Banana Milk 바나나맛 우유 (Bananamas Uyu)

This banana flavoured milk produced by Binggrae is one of the most popular drink in Korea. It becomes an iconic drink of Korea. The drink consists of 80% milk with a hint of banana flavour. Some banana milk just taste artificial or of an unpleasant taste. Since 1974, an average of 800,000 bottles of this milk is sold daily in Korea. At the time when this drink was produced, bananas were expensive and considered a luxury. Together with the Korean government wanting to encourage citizens to drink more milk, Binggrae develop this banana milk so that customers will be entice to purchase their milk for a taste of the fruit. Now, the milk comes in other flavours as well like original, strawberry, melon and coffee.

Korea Yakult 한국야 쿠르트 (Hanguk Yakuleuteu)

Everybody loves Yakult right? Invented in the 1930s in Japan, it is a probiotic cultured milk drink fermented with a bacteria called lactobacillus. Korea Yakult is a Korean joint venture with the original Yakult established in 1969. It is also available in bigger bottles, other than the usual foil lid mini bottles. The Korea Yakult is very well liked and is also package as a snack flavour like for gummies and jellies.

Shin Ramyun 신라면 (Sinlamyeon)

Korea's top 1 instant noodles brand! It is a slightly spicy noodles with its own distinctive kind of taste. The Chinese character '辛' on the packaging means 'spicy', but it is actually not that spicy. Shin Ramyun Black, which was launched in 2011, contains extra beef stock for a more intense flavour, thus it tastes a lot better than the original version!

Korean Snacks

Korea has their own range of snacks that can be found only in Korea, or in Korean marts in foreign countries.

Market O Brownies

Tteokbokki Crackers

Tteokbokki, Korean rice cake, is a popular street snack, cooked in a spicy, red sauce. These Tteokbokki Crackers taste similar to the tteokbokki sauce, with a spicy and slightly sticky coating.

Pepero

The Korean version of the popular Pocky snack. Pepero is a popular snack amongst the Koreans and comes in many interesting flavours. My favourite is hami melon!

Choco Pie

Another popular Korean snack that consists of two round cakes with a marshmallow filling, covered in chocolate.

Packet Korean Soups

Other than packet drinks, Korea also have packet soups. I was so amazed at the wide range of Korean and western soups available. Many Korean young adults stay away from the parents and do not have time to spend hours boiling a good pot of soup. These packet soups are a great option for a nice bowl of needed nutrients.

Kimchi 김치

Kimchi needs no introduction right? They are fermented vegetables and is the most popular and most liked side dish for Koreans. It usually has a slight spicy and sour taste. Taste of it varies from place to place, depending on how it is made and how long it is aged for. The most common type of kimchi is napa cabbage. Other types of vegetables like radish and scallions are also popular choices.

Korea Steamed Bun 만두 (Mandu)

The Korea's version of steamed bun has a slightly different texture than the usual Chinese steamed buns. It has a more chewy texture. In Korean, it is called 'mandu', which means 'dumpling'; and Korean steamed dumplings are also called 'mandu'.

Try: Namdaemun Market - Hyojason King Dumpling 효자손 왕만두.

Mandu 만두

Mandu is Korean dumpling, usually steamed, boiled or fried. Myeongdong Kyoja's steamed mandu are by far the best, with a minced pork and vegetables filling, and a very thin wrapper. You can spot a basket of these amazing dumplings almost at every table!

Try: Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자.

Mandu at Myeongdong Kyoja, KRW10,000 (10pcs).

Manjoo 만쥬

A custard-filled corn-shaped cake. These cakes are a great snack and can be easily found at underground subway stations. They are made fresh on the spot and is manufactured by Delimanjoo.

Bbopki 뽑기

A traditional Korean sugar candy made from sugar and baking soda. It can be found on food streets, usually sold by grannies.

Find: Myeongdong Street.

32cm Ice Cream

You can't miss this yummy 32cm treat available at food streets! It is great enjoyed both in the heat and in the cold.

Find: Myeongdong Street.

Gyeranbbang 계란빵 (Korean Egg Bread)

Though it is called a 'bread', but its texture is more similar to cake. It is a oblong shaped cake with an whole egg cracked into the center. A nice eggy snack!

Find: Myeongdong Street.

