A Foodie's Guide to the Best Dishes in Seoul
Published 25 Aug 2025
Published 25 Aug 2025
Seoul, South Korea, is the culinary heaven of the world for food lovers like me. Spicy stews to hot BBQ, the city offers so many tasty flavors that tell the story of Korea's gastronomic heritage. If you are a food lover like me, you would love to taste these original dishes that have put Seoul on the foodie's bucket list.
Kimchi is Korea's national dish, and visiting Seoul without it is unthinkable. Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish, usually done with napa cabbage and radishes, and flavored with garlic, chili pepper, ginger, and fish sauce. I had it with nearly every meal, and the taste varied from sour to spicy. It's the ideal side dish with nearly everything. I discovered that the fermentation process imparts the deep flavor to the kimchi, and within a couple of meals, I found myself yearning for it most of the time.
Bibimbap is a vibrant and filling meal that most accurately reflects Korea's balance of flavors. It consists of rice, vegetables, a fried egg, and typically a meat such as beef or chicken, topped with spicy gochujang (chili paste). Balance of texture and flavor is the secret to a great bibimbap, and I enjoyed a good one in a local eatery. The crunchy vegetables, the bright yellow egg yolk, and the chewy meat, all combined with the spiciness of the gochujang, made it one of the best meals I experienced in Seoul.
Korean BBQ is an experience unto itself. At a classic BBQ restaurant, you grill your own meat at the table, typically with banchan (side dishes) that come with them. The meats of choice, like beef, pork, and chicken, are marinated in deep sauces and grilled to perfection. I recall hours of grilling and consuming, laughing with friends as we shared stories and savored the good food. My personal favorite was samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), which you brush with sesame oil and serve with fresh lettuce leaves, garlic, and a dash of ssamjang (a thick, spicy paste). It's a meal that's more about something other than food; it's a social experience.
Tteokbokki is one of the most popular street foods in Seoul, and I had it in the city center. These chewy rice cakes are simmered in a sweet and spicy sauce, and they are simply irresistible. I ended up wolfing them down with fish cakes, hard-boiled eggs, and spicy sauce. The sauce was sweet and hot, and the chewy rice cakes were spot on. It's the ultimate street snack, and I can understand why it's widely popular. You'll find vendors selling it on nearly every street corner, and it's great for a quick and satisfying snack when wandering around the city.
Jajangmyeon is a comfort food that I discovered on my travels to Seoul. It's black bean paste sauce served over a bowl of noodles and vegetables and pork. The sauce is rich and thick, and the noodles are heavy, making it a great dish for a cold day. I loved the dish so much I ate it several times, each time with a variation. It's the kind of dish that will fill you up and warm your belly. The best part? It's usually served with a pickled radish on the side, which helps cut through the richness of the sauce.
Although not an entire course, banchan are an obligatory side dish served with each meal in Seoul. These tiny, flavorful side courses may consist of kimchi, pickled vegetables, tiny servings of stews and pancakes. When I ate at some of the local eateries, I was always surprised at how many banchan I received with my meal. Each was unique and added to the meal as a whole, and the tastes were anything from sweet and sour to salty and hot. The two best banchan I experienced were the crispy pancakes and the hot radishes.
Seoul is a city as much about eating as it is about seeing and hearing. Every meal I had gave me a deeper insight into Korean culture and traditions of eating, and every one of them was sensational. Whether you eat at a fancy restaurant or grab street food to eat on the go, Seoul food is something you cannot possibly do without. I insist you include these meals in your travel itinerary, and they will make your traveling experience even more memorable. Believe me, your taste buds will dance and sing! And don't miss sneaking into some of the little local eateries that are a little out of the way. Those are the gems where the food is authentic and the atmosphere is worth remembering.
By Baker, Spot selector
