The Atlas · Nº 14 ·South Korea

Most Popular South Korean Food

Korean food is fermentation and fire: a table crowded with banchan and sour, spicy kimchi, meat grilled at your own table and wrapped in lettuce, stews that bubble in a shared pot. It builds every meal around rice and gochujang chili paste, and takes the art of the side dish more seriously than anywhere.

188 dishes ranked·11 in the global top 1,000 ·4,122 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 255

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 188 ranked south korean dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked South Korean dishes, by global position.

Banchan, assorted small dishes or ritual from South Korea
Plate IIAssorted Small Dishes or Ritual · South Korea

1 Nº 255 worldwide

Banchan

Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual · 반찬 · 飯饌

Not a dish but the heart of a Korean meal: the array of small side dishes, kimchi, seasoned vegetables, and pickles, set out to share alongside rice and the main. Refilled freely and different at every table, banchan is what makes a Korean spread feel endless.

★ 4.3|87% positive |99 ratings

Gui, barbecue from South Korea
Plate IIIBarbecue · South Korea

2 Nº 267 worldwide

Gui

Barbecue · 구이 · Guee · Korean Grilling Technique

The Korean barbecue itself, meat grilled at the table over charcoal or gas and eaten in lettuce wraps with garlic, ssamjang, and rice. Gui covers all of it, from marinated beef to plain pork belly, cooked and cut with scissors as you go, the most social way Korea eats.

★ 4.3|88% positive |67 ratings

Hotteok, pancake from South Korea

3HotteokNº 398

Pancake · Also 호떡

A sweet Korean griddle pancake, a yeasted dough pocket stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and crushed nuts that melts into a molten syrup as it fries. Sold sizzling from winter street carts, it is eaten hot, and the trick is not to burn your mouth on the filling.

★ 4.2|58 ratings

Samgyeopsal, pork dish from South Korea

4SamgyeopsalNº 484

Pork Dish · Also 삼겹살

Thick slices of unseasoned pork belly grilled at the table until the fat crisps, then wrapped in lettuce or perilla with garlic, kimchi, and a smear of ssamjang. The most popular of all Korean barbecue, cheap enough to be a weeknight dinner with soju.

★ 4.2|75 ratings

Gamjatang, stew from South Korea

5GamjatangNº 547

Stew · Also 감자탕

A hearty, spicy stew of meaty pork spine simmered with potatoes, perilla seeds, and chili until the meat falls off the bone. A late-night and hangover favorite, it is served bubbling in a communal pot, rich, peppery, and made for scraping the bones clean.

★ 4.1|23 ratings

Bulgogi, meat dish from South Korea

6BulgogiNº 549

Meat Dish

Korea's sweet-savory grilled beef, thin slices marinated in soy, sugar, sesame, garlic, and pear, then cooked fast over a flame until caramelized at the edges. The gentle, crowd-pleasing face of Korean barbecue, mild enough for anyone and a fixture of any spread.

★ 4.1|273 ratings

Kalbi, beef dish from South Korea

7KalbiNº 645

Beef Dish

Grilled beef short ribs, galbi, marinated in a sweet soy sauce with garlic, sesame, and often fruit, then charred over coals until glossy and tender. Cut so the meat fans off the bone, it is the celebration cut of Korean barbecue, richer than bulgogi.

★ 4.1|67 ratings

Kimchi jjigae, stew from South Korea

8Kimchi jjigaeNº 725

Stew · Also 김치찌개

The everyday Korean stew built on well-fermented kimchi, simmered with tofu, pork, and scallion into a sour, spicy, deeply savory pot. It is the dish that uses up kimchi gone too tangy to eat raw, and it is home cooking at its most comforting, always with rice.

★ 4.1|57 ratings

Kimchijeon, pancake from South Korea

9KimchijeonNº 908

Pancake · Also Kimchi Jeon

A savory Korean pancake of chopped ripe kimchi bound in a simple flour batter and pan-fried crisp at the edges. Quick, tangy, and a little spicy, it is rainy-day food and a classic drinking snack, torn apart and dipped in soy vinegar.

