Politixia
For years, Korean food tourism has largely revolved around familiar favourites: Korean barbecue, fried chicken and spicy tteokbokki. But a different trend has emerged across online communities and platforms, including TikTok, Reddit, Instagram and travel blogs.
From comforting bowls of pork soup to sweet and savoury snacks and creative convenience store hacks, visitors are moving beyond the obvious tourist picks, seeking out the foods locals enjoy every day.
Drawing on recent food trends spotted across social media and travel communities, as well as dishes frequently recommended by visitors, here are seven Korean foods worth searching for.
1. Dwaeji gukbap: Busan’s signature comfort food
If there is one local dish that has emerged as a favourite among foreign travellers visiting Busan, it is dwaeji gukbap – or pork rice soup.
The milky pork bone broth is rich without being spicy, and diners can customise the flavour themselves with salt, shrimp paste and chives. For those who prefer more heat, a spoonful of red chilli paste can be added.
Visitors to Seoul who want to keep their options local can try sundae gukbap, which uses blood sausage instead of pork meat, or seolleongtang, a soup made with a rich beef bone broth.
2. Kalguksu: handmade noodles loved by locals
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