K-Drama Food

Annyeong! Let's face it: at one point we've all been hit by the k-drama, k-pop wave. And what better way to live our k-drama dreams than with food? Indulge in our deliciously sweet Crunchy Bubble Tea, inspired by The King: Eternal Monarch, and re-imagine that moment with Lee-Minho.

Remember the cute, deep fried fish-shaped snack in Legend of the Blue Sea? Bungeoppang is a sweet, satisfying red bean filled pastry that you just have to try. Not just because it's reminiscent to the drama, but also because it's delicious, easy to make and oh so satisfying. Make a bowl of 'fish' for the kids, or when you're watching your next k-drama.

Or if you're simply not into k-drama, make these famous k-drama foods anyways, and get that instagram-worthy shot for bragging rights and a happy belly!

Flour

Olive Fried Chicken

Korean fried chicken has taken the world by storm, but this golden olive oil fried chicken depicted in hit Korean drama series, Goblin is another level of finger lickin. Deep fried in aromatic olive oil for a satisfyingly crisp chicken skin, this juicy chicken has