Authored by Morgan Sullivan

People often ask what my favorite thing is about living in South Korea, and time and time again I can’t help but say the food! I love it! I already know that I’ll miss it once I’ve gone.

As a whole, Korean food is well balanced, full of variety, and usually pretty spicy – perfect for a spice-addict like me. Though while some Korean food might take a little getting used to, I believe there is something for everyone – the options are as varied as they are delicious.

You recently read about 5 mouthwatering Korean foods to try; well, here are five more!

Haemul Sundubu

With a rich seafood based broth, soft tofu, zucchini, green onions, egg and a variety of seafood, this dish is both delicious and healthy.

It is always served with rice and often comes to the table bubbling away in an earthen hot pot. Korea gets pretty cold in the winter and this is one of my favorite dishes – it is simple enough to make at home, and very cheap when ordered at a restaurant.

Pajeon

This dish a Korean-style savory pancake, and like most savory pancakes there are several varieties in terms of ingredients used.

The simplest type consists of Buchimgaro (savory pancake mix) and an abundance of chopped onions. However, my favorite variety of Pajeon is Haemul (Seafood) Paejeon, which includes squid, mussels, and shrimp, as well as the green onions.

Always cooked fresh to order, and served piping hot, this dish is often eaten on rainy days or paired with Makgeolli (Korean rice spirit) after a long hike on one of Korea’s many beautiful mountains.

Photo by Jon Åslund

Tteokbokki

A hugely popular Korean street food, Tteokbokki is made with thick, chewy rice cakes, fish cake, quail eggs, and green onions, all of which is cooked smothered in a slightly sweet red chili paste sauce.

Satisfying, cheap, and very unique to Korea – this is the perfect snack to share with a friend while roaming the concrete jungles.

Budae Jjigae

Literally translating to ‘Army Stew’, Budae Jjigae is one my guilty pleasure foods in South Korea.

Having originated during the food shortages of the Korean War, this dish includes a random and very flexible assortment of items: hotdog, hamburger meat, tofu, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and oftentimes ramen, all of which is cooked in spicy red chili broth.

Though the ingredients list does not sound inspiring, this dish is quick, delicious, and meant to be spilt and shared among friends or family.

Photo credit: Jo del Corro

Fish Bread

Another popular Korean street food, fish bread can only be found during the winter because it is considered to be a cold-weather snack.

Fish bread contains no actual fish, the name stems solely from the fact that both sides are imprinted in the shape of a fish. Rather than savory flavors, fish bread is comprised of a sweet bread exterior, with either red bean or cream filling.

This snack is cheap, delicious, and as I said only available at certain times of year – so if you see a vendor, make sure to snatch some up!

Though I’ve sampled many cuisines in my travels throughout Asia, Korean food will always have a special place in my heart. It is balanced and generally healthy, the flavors are bold, and the variety keeps it interesting.

If you ever get the chance to visit Korea, try as many things as you can and give anything and everything a chance – you never know what you’ll end up liking. Hopefully, you will enjoy the tastes of Korea as much as I do.

Morgan lived in Denver, Colorado, before moving to South Korea to teach English at 22. She has suburban sensibilities, penthouse dreams, and is currently pursuing her lifelong dream of international travel.

Find her on her website A Beautiful View, on Facebook, or on Twitter.