Visiting a country far away, in geographical terms, from our own is an experience that opens the mind and allows us to discover customs and traditions that are totally different from those we are used to. Fundamental to the discovery of customs so distant from one's own is the tasting of food and dishes typical of the country or city we are visiting. Some dishes may seem strange, strange, sometimes even disgusting, but a taste is a must, if only to be able to say that you have tried them! Today we take you really far away, to South Korea at its capital, Seoul, to be precise. But where exactly, in this bustling capital, can you find these culinary delights? Mapo-gu https://www.seoulhotelspage.com/en/near-mapo-gu-dr284094/, a district of Seoul known for its vibrant food culture, is a great place to start your gastronomic journey. What are the tastiest dishes on offer in the large number of restaurants and bars in this city? Let's find out together.
1 - Kimchi
Let's start with Korea's national dish, Kimchi. This is Chinese cabbage marinated in garlic and chilli. Its peculiarity is that it is not exactly inviting, neither visually nor olfactorily. Usually served as a side dish, Kimchi has a strong smell of garlic and cabbage gone bad, as its leaves are left to ferment for up to six months. Only recommended for those who are not at all squeamish, think Koreans even eat it for breakfast!
Recommended at: any meal
Average cost: about €2.00
Main ingredients: fermented Chinese cabbage leaves, garlic, chilli
2 - Dakgalbi
Another popular dish in Korean popular culture, Dakgalbi is a chicken dish marinated in soy sauce, curry, chilli paste and sesame. After marinating, the meat is cooked with vegetables, usually onions, potatoes and peppers. The recipe originates from the city of Chuncheon, and dates back to the 1960s. It is a poor man's dish, but thanks to its success, it has conquered the tastes of the entire population, so much so that a food festival has even been established in its honour.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: about €1.50
Main ingredients: chicken, onions, peppers, potatoes, curry, soy sauce
3 - Kalguksu
Photo by 행복한 초록개구리. It is a light noodle soup and, unlike almost all Korean dishes, is not spicy. Usually the noodles are prepared and cut by hand, with a knife. They are made from flour and eggs, and bean flour is sometimes added to the dough. The broth, on the other hand, is made by boiling anchovies or anchovies, seafood and seaweed but is sometimes prepared using chicken broth. To make the soup really tasty, all the ingredients are left to simmer for several hours.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: approx. €5.50
Main ingredients: handmade noodles (flour, bean flour, egg), chicken or fish broth, seaweed, mixed vegetables
4 - Gukbap
The term refers to a large category of Korean food, i.e. all types of rice-based soup. There are many variations, such as Kongnamul Gukbap (with soybean sprouts), Doeji Gukbap (with pork), Seonji Gukbap and many others.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: less than €1.00
Main ingredients: the main ingredient is always rice in broth, with various additional ingredients depending on the type of soup
5 - Tteokbokki
This is a famous Korean dish consisting of rice dumplings with a characteristic cylindrical shape. They are served with a sauce made of a very spicy, bright red sauce, mainly made of chilli peppers. The sauce also includes boiled eggs and scallions. As it is a very inexpensive dish, it is easy to find it for sale as street food at market stalls or diners.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: less than €1.00
Main ingredients: rice dumplings, chilli, egg, shallot
6 - Samgyeopsal
This is a very simple dish. It consists of more or less thin slices of bacon. That's it? The special feature of the dish lies in its cooking method. The restaurant customer has to cook the dish himself on a special grill placed in the middle of his table. This procedure allows the consumer to ascertain the freshness of the meat and independently choose the cooking level. The recipe is not only tasty, but also fun, as the bacon is accompanied by a variety of side dishes, usually consisting of salad, kimchi, onion and/or garlic, rice and a variety of sauces.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: approx. €2.00
Main ingredients: bacon, sauces, side dishes
7 - Pajeon
The so-called Korean 'pizza' consists of a dough made of flour, eggs and spring onions, all fried in a pan. A fourth ingredient is usually added as a topping for the 'pizza', such as seafood or kimchi. It is eaten dipped in certain sauces and served with them.
Recommended: lunch, dinner, snack
Average cost: about €3.00
Main ingredients: flour, eggs, spring onions, seafood, kimchi and other ingredients of choice
8 - Sundubu Jjigae
Photo by 행복한 초록개구리. Here is yet another soup, this time based on Sundubu, a very fresh and soft quality of tofu. Vegetables and a very spicy red sauce called gochujang are also added to the soup. Again, there are different types of this soup, differing in the other ingredients added, such as beef or pork, seafood, Korean dumplings and many others. Be careful not to burn yourself, as the soup is served in a very hot bowl in which you can, if you wish, add an egg.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: about €2.00
Main ingredients: a type of tofu called Sundubu, vegetables, hot sauce, egg, beef or pork, seafood, dumplings or rice
9 - Seolleongtang
Photo by Mike Chung. Another soup, this time milk-white in colour, is Seollongtang, one of the most popular dishes in Korean cuisine. Despite its colour, the soup is not milk-based at all, but is the result of boiling ox bones for over 15 hours. The soup is then served very hot, enriched with chunks of meat and green onions to which black pepper and garlic may be added if desired.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: approx. €1.50
Main ingredients: meat broth, beef, rice
10 - Hoddeok
How to describe these Korean sweets? They are similar to pancakes, with a filling of brown sugar syrup, honey, peanut kernels and cinnamon. They are very caloric.
Recommended for: any meal
Average cost: less than €1.00
Main ingredients: flour, sugar, honey, cinnamon powder, peanuts
Where to eat in Seoul: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Korean cuisine finds its most authentic identity in the city of Seoul, unleashing itself in ancient popular recipes, in which sauces, vegetables, meat, eggs and nuts are the main ingredients, often cooked directly at the table, in front of the eyes and languishing eyes of hungry guests. The dishes are, almost always, accompanied by beers (Koreans are excellent producers) and wines, often made from cereals, such as takju or yakju.
Fusion or traditional cuisine, depending on tastes and needs, to be savoured in cosy typical restaurants or in the alleys of cheerful folk markets: the most famous are Gwangjang and Namdaemun. Here are the best places that will take you on a voyage of discovery to succulent gastronomic Korea.
1 - Namdaemun market
Description: Seoul's largest market, perfect for a gastronomic tour dedicated to typical Korean street food.
Speciality: Oden (fish, meat and vegetable noodle soup)
Average price: from €3.00 per person
Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu - Get directions
2 - Mingles
Description: Michelin-starred restaurant (1 Michelin star), suitable for curious palates. Specialises in fusion cuisine
Speciality: veal marinated in fermented soy paste
Average price: from €28.00 per person
Address: 19 Dosan-daero 67-gil, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu - Get directions - Website
3 - Imun Seoul Nontang
Description: dating back to 1904, this is the city's first restaurant and its history and the goodness of its dishes make it unique and a must-try.
Speciality: oxtail soup
Average price: from €7.00 per person
Address: 26, Sejong-daero 11-gil, Jung-gu - Get directions
4 - Junsik Seoul
Description: combination of East and West, fusion and elegant cuisine, international wines, two Michelin stars
Specialities: sea urchins and Korean beef
Average price: from €45.00 per person
Address: 11 Seolleung-ro 158-gil, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu - Get directions
5 - Soigne
Description: Refined and with sophisticated themed menus, this is one of the most sought-after restaurants in Seoul. One Michelin star
Speciality: themed menus vary according to moods using fragrant spices and herbs. Dishes usually combine seasonal vegetables and flowers.
Average price: from €110.00 per person
Address: 46 Banpo-daero 39-gil, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu - Get directions - Website