Top 10 culinary specialities in Seoul

Korea is a country renowned and appreciated for the diversity and originality of its dishes. After all, it’s not everywhere that you’ll see moving octopus on your plate! If you’re in a hurry to find out what you could be eating, Navaway has done its homework, and the least we can say is that we’ve got something to delight your taste buds!

Dive into a gastronomic journey of sweet, savoury, spicy and mild tones. Welcome to flavours and culinary surprises. Korean cuisine is colourful and satisfying, and will leave a pleasant memory in both your stomach and mind. Shall we start tasting?

What to eat in Seoul

1. Naengmyeon

In summer, it’s sometimes nice to set aside hot dishes and break the rules by enjoying a cold meal. In Korea, Naengmyeon is a noodle-based concentrate that has been soaked in a cold or even frozen broth. With a bit of beef, an egg and a few pieces of potato or sweet potato, it’s an unusual meal that you’ll find all over South Korea, and which the people of Seoul are crazy about! There are many different versions, of which the spicy noodle version is one of the most popular. So, are you ready to try Naengmyeon?

2. Kimchi

The word “Kimchi” is bound to ring a bell. This dish made exclusively with chillies and pickled vegetables such as Chinese cabbage is very famous in France and other countries. This very crunchy cold dish brings a new flavour to your stomach… and it won’t dislike it! Fermented in brine, the vegetables taste completely different to anything you may have experienced before. Kimchi is a feature of practically every meal on Korean tables, even breakfast, because it’s so delicious!

3. Bibimbap

With such a cute name, it’s easy to imagine that the dish in question must be delicious! Decorated with colours, Bibimbap is a sweet mixture of rice, minced beef, a few vegetables (Korean dishes have the particularity of being very well balanced), a fried egg and a few sesame seeds to add even more flavour. If you see a hint of red paste in your dish, it’s probably ‘gochujang’, a chilli that’s very popular in Seoul.

4. Kimbap

Kimpab or Gimbap is a type of sushi filled with rice and other ingredients. Wrapped in a sheet of dried seaweed, there are many varieties of this dish, and many people like to eat it with coleslaw: pieces of radish, carrot, egg, meat, etc. Depending on your preferences, you can add whatever you like. When you arrive in Seoul, there’s nothing better than stopping off at a nice restaurant with a soothing setting to enjoy the best Kimbap you’ve ever tasted.

5. Yakgwa

Now it’s time for the sugar – Korean honey cakes, known as “Yakgwa”, are absolutely mouth-watering! Baked with flour, honey, rice wine and sesame oil, these little sweets with their distinctive colour and flower-like shape are a real eye-catcher. Their moist texture gives them a slightly doughy appearance, and on the palate they are an explosion of flavour. They’re typically the kind of food you like to eat at the end of a hard day’s work to reward yourself.

6. Japchae

This is a healthy, balanced dish that can literally be translated as ‘mixed vegetables’. Japchae is a nugget of flavour. Mixed with sweet potato noodles called dangmyeon, the vegetables can be eaten hot or cold. Tourists generally love this simple but enjoyable dish. For those with a sweet tooth and a taste for good meat, you can always add a few thinly sliced strips of beef, with a few spoonfuls of soy sauce and sesame oil.

7. Soju

Soju is one of the best-selling alcohols in the world. This ancient drink is one of the oldest in Korea, and is made by fermenting rice flour. Consumed cold, it is always enjoyed with food, as a moment of sharing and conviviality. The alcohol content varies from region to region, but is usually between 20% and 40%. For some time now, flavoured versions have been available, such as strawberry or lychee.

8. Samgyetang

A little white meat never hurts! Samgyetang is a chicken soup stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, ginseng root (a plant that grows a lot in Seoul and is known to invigorate the body and mind), chestnuts and jujube, a fruit rich in fibre. Koreans like to eat this dish before a competition or exam, as it is believed to have energising properties. Cooked in a broth, it is popular in summer. In this way, the locals fill up on vitamins and nutrients to regain their strength, which tends to be lost in the heat.

9. Hotteok

Dear friends, here is the star of this ranking: Hotteok, honey pancakes with a tempting smell. You’ll find them in every street-food stall in the city. This is one of the best-known desserts that both young and old love. Filled with brown sugar, this little pancake is sprinkled with cinnamon and chopped peanuts. Hotteok is served piping hot and can easily be eaten while strolling the streets of Seoul. It’s a great classic of traditional cuisine, which will delight your taste buds and leave you wanting more!

10. Jajangmyeon

This Chinese-inspired dish has spread rapidly throughout Seoul. It’s easily recognised by the black fermented soy sauce that coats the thick noodles. With minced pork, beans and vegetables, Jajangmyeon is usually served with a bowl of rice or fried eggs. This richly flavoured dish has quickly become a classic in Korean cuisine, so much so that every restaurant serves it, making it easy to enjoy.