Odeng 오뎅

The Korean fishcake taste totally different from the usual fishcake. It is super addictive and the plus point is, it always comes with a complimentary cup of soup! Some places allow you to have free flow soup! A great snack to warm your tummy when you are in the cold.

Find: Myeongdong Street, but many places sell this.

Hotteok 호떡

A high sugar content pancake made from a mixture of flour, water, milk, sugar and yeast. It is then filled with a sweet filling like brown sugar or honey. It is a popular snack during the winter season.

Tteokbokki 떡볶이

One of the most commonly seen street food and one of the most well liked snack. Korean rice cakes are cooked in a red, spicy sauce made from gochujang, and is usually cooked together with Korean fish cakes, eggs and scallions.

Find: Myeongdong Street, but many places sell this.

Dakkochi 닭꼬치

A grilled chicken and scallion skewer, a popular street snack.

Gimbap 김밥

Gimbap looks exactly the same as rolled sushi. Both uses short-grain rice, but marination for the rice is different. The word 'gimbap' means 'seaweed rice'. It is usually filled with something green (like cucumber, spinach), yellow (like pickled radish, eggs), orange (like carrot) and a meat (like beef, ham, spam, crabstick).

Pajeon 파전

Scallion pancake, made from a batter of eggs, flour and rice flour. Seafood Pancake - Haemul Pajeon 해물파전 - and Kimchi Pancake (orange) - Kimchi Pajeon 김치파전 - is also very popular.

Soondae 순대

A kind of blood sausage made by steaming cow / pig's intestines, most commonly stuffed with blood and glass noodles.

Sannakji 산낙지

A raw octopus dish that is fascinating to eat as the tentacles continue to move even though the octopus is dead. You can feel the suction from the suction cups of the tentacles while you chill them!

Try: Noryangjin Fish Market, or any Korean restaurant that sells seafood.

Korean Toast 길거리 토스트 (Gilgeoli Toseuteu)

A popular to-go breakfast that usually consists of a spicy-sweet sauce, shredded cabbage, eggs, cheese and ham, sandwiched between nicely toasted buttered white bread. Its Korean name translates to 'street toast'.

Try: Issac Toast (for fancy fillings).

Naengmyeon 랭면

A type of buckwheat noodles that is served in a steel bowl with iced broth. It is usually topped with hard-boiled egg and julienned cucumbers and carrots.

Jjajangmyeon 짜장면 (Black Sauce Noodles)

A Chinese noodle dish that was introduced to Korea in 1905. The Chinese version consists of a sauce made from fermented soybean paste and minced meat. The Korean version consists of a sauce made from chunjang, soy sauce and meat, usually pork belly.

Kalguksu 칼국수

A type of knife-cut noodles served in a bowl of soup, along with other ingredients.

Try: Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자.

Kalguksu at Myeongdong Kyoja, KRW8,000.

Ramyeon 라면

Everybody loves instant noodles! A quick and amazing meal fix! The most commonly known Korean instant noodle brand will be Shin Ramyun, in a catching red packaging. In recent years, the Korean spicy noodles have been making a rave. The Samyang Hot Chicken Ramyeon in a black packaging is the next most commonly known Korean instant noodles brand.

Budae Jjigae 부대찌개, translated as 'army stew', consists of ramyeon cooked in a stew with other ingredients such as ham, sausage, spam, baked beans, kimchi and gochujang. The dish was created by the army, where they throw the leftovers in a pot, together with ramyeon.

Try: 55 Beonji Ramyeon` 55 번지 라면, Mukshidonna 먹쉬돈나.

Bibimbap 비빔밥 (Korean Mixed Rice)

Bibimbap consists of rice served in a hot stone bowl, topped with colourful ingredients and a raw / fried egg in the middle. Ingredients can be cucumber, zucchini, radish, mushrooms, beef, beancurd, sautéed spinach, beansprouts or chicken. Sesame oil, gochujang and sesame seeds may be added.

Try: Gogung 고궁.

Juk 죽

Korean porridge and is commonly served with thin slices of abalone and is called Jeonbokjuk 전복죽. Juk is known to have nutritional benefits and is beneficial to digestion. Another popular variation of Juk is chicken porridge - Dakjuk 닭죽.

Try: Bonjuk 본죽.

About KRW8,000-12,000, depending on the ingredients.