★ 4.0|49 ratings

Jeyuk bokkeum, pork dish from South Korea

10Jeyuk bokkeumNº 919

Pork Dish · Also Dwaejigogi bokkeum

Spicy stir-fried pork, thin fatty slices marinated in gochujang chili paste with garlic and ginger, then grilled or pan-fried until charred and sticky. Fiery, sweet, and deeply savory, it is a rice-clearing favorite, often wrapped in lettuce like barbecue.

★ 4.0|17 ratings

Baechu-kimchi, pickling from South Korea

11Baechu-kimchiNº 992

Pickling

The kimchi, napa cabbage salted then packed with a paste of chili, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood, and left to ferment into something sour, spicy, and alive. So central that its name is almost synonymous with kimchi itself, it is on every Korean table, every meal.

★ 4.0|66 ratings

Bossam, pork dish from South Korea

12BossamNº 1,136

Pork Dish

Pork belly boiled with aromatics until meltingly tender, sliced, and wrapped at the table in cabbage or perilla leaves with salted shrimp, garlic, and fresh kimchi. Lighter than the grill, it is a dish for a gathering, built to be assembled bite by bite.

★ 4.0|27 ratings

The Departments

Every South Korean dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 188 South Korean dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

188 entries
  1. 255 Banchan Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual South Korea ★ 4.3
  2. 267 Gui Barbecue South Korea ★ 4.3
  3. 398 Hotteok Pancake South Korea ★ 4.2
  4. 484 Samgyeopsal Pork Dish South Korea ★ 4.2
  5. 547 Gamjatang Stew Jeolla Province ★ 4.1
  6. 549 Bulgogi Meat Dish South Korea ★ 4.1
  7. 645 Kalbi Beef Dish South Korea ★ 4.1
  8. 725 Kimchi jjigae Stew South Korea ★ 4.1
  9. 908 Kimchijeon Pancake South Korea ★ 4.0
  10. 919 Jeyuk bokkeum Pork Dish South Korea ★ 4.0
  11. 992 Baechu-kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 4.0
  12. 1,136 Bossam Pork Dish South Korea ★ 4.0
  13. 1,187 Doenjang jjigae Stew South Korea ★ 4.0
  14. 1,249 Bibimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 4.0
  15. 1,310 K Korean fried chicken (Chikin) Fried Chicken Dish South Korea ★ 4.0
  16. 1,595 Budae jjigae Stew Uijeongbu ★ 3.9
  17. 1,598 Namul Vegetable Dish South Korea ★ 3.9
  18. 1,631 Jeon Pancake South Korea ★ 3.9
  19. 1,730 Chamchi gimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.9
  20. 1,737 Ssam Technique South Korea ★ 3.9
  21. 1,788 Dak Galbi Stir-fry Chuncheon ★ 3.9
  22. 1,804 Sigeumchi namul Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.9
  23. 1,818 Mayak gimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.9
  24. 1,987 Yukgaejang Soup South Korea ★ 3.9
  25. 2,019 Geotjeori Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.9
  26. 2,113 Yukhoe Appetizer South Korea ★ 3.8
  27. 2,115 Galbijjim Beef Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  28. 2,208 Moksal Pork Cut South Korea ★ 3.8
  29. 2,351 Gejang Crab Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  30. 2,376 Sundubu jjigae Stew South Korea ★ 3.8
  31. 2,507 Pajeon Pancake South Korea ★ 3.8
  32. 2,519 Andong jjimdak Chicken Dish Andong ★ 3.8
  33. 2,535 Korean Corndog Hot Dog South Korea ★ 3.8
  34. 2,636 Wanjajeon Meatballs South Korea ★ 3.8
  35. 2,646 Sukjunamul Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  36. 2,677 Kimchi-guksu Noodle Soup South Korea ★ 3.8
  37. 2,724 Braised Potatoes (Gamja jorim) Potato Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  38. 2,868 Jjapaguri Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  39. 2,882 Sujebi Noodle Soup South Korea ★ 3.8
  40. 2,899 Japchae Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.8
  41. 2,910 Gamjajeon Pancake South Korea ★ 3.8
  42. 2,979 Mandu Dumplings South Korea ★ 3.8
  43. 2,997 Gim gui Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  44. 3,008 Anju Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual South Korea ★ 3.8
  45. 3,195 Soy-Braised Beef (Jangjorim) Beef Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  46. 3,260 Grilled Mackerel (Godeungeo gui) Saltwater Fish Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  47. 3,365 Korean Twisted Donuts (Kkwabaegi) Fried Dough South Korea ★ 3.8
  48. 3,369 Beondegi Soup Insect Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  49. 3,426 Dwaeji galbi Pork Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  50. 3,468 Kimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  51. 3,519 Haemuljeon Seafood South Korea ★ 3.8
