Korea Food Culture Guides
The things a menu will not tell you.
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How to Eat Korean BBQKorean BBQ has a rhythm to it. Once you know the order of operations, the rest is easy.
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Korean Table MannersMost of what visitors worry about does not matter. A short list does.
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How to Order Without Speaking KoreanYou need about four phrases. Everything else can be done by pointing.
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Korean Street Food GuideStreet food in Korea is a category, not a novelty โ it is where a large share of everyday eating happens.
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Korean Drinking CultureDrinking in Korea is a social ritual with a structure. The rules are few but they are real.
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Banchan: Korea's Free Side DishesThe small plates that appear before you order anything are banchan. They are included, and they are refillable.
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How Spicy Is Korean Food?Less uniformly than its reputation suggests. A large part of the classic repertoire has no chilli in it at all.
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Vegetarian and Vegan in KoreaHarder than it looks, for one specific reason: broth. Knowing where it hides makes it manageable.
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Korean Convenience Store FoodKorean convenience stores are set up as small restaurants. Most have a counter, hot water, a microwave and somewhere to sit.
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Paying in Korean RestaurantsTwo things surprise most visitors: you pay at the counter, and you do not tip.
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Halal Food and Allergies in KoreaBoth are manageable in Korea, but neither is handled by asking casually. Written communication is the reliable route.
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Korean BreakfastThe traditional answer is rice and soup. The modern answer, for a lot of people, is coffee on the way to work.