in 6 other countries. We visited their main branch in Seoul which is said to be the best.
| Palsaik Sinchon |
We know this will be way more expensive than our usual food budget but we didn't give a damn about that. I mean, what's going to Korea without feasting on a high quality samgyeopsal? Right? With that said, we ordered the most expensive set.
| Seafood Doenjang Soup |
Palsaik Samgyeopsal Set comes with a complimentary huge pan of soup or stew (depends on your choice). We went for the seafood soup.
| 4/8 flavors |
What's so special about this place? Palsaik actually means 8 colors. They serve fresh local pork belly meat seasoned in 8 flavors. If you want to know what those 8 flavors are, they are Original, Wine, Ginseng, Garlic, Herb, Curry, Miso Paste and Hot.
| can't wait to eat it! |
| what a feast! |
Everything on this table was sooo good. From the soup to the meat and to the sides. Quantity and quality are both superb! It was the best samgyeopsal I've ever had up to this day.
| very happy tummies :) |
I don't know how we managed to finish all that haha. This is definitely one of the best meals I had during my travels. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Address: 121-100 Mihwa Building B1F, 18 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM-12:00 AM
Price: KRW 43,000 (good for 3-4 persons)
I hope this gives you an idea on what to eat when in Seoul. If you've also been to Korea and have additional suggestions, feel free to leave comments below. :)
The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.
I hope this gives you an idea on what to eat when in Seoul. If you've also been to Korea and have additional suggestions, feel free to leave comments below. :)
The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.
