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TOP 10 KOREAN DISHES TO TRY

While our supermarkets now routinely stock kimchi, and ordering kimchi fried rice with a side of kimchi is perfectly acceptable, Korean cuisine has much more to offer. Here (after quite a bit of internal debate), are Asia Answers Top 10 Korean dishes.

Bibimbap (mixed rice)
Bibimbap is essentially a bowl of mixed ingredients including rice, namul (sautéed vegetables), mushrooms, beef, soy sauce, gochujang (chili paste), and a fried egg.

Bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue)
A juicy, savory dish of grilled marinated beef, bulgogi is one of the most popular Korean meat dishes throughout the world.  It is often grilled with garlic and sliced onions to add flavor to the meat. The meat is usually wrapped in lettuce and it is also traditionally eaten with ssamjang (a thick, red spicy paste).

Samgyeopsal (pork strips)
Samgyeopsal consists of grilled slices of pork belly meat dipped in salt, pepper and sesame seed oil, and then wrapped in lettuce along with grilled slices of garlic, grilled slices of onion, shredded green onions, and kimchi.

Japchae (stir-fried noodles)
Japchae is a traditional Korean noodle dish made up of stir-fried sweet potato, thinly shredded vegetables, beef, and a hint of soy sauce and sugar. Japchae is known for its sweet and flavorful taste and its soft yet slightly chewy texture.

Ddukbokki (spicy rice cake)
Ddukbokki is made of cylindrical rice cakes, triangular fish cakes, vegetables, and sweet red chili sauce. It is a popular street food, loved for its combination of spicy and sweet flavors.

Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)
Served in a large stone bowl, sundubu-jjigae is a common spicy Korean stew generally made of tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, beef or pork, and gochujang (chili paste). Traditionally, a raw egg is placed on top of the stew and mixed with the soup before eating.

Haemul Pajeon (seafood vegetable pancake)
A savory pancake made predominantly with green onions, egg , flour, and seafood. Haemul pajeon is generally eaten as a main dish.

Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)
A common dish during the summer, samgyetang is a traditional soup made of chicken, garlic, rice, scallion, Korean jujube, ginseng, and spices. Not only is it known for its healthy contents but it also is popular simply for its creamy and meaty flavor.

Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)
Naengmyeon is a cold noodle dish that consists of long, thin noodles, cucumbers, slices of Korean pear, slices of beef and a hard-boiled egg. The noodles are often made of buckwheat, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

Hoeddeok (sweet syrupy pancakes)
A sweeter version of the Western pancake, hoeddeok is a popular Korean street food, especially during winter. It is flat, circular dough that is filled with a mixture of cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, and small pieces of peanut and cooked on a griddle. The delicacy has crunchy exterior and soft interior as well as an irresistible flavor.