8 posts tagged with "Food & Dining"

Seoul may have everything, but it doesn't always have the best of everything. In Korea, every region has "Hyangto Eumsik" (local foods) born from its specific geography, history, and climate. To truly understand Korean cuisine, you have to leave the capital and follow the map.

Here is your culinary compass.

In Korea, alcohol is not just a beverage; it is social glue. You don't really know someone until you have shared a bottle of Soju with them. Whether it's a corporate "Hoesik" (company dinner) or a Friday night out in Hongdae, knowing the rules of the game will save you from embarrassment (and a terrible hangover).

Here is your survival manual.

If you ask a Korean grandmother about food, she will talk about "Son-mat" (hand taste) and fermentation that takes months. If you ask a Korean teenager, they will talk about "Map-Dan-Jjan" (Spicy, Sweet, Salty) and pouring cheese on everything.

Korean cuisine is currently in a civil war between its healthy, balanced roots and its hyper-palatable, viral future. To understand Korea, you must taste both.

In Seoul, you don't need a reservation to eat like a king. You just need 5,000 won and a pair of comfortable shoes. The streets of Myeongdong and the aisles of Gwangjang Market are the world's greatest open-air kitchens.

Here is the ultimate checklist of 15 street foods you must try, ranging from timeless classics to the latest TikTok trends.

You know how to use chopsticks. Great. But did you just stick them vertically into your rice? Stop. In Korea, that looks like you are offering food to the dead at a funeral.

Korean dining culture is strictly governed by Confucian principles of respect and hierarchy. But don't punish yourself—Koreans are very forgiving to foreigners. However, if you want to impress your local friends, here are the 10 rules to follow.

They call it "Daefrica" (Daegu + Africa). Yes, Daegu is the hottest city in South Korea. But the heat matches the passion of its people—and the spice level of its food. Located right in the middle of the Seoul-Busan KTX line, Daegu is often skipped. That is a mistake, especially if you love food and modern history.

Here is why you should hop off the train for 24 hours.

When Koreans think of "Food", they think of Jeonju. Designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, this city is the spiritual home of Korean cuisine. But the jewel in its crown is the Jeonju Hanok Village, a slow-living district with over 700 traditional houses.

Here is how to spend a perfect 24 hours eating your way through history.

When people think of Korean food, they think of BBQ. And yes, grilling pork belly at your table while sipping soju is a religious experience.

But Korean food is so much more than meat on a grill. It's crispy mung bean pancakes sizzling on a griddle at 11 PM. It's bite-sized gimbap so good they call it "drug food." It's fried chicken so perfectly crunchy that an entire culture formed around pairing it with beer.

I've eaten my way through Seoul's markets, street tents, and hidden alleys. This is your no-nonsense guide to the dishes and places that will make you want to move to Korea just for the food.