My First Month in Korea – Food and Desserts!

Traveling to a new country means immersing yourself in the new culture. The most obvious and easy way to do this is through food. As I am settling into my new home for the semester, I’d like to share some dessert spots in Seoul, Korea! Keep reading to see my favorite desserts! 

Many cafes have desserts like cake, pastries, and some also specialize in a specific dessert (like souffle pancakes for example). It’s very common to order on a kiosk, in case you are shy with your Korean. However, I try to order while speaking Korean as much as I can! Exposure is learning. Just point to the item on the menu that you want to order and say “주세요”/ “ju-se-yo”. 

Strawberry Cake @Cafe de Lyon

I had some very tasty strawberry cake at a cafe called “Cafe de Lyon” (카페드리옹), which is a French-styled cafe! The cafe was also a great study spot, with multiple floors. Their cafe is so delicious that it usually gets sold out. It’s made with fresh strawberries, the cake is spongey, and not too sweet! 

Frozen Yogurt

The frozen yogurt tastes very different from the United States. In the US, it’s usually still sweet and tastes similar to soft serve. In Korea, it actually tastes like yogurt while having the same texture as soft serve. Some chains also offer sugar-free options while preserving the taste. I was addicted to Yogurt World for the first few weeks here. I would choose the pistachio kataifi, cheese cubes (cream cheese/cheese cake flavor), and strawberries! Super delicious…

Bingsu @Sulbing

(Bingsu is shaved ice, usually milk and topped with fruits and/or other toppings)

If you’re in Seoul, Sulbing is the Olive Young of desserts. There’s no city without a Sulbing. It’s a great dessert to share with friends, as the portions are HUGE! I made the mistake of going solo and having to finish the whole bowl alone. My favorite flavor so far has been the Injeolmi (Korean rice cake coated in soybean powder), since I love soybean powder. It would be so refreshing on a hot day.

Sesame Ice cream @Myeongdong Food Cart

Myeongdong is a tourist area with lots of shopping and food. There are many food options you can try at the food carts, and I tried this sesame ice cream once. It was the most authentic, fragrant sesame ice cream I’ve ever had. I could taste the roasted black sesame seeds in the ice cream! 

Hotteok and Ice cream Combo

Nothing hits like a sweet, crunchy, chewy dough paired with cold ice cream. The combination of texture and temperature is perfect. You can also just get the hotteok on its own. The only reason I put this dessert at the bottom is because it was a little too sweet for me personally (at the place I tried). 

Those are just a few of the best desserts I’ve tried in my first month here in Korea. Trying new desserts has been a fun and immersive way to explore Korea and get used to the lay of the land. Can’t wait to keep trying more and adding to this list!