  52. 3,549 Tteok Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.8
  53. 3,574 Miyeokguk Soup South Korea ★ 3.7
  54. 3,596 Maeuntang Stew South Korea ★ 3.7
  55. 3,733 Radish Pancake (Mujeon) Appetizer South Korea ★ 3.7
  56. 3,771 C Candied Sweet Potatoes (Goguma mattang) Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  57. 3,788 Garibi gui Appetizer South Korea ★ 3.7
  58. 3,833 G Gochujang-Beef Stir-Fry (Gochujang bokkeum) Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.7
  59. 3,882 Oxtail Soup (Kkori gomtang) Offal Soup South Korea ★ 3.7
  60. 4,082 Ojingeo chae bokkeum Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.7
  61. 4,126 Sangchu ssam Wrap South Korea ★ 3.7
  62. 4,150 Muguk Soup South Korea ★ 3.7
  63. 4,261 Kimchi bokkeumbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  64. 4,322 Oi sobagi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.7
  65. 4,332 Tteokgalbi Beef Dish Gyeonggi Province ★ 3.7
  66. 4,361 Ogyeopsal Pork Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  67. 4,374 Musaengchae Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  68. 4,375 Korean Corn Cheese Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  69. 4,420 Ggul tteok Dessert South Korea ★ 3.7
  70. 4,422 Kalguksu Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  71. 4,423 Stir-Fried Octopus (Nakji bokkeum) Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.7
  72. 4,469 H Hanjeongsal Pork Cut South Korea ★ 3.7
  73. 4,478 Fermented Squid (Ojingeojeot) Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  74. 4,485 Korean Potato Salad (Gamjasaelleodeu) Potato Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  75. 4,554 Galmaegisal Pork Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  76. 4,648 Bindaetteok Pancake South Korea ★ 3.7
  77. 4,665 Jeolpyeon Dessert South Korea ★ 3.7
  78. 4,753 Dasik Dessert South Korea ★ 3.7
  79. 4,820 Patbingsu Frozen Dessert South Korea ★ 3.7
  80. 4,877 Rolled Omelet (Gyeran mari) Egg Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  81. 4,925 T Tuna Jeon (Chamchijeon) Appetizer South Korea ★ 3.7
  82. 4,926 Guljeon Oyster Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  83. 4,927 Daeji galbi Pork Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  84. 4,930 Buseot bokkeum Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.7
  85. 4,931 H Hobak namul Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  86. 4,941 Chicken and Rice Porridge (Dakjuk) Porridge South Korea ★ 3.7
  87. 4,976 Abalone Porridge (Jeonbokjuk) Porridge South Korea ★ 3.7
  88. 5,042 Bibim guksu Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.7
  89. 5,141 Tteokbokki Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  90. 5,270 Boribap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  91. 5,292 Memil guksu Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  92. 5,309 Pyeonsu Dumplings South Korea ★ 3.6
  93. 5,390 Kongnamulbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  94. 5,421 Onmyeon Noodle Soup South Korea ★ 3.6
  95. 5,495 S Stir-Fried Kelp (Dassima-bokkeum) Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.6
  96. 5,526 M Mussel Soup (Honghap tang) Seafood Soup South Korea ★ 3.6
  97. 5,552 Beef Skewers (Sanjeok) Beef Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  98. 5,588 Sundaeguk Soup South Korea ★ 3.6
  99. 5,597 Dakbokkeumtang Stir-fry South Korea ★ 3.6
  100. 5,639 Hobakjeon Appetizer South Korea ★ 3.6
  101. 5,640 Kkaennip-jeon Snack South Korea ★ 3.6
  102. 5,649 Braised Tofu (Dubu jorim) Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  103. 5,706 Ogokbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  104. 5,768 Samgak gimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  105. 5,849 Dongchimi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.6
  106. 5,942 Manduguk Soup South Korea ★ 3.6
  107. 5,976 Chapssaltteok Dessert South Korea ★ 3.6
  108. 5,984 Milmyeon Noodle Dish Busan ★ 3.6
  109. 6,011 Scallion Salad (Pa muchim) Salad South Korea ★ 3.6
  110. 6,068 Gaji namul Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  111. 6,166 Janchi guksu Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.6
  112. 6,236 Ansim Beef Cut South Korea ★ 3.5
  113. 6,246 Jokbal Pork Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  114. 6,309 Yukjeon Snack South Korea ★ 3.5
  115. 6,310 Nude-gimbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  116. 6,439 Kkakdugi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.5
