The following highlights some of the popular Traditional North Korean Foods. If you manage to be in an North Korean restaurant or you are visiting North Korea, I recommend the following:
1. Japchae
Korean Japchae is a typical Korean dish. It is based on delicious noodles and vegetables, which are cooked with soy sauce and sesame sauce. Japchae is widely used in Korea during celebrations and casual get-togethers. This typical Korean dish is an excellent option to enjoy an elegant and exquisite gastronomy.
2. Beef Rib Soup
Galbi “cut ribs” and tang “soup”, also known as kalbi tang, is a Korean soup whose main ingredient is short rib of beef. A representative dish originally served at banquets and wedding receptions. It is an ideal hot dish to eat in winter and autumn and you can enjoy it with your family.
3. Mandu
Mandu are Korean dumplings. They can be fried, boiled or steamed and have a variety of fillings, although two of the most typical ones are meat and kimchi. They are usually eaten as a sharing dish, not as a single dish.
4. Kimbap
Visually it is similar to a sushi roll. Kimbap consists of white rice with other ingredients (usually vegetables, meat, omelet, egg…) wrapped in a pressed seaweed sheet. These rolls are cut into small slices so that they can be eaten in one bite. You are sure to find ready-made kimbap trays in any grocery shop for a small price and they can save you from some trouble.
5. Porridge
Porridge is very popular in Korea as a breakfast or light meal. This creamy chicken porridge is one of the best dishes, especially on a cold winter day. Korean porridge is made from a variety of grains, proteins and vegetables, and is very diverse. In addition, chicken porridge (dakjuk), red bean (patjuk), pumpkin (hobakjuk), pine nut (jatjuk) and abalone (jeonbokjuk) are some of the most popular varieties.
6. Sundae
This Korean dish is also known as soondae, a curiosity of which is that there are many variants that include the names of the regions where they are prepared. It is a sausage made with cow intestine and cooked white rice. Moreover, this dish is so popular in South Korea that there is a neighborhood called “Sundae Town”, a place where there are many restaurants that serve sundae in the traditional way, as well as its variants.
7. Quail Eggs
Korean poached eggs are a popular Korean side dish made with soy sauce in brine and boiled eggs. Quail eggs are small and speckled, but delicious: their size is part of their charm. Quail eggs are marinated on their own for a perfect balance of sweet and salty. They are very popular appetizers and side dishes.
8. Jokbal
Jokbal is a type of Korean dish made from boiled and jellied pig’s trotters. It is one of the most popular and representative Korean foods eaten during Seollal (Lunar New Year). Jokbal is eaten on New Year’s Day because pork is considered an auspicious animal in Korea. It is common to eat jokbal with steamed rice, jjajang (black bean) sauce, green salad or other side dishes.
9. Tot'ori-Muk
It is a Korean dish consisting of a jelly made from acorn starch. Although ‘muk’ means ‘jelly’. Dotorimuk muchim is a vegan side dish in which sheets of dotorimuk (acorn jelly) are mixed with vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber and chives and garnished with garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, paprika and sesame seeds. It is a traditional recipe from the mountains of Korea, where abundant oak trees produce enough acorns each autumn to provide a viable food source.
10. Tofu
As a food, tofu can be eaten in various ways. The simplest is raw, just as you buy it at the market. You cut the block into square or rectangular pieces and serve it with soy sauce, or you can fry it directly in a frying pan or coat it in egg batter. One of the star dishes of Korean cuisine is tofu soup (sundubu). Soft tofu is always used for this dish. Other ingredients can be added to the soup, from spicy sauce or sesame paste to seafood, fish or meat. All these options are available in Korean restaurants, so you can try them when you visit Korea.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.