Korean Food 101

10 Korean dishes to know

· Updated · 7 min read

Short answer: Ten useful dishes to know are tteokbokki, bibimbap, kimchi, gimbap, mandu, japchae, doenjang-jjigae, naengmyeon, hotteok and pajeon. Menus and recipes vary, and this general list is not a claim that EMC Kitchen serves every dish.

1–5: rice cakes, rice, vegetables and dumplings

  1. Tteokbokki: chewy rice cakes commonly served with a spicy sauce.
  2. Bibimbap: rice arranged with vegetables and mixed before eating.
  3. Kimchi: seasoned fermented vegetables with many regional and household variations.
  4. Gimbap: rice and fillings rolled in seaweed and sliced.
  5. Mandu: Korean dumplings prepared with a range of fillings and cooking methods.

6–10: noodles, stews, pancakes and sweets

  1. Japchae: stir-fried glass noodles, often combined with vegetables.
  2. Doenjang-jjigae: a stew built around fermented soybean paste.
  3. Naengmyeon: chilled noodles served in broth or with a seasoned sauce.
  4. Hotteok: a filled Korean pancake commonly sold as a sweet snack.
  5. Pajeon: a savoury pancake in which spring onion is a defining ingredient.

Which are listed at EMC Kitchen?

EMC Kitchen’s current vegetarian menu names Tteokbokki, Korean Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice, Korean Gimbap Sushi, Korean Ramen and Doenjang Ramen. Those menu names are the verified connection; the restaurant does not claim to serve all ten dishes in this guide.

Check the current Korean-food page, then ask the kitchen to confirm availability, ingredients and preparation before ordering.