My Favorite Unexpected Korean Dishes

Before I came to South Korea, whenever someone asked what I was most excited about, I always had the same answer: the food! What I didn’t know was that I would discover many Korean dishes I had never even heard of before. Discovering these new foods was one of the highlights of my study abroad experience!

First is 감자탕 (gamjatang), a soup made of pork spine or neck bones. It usually includes potatoes, perilla leaves, and a rich broth made of ground perilla seeds and 된장 (doenjang, Korean fermented bean paste). The meat is super tender and the broth is savory and nutty. I first tried this in the cafeteria, and I loved it so much I ate every last drop. The version they serve is called 순살 감자탕 (sunsal gamjatang), which is a version with the meat off the bone. I prefer this version because it’s much easier to eat!

Next is 설렁탕 (seolleongtang), a white soup made by simmering ox bones for many many hours. The soup includes beef, Korean radish, and is usually topped with green onions. This dish is light yet very comforting. It’s the ultimate Korean comfort food, with similar vibes to chicken soup. Especially in winter, 설렁탕 is the perfect food to warm you up. There is a super cheap 설렁탕 restaurant in Sinchon called Dongnimmun Ox Bone Soup that I would definitely recommend!

Finally is 닭갈비 (dakgalbi), Korean spicy stir-fried chicken. The origin of the name comes from the 1960s, when chicken was prepared like pork ribs over a charcoal fire. Now it is commonly cooked on an iron plate. The dish includes chicken in a gochujang sauce, with add ons like sweet potatoes, cabbage, and rice cakes. I was introduced to the dish by my friends and we all quickly became obsessed with it. We often frequent a 닭갈비 place in Sinchon named Chuncheonjip Spicy Stir-fried Chicken (춘천집 닭갈비). Fun fact: the city of 춘천 is know for 닭갈비! Make sure to get the fried rice (볶음밥) add on, they will make the remaining chicken and sauce into fried rice for you! You can also eat this topped with cheese, but since I’m lactose intolerant I usually opt to exclude it.

I love to try new food, so discovering these new foods has been so fun! I’m hoping to be able to recreate a couple of them when I get home to show to my friends and family.