Korean Food

Korean food comes from Korea, a country in East Asia. It is known for its bold, spicy flavors and many side dishes. Rice is the main part of most Korean meals. Fermented foods like kimchi are eaten every day and are an important part of Korean cooking.

Popular Korean Dishes

Kimchi is Korea's most famous food. It is made from cabbage and radishes that are seasoned with chili pepper and left to ferment. Bibimbap is a colorful bowl of rice topped with vegetables, meat, and a spicy sauce. Korean barbecue lets people grill their own meat right at the table. Japchae is a dish of glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables.

Korean Meal Traditions

A Korean meal always comes with many small side dishes called banchan. These side dishes might include kimchi, pickled vegetables, and small salads. Korean meals are meant to be shared with everyone at the table. Koreans use metal chopsticks instead of wooden ones, which takes some practice to learn.

Fun Facts

• Koreans eat about 40 pounds of kimchi per person every year.
• There are over 200 different types of kimchi in Korea.
• Korean metal chopsticks were originally used by royalty because metal could detect poison in food.

Did You Know?

Kimchi is so important in Korea that there is a museum in Seoul dedicated just to kimchi!