Korean menus can look completely impenetrable if you don't read Hangul. But here's the thing most Korean dishes follow predictable patterns. The same words appear over and over. Learn those words and you can decode most menus even without knowing Korean.
Here are the 20 food words that appear on almost every Korean menu.
Cooking Methods These Come First
Korean menu items are often structured as: cooking method + main ingredient. Know the cooking methods and you know half of everything.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 구이 (Gui) | Gui | Grilled galbi gui, samgyeopsal gui |
| 찜 (Jjim) | Jjim | Steamed or braised galbijjim |
| 볶음 (Bokkeum) | Bokkeum | Stir-fried kimchi bokkeum |
| 탕 (Tang) | Tang | Soup or broth galbitang, seolleongtang |
| 찌개 (Jjigae) | Jjigae | Stew kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae |
| 냉 (Naeng) | Naeng | Cold naengmyeon (cold noodles) |
| 전 (Jeon) | Jeon | Pancake pajeon, kimchi jeon |
| 밥 (Bap) | Bap | Rice bibimbap, bokkeum bap |
Key Ingredients
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 소고기 | Sogogi | Beef |
| 돼지고기 | Dwaeji gogi | Pork |
| 닭고기 | Dak gogi | Chicken |
| 해산물 | Haesanmul | Seafood |
| 두부 | Dubu | Tofu |
| 김치 | Kimchi | Fermented cabbage |
| 된장 | Doenjang | Fermented soybean paste |
| 고추장 | Gochujang | Red pepper paste means it's spicy |
Spice Level Words
These words tell you how spicy something is before you order.
맵다 / 매운 (Maepda / Maeun)
Spicy if you see 매운 in the name, it's hot
순한 (Sunhan) means mild. 불 (Bul) means fire as in very spicy.
Dishes Everyone Should Know
비빔밥 (Bibimbap)
Mixed rice with vegetables and egg
One of Korea's most famous dishes. Usually comes with gochujang on the side mix everything together before eating.
삼겹살 (Samgyeopsal)
Grilled pork belly
The ultimate Korean BBQ experience. You grill it yourself at the table. Wrap in lettuce with garlic and doenjang.
김치찌개 (Kimchi jjigae)
Kimchi stew
A staple. Usually has pork or tofu. Deeply flavored. Often spicy. One of the great comfort foods in Korean cuisine.
냉면 (Naengmyeon)
Cold noodles
Served cold even in winter. Thin buckwheat noodles in a chilled broth. Strange at first, revelatory after two bites.
떡볶이 (Tteokbokki)
Spicy rice cakes
Street food staple. Chewy rice cylinders in a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce. Genuinely addictive. Usually quite spicy.
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추천해 주세요
Chucheonhae juseyo
Please recommend something
When the menu is too overwhelming, just say this. You'll almost always get the dish the kitchen is proudest of and often the best thing on the menu.