Sweet & Sour Chicken 닭강정 (Dakgangjeong)

Dakgangjeong is Korean fried chicken coated with a sticky, sweet and spicy sauce. It is sometimes served sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Jokbal 족발

Pork trotters braised in soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, scallions and rice wine. Additional ingredients such as onion, leeks, cinnamon and black pepper may be added. After trotters are cooked, they are debone and cut into slices. As it is a greasy dish, it is usually consumed as ssam 쌈, wrapped in a piece of lettuce. Jokbal contains lots of gelatin, which is said to promote firm, wrinkle-free skin.

Try: Myth Jokbal 미쓰족발.

Dakbal 닭발

After you try pork's feet (trotters), you can try chicken feet. Not everyone will love this dish though. Some are afraid of the shape of the feet, but fret not, it is actually really delicious! The Korean style is usually fried, then cooked in a spicy sauce. It is a favourite dish to go along with alcoholic drinks like soju or beer.

Ganjang Gejang 간장게장

Raw crabs marinated in soy sauce. The Koreans love to add rice to the shell of the crab and mix it together with the roe and soy sauce, which makes it really delicious! Thus, having the nickname, "rice thieves" as it go so well with rice, making the whole bowl disappear in seconds!

Samgyetang 삼계탕

Samgyetang translates to 'ginseng chicken soup'. It consists of a young whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, red date and ginseng. The soup is often served with a small complimentary cup of ginseng wine. It is a nutritious dish and is a must-eat for the Koreans on 3 distinct days - Chobok 초복, Jungbok 중복 and Malbok 말복 - a belief to promote health.

Try: Korea Samgyetang 고려 삼계탕, Tosokchon Samgyetang 토속촌 삼계탕.

Samgyetang with Abalone at Korea Samgyetang, KRW19,000.

Samgyetang at Tosokchon, KRW16,000.

Japchae 잡채

A traditional stir-fried glass noodle dish. Sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon 분탕) are used and cooked with vegetables, usually scallions and carrots, mushrooms and meat. It is then seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Kimchi Jjigae 김치 찌개

A kimchi stew that consists of kimchi and other ingredients like scallions, onion, beancurd, pork / seafood.

Bossam 보쌈

Pork belly boiled in spices, then thinly sliced. The meat is served with side dishes like spicy radish salad, raw garlic, ssamjang, kimchi and is consumed as ssam 쌈, wrapped in a piece of lettuce.

Jjimdak 찜닭

A braised chicken dish cooked in soy sauce, usually along with carrots, scallions, potato slices and sweet potato noodles.

Try: Andong Jjimdak 안동찜닭, Bongchu Jjimdak 봉추찜닭.

Jjimdak at Andong Jjimdak, KRW19,000 (for 2-3pax).

Korean Barbecue 고기구이 (Gogigui)

Grilling meat over charcoal fire, usually beef, pork and chicken. It is often barbecued together with vegetables like carrot, onions, leafy vegetables, scallions and cabbage. The meat is then cut into smaller pieces and consumed as ssam 쌈, wrapped in a piece of lettuce.

Bulgogi 불고기

Grilled thinly sliced marinated beef / pork. It is usually barbecued, but also stir-fired at home.

Gopchang 곱창

Instead of grilling meat, gopchang is intestines, usually pig intestines. Intestines have a nice chewy texture. In the past, it is a popular dish as it is affordable and nutritious. It is rich in iron and vitamins. Today, Gopchang is considered as a delicacy and is sold more expensive than regular meat.

Try: Angyeong Halmeoni Gopchang 안경할머니곱창.

Gopchang BBQ at Angyeong Halmeoni Gopchang, KRW11,000 (per pax).

Samgyeopsal 삼겹살

A variation of Korean barbecue, samgyeopsal is grilled pork belly. Samgyeopsal translates to 'three layer flesh', referring to the meat and fat layers of a pork belly. Similarly, it is also cut into smaller pieces and consumed as ssam 쌈, wrapped in a piece of lettuce.

Palsaek Samgyeopsal 팔색삼겹살 is a great place to try as they offer pork belly marinated in 8 flavours - ginger, wine, ginseng, pine leaves, herbs, curry, miso, chilli (pepper paste).

Bingsu 빙수

A Korean shaved ice dessert traditionally served with condensed milk and red beans. These days, bingsu varies in all sorts of flavours and with toppings like ice cream, cake, fruits, chocolate, nuts and jellies.

Try: Sulbing 설빙.

Mango Apple Cheese Bingsu at Sulbing, KRW10,000 (good for 2pax).