  117. 6,462 Altang Seafood Soup South Korea ★ 3.5
  118. 6,484 Yugwa Dessert South Korea ★ 3.5
  119. 6,517 Dwaeji gukbap Meat Soup Busan ★ 3.5
  120. 6,542 Galbitang Meat Soup South Korea ★ 3.5
  121. 6,553 Gyeran-ppang Snack South Korea ★ 3.5
  122. 6,613 Ssamjang Dip South Korea ★ 3.5
  123. 6,636 Seolleongtang Offal Soup Seoul ★ 3.5
  124. 6,646 Gopchang jeongol Stew South Korea ★ 3.5
  125. 6,684 Chueotang Fish Soup South Korea ★ 3.5
  126. 6,731 Jumulleok Beef Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  127. 6,743 Gyeongdan Dessert South Korea ★ 3.5
  128. 6,769 Sirutteok Dessert South Korea ★ 3.5
  129. 6,845 Agujjim Saltwater Fish Dish Changwon ★ 3.5
  130. 6,876 Nurungji Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  131. 6,897 Samgyetang Chicken Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  132. 6,921 Garaetteok Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  133. 6,955 Kongjaban Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.5
  134. 7,086 Baek kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.5
  135. 7,095 Baekseolgi Dessert South Korea ★ 3.4
  136. 7,097 Hwajeon Pancake South Korea ★ 3.4
  137. 7,107 Kongnamul muchim Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  138. 7,144 Injeolmi Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  139. 7,149 Naengguk Vegetable Soup South Korea ★ 3.4
  140. 7,207 Jeungpyeon Dessert South Korea ★ 3.4
  141. 7,208 Saengchae Salad South Korea ★ 3.4
  142. 7,211 Makguksu Salad Gangwon Province ★ 3.4
  143. 7,216 Kongnamul gukbap Vegetable Soup Jeonju ★ 3.4
  144. 7,264 C Cold Noodle Salad (Jaengban guksu) Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  145. 7,342 Pa kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.4
  146. 7,370 Steamed Egg (Gyeran jjim) Egg Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  147. 7,444 Kongguksu Noodle Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  148. 7,461 Bungeoppang Savory Pastry South Korea ★ 3.4
  149. 7,472 Yeolmu kimchi Side Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  150. 7,499 Hoedeopbap Rice Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  151. 7,518 Gopchang-gui Offal Dish South Korea ★ 3.4
  152. 7,543 Kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.4
  153. 7,569 Tteokguk Soup South Korea ★ 3.3
  154. 7,701 Gat kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.3
  155. 7,722 Kongnamul guk Vegetable Soup South Korea ★ 3.3
  156. 7,849 Chonggak kimchi Pickling South Korea ★ 3.3
  157. 7,889 Songpyeon Dumplings South Korea ★ 3.3
  158. 7,902 Yakgwa Deep-fried Dessert South Korea ★ 3.3
  159. 7,932 Yaksik Dessert South Korea ★ 3.3
  160. 8,124 Chungmu gimbap Rice Dish Tongyeong ★ 3.2
  161. 8,278 Yeot Dessert South Korea ★ 3.1
  162. 8,391 Sundae Sausage Blood Sausage South Korea ★ 3.0
  163. 8,401 Dalgona Candy Dessert South Korea ★ 3.0
  164. 8,506 Beondegi Insect Dish South Korea ★ 3.0
  165. 8,535 Hongeo Saltwater Fish Dish Mokpo ★ 2.9
  166. 8,576 Nabak kimchi Pickling South Korea
  167. 8,759 Sannakji Octopus Dish South Korea ★ 2.4
  168. 9,619 Dubujeon Snack South Korea
  169. 9,620 D Daegujeon Freshwater Fish Dish South Korea
  170. 9,621 Gochujeon Snack South Korea
  171. 9,622 Saewoojeon Shrimp/Prawn Dish South Korea
  172. 9,623 Saengseonjeon Fish Dish South Korea
  173. 9,624 Gajijeon Snack South Korea
  174. 9,632 Bukkumi Dessert South Korea
  175. 9,743 G Glazed Meatballs (Wanja jorim) Meatballs South Korea
  176. 9,755 Maejakgwa Cookie South Korea
  177. 9,758 O Octopus Porridge (Muneo-juk) Porridge South Korea
  178. 9,821 Oiseon Appetizer South Korea
  179. 10,006 Stir-Fried Anchovies (Myeolchi bokkeum) Stir-fry South Korea
  180. 10,007 S Stir-Fried Cucumbers (Oi bokkeum) Stir-fry South Korea
  181. 10,147 Steamed Skate Fish (Hongeojjim) Saltwater Fish Dish South Korea
  182. 10,209 P Potato and Ham Stir-Fry (Gamja-haem-bokkeum) Potato Dish South Korea
  183. 10,281 Pine Nut Porridge (Jatjuk) Porridge South Korea
  184. 10,353 S Shrimp and Green Beans (Saewoo bokum) Shrimp/Prawn Dish South Korea
  185. 10,421 Milk Porridge (Tarakjuk) Porridge South Korea
  186. 10,458 C Cold Seaweed-Cucumber Soup (Miyeok-oi-naengguk) Cold Soup South Korea
  187. 10,651 Black Sesame Porridge (Heukimjajuk) Porridge South Korea
  188. 10,811 P Poo Bread (Ttongppang) Sweet Bread Insa-dong
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Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of South Korean Food

