6 Korean dishes you need to try

While watching K-dramas, there’s one scenario that happens all the time. One minute, you’re getting all excited over a romantic scene and the next thing you know, you’re drooling as the characters eat delicious food. Don’t feel down because we’re here with some of the best Korean dishes you need to try when you #DineInSM!

With bold flavors and endless side dish options, Korean cuisine is surely an enticing must-try for food lovers. Whether you want to relive those countless midnight Korean food cravings or maybe just want to inspire your next dinner out, here’s a Philippine food and restaurant guide to Korean dishes. Read on!

Samgyeopsal

If you’re a fan of Kdramas, we’re sure you know about samgyeopsal. The dish name directly translates to "three-layered meat." As a popular Korean meat dish, it can be enjoyed by patrons at Korean restaurants that specialize in meat dishes.

One can simply cook samgyeopsal on a grill and taste the savory flavors of the meat without any marinade. Koreans usually enjoy it with banchan (side dishes) like lettuce, kimchi, garlic, ssamjang, and mushrooms. However, other sides can also be added and then eaten as a whole.

In the Philippines, there’s no doubt that the hype for samgyeopsal has been continuously rising. Patrons even line up just to satisfy their cravings for tasty cuts of meat.

You too can eat samgyeopsal in SM Supermalls near you! Enjoy unli K-BBQ at restaurants like All4U and Samgyeopmasarap. You will definitely enjoy the filling and delicious meal!

Bibimbap

Another must-try Korean dish is bibimbap. The term bibim refers to mixing different ingredients, while bap means rice. This means you can make endless dish variations depending on your preferences.

Bibimbap is commonly served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with kimchi, egg, gochujang, soy sauce, and mixed vegetables. It can be a meat-based or vegetarian dish.

As a beloved Korean dish, it is not difficult to find people who have tried bibimbap in their lives. If you want to try it, visit Mr. Kimbob! Indulge in their Bibimbob meal and choose from meat options of beef, chicken, or pork. They will give you a special sauce and you can mix the meal yourself. Mr. Kimbob uses fresh ingredients to offer you the ultimate dish experience!

Tteokbokki

Have you seen your favorite Kdrama actors munching on those thick and sticky rice cakes coated in a red sauce? They are called tteokbokki and they are made with boiled rice cake, fish cake, diced garlic, soy sauce, sugar, onions, and gochujang.

Distinguished by its bright color, the snack is widely sold in Korea by street vendors. Enjoy a bowl of tteokbokki when you dine at Jin Joo Korean Grill!

Bulgogi

The term bulgogi literally refers to “fire meat” which means it is cooked by grilling. While it can be made with other meat such as chicken and pork, the Korean dish is commonly made with beef.

It is best enjoyed when grilled using a charcoal burner as it results in a bold, smoky flavor. Before grilling, the meat is marinated for hours in a mixture of sesame oil, pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, sugar, and soy sauce. Just like samgyeopsal, it is served with side dishes like lettuce, ssamjang, and kimchi.

Once you dine in at Masil, rest assured that you will experience authentic Korean bulgogi in every bite! The best part about it? They serve a wide variety of Korean dishes to truly immerse patrons in the Korean culture. Visit their SM Megamall branch today.

Jajangmyeon

Jajangmyeon is Korean-Chinese noodles in a chunjang or sweet bean sauce. This hearty comfort food has a black color because of the bean paste

Want a fun fact? In Korea, there’s a special day that takes place every year called Black Day, which is held on the 14th of April. Single people usually eat jajangmyeon during Black Day.

But in the country, you don’t have to be single to eat this Korean dish. Simply head to Jin Joo Korean Grill and enjoy their thick and filling jajangmyeon!

Korean fried chicken

There’s no dish you need to try out more than the Korean fried chicken! Unlike its American fast-food counterparts, the chicken is coated in a sweet and spicy sauce before double frying.

When you take your first bite at a Korean fried chicken place, you’ll notice that the meat is very juicy on the inside. On the outside, it has that perfect crunch. In Korea, it is a popular dish commonly enjoyed with beer.

Visit any Bonchon Chicken branch near you. They offer Korean fried chicken with best-selling flavors like Soy Garlic, Honey Citrus, and Crunchy Garlic. They also serve other Korean dishes such as Bulgogi and Bibimbowl Meals!

Key takeaway

There are all kinds of Korean dishes you need to try like samgyeopsal, bibimbap, tteokbokki, bulgogi, jajangmyeon, and Korean fried chicken.

The best thing about all these dishes? You can get them all at SM Supermalls. So go ahead and satisfy your cravings when you #DineInSM today! 

For more K-food adventures, visit SM Shopmag.

Editor’s Note: This article was provided by SM Shopmag.