Where South Korea's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

South Korean food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Korean food?
By ratings, the dishes the world knows: Bibimbap, the rice bowl topped with vegetables and gochujang, then Kimchi itself and Bulgogi, the sweet marinated grilled beef. Our best-ranked Korean dish is Banchan, the spread of small side dishes at the heart of every meal. All 23 Korean meat dishes →
What food is Korea known for?
Kimchi, barbecue, and fermentation. Korea over-indexes enormously on pickled and fermented foods, above all Baechu-kimchi, the cabbage kimchi on every table. Its barbecue is legendary, from Samgyeopsal pork belly to Bulgogi, and stews like Kimchi jjigae anchor the everyday meal. All 27 Korean soups & stews →
What is Korea's national dish?
Kimchi, the fermented cabbage Koreans eat at nearly every meal, is the national dish and cultural symbol, its winter-making tradition UNESCO-listed. Bibimbap and Bulgogi are the best-known plated dishes abroad. In our data the top-ranked Korean dish is Banchan, the side-dish spread.
What is Korean barbecue?
Korean barbecue, or Gui, is meat grilled at your own table and eaten in wraps. The favorites are Samgyeopsal, plain pork belly crisped over the coals, Bulgogi, sweet marinated beef, and Kalbi, marinated short ribs. Each comes with lettuce, garlic, ssamjang, and endless banchan.
What Korean dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
The homey stews and sides. Doenjang jjigae, a soybean-paste stew, is the everyday counterpart to the spicier Kimchi jjigae. Budae jjigae, the army-base stew of kimchi with spam and instant noodles, is a post-war Uijeongbu invention, and Namul, seasoned wild greens, quietly fill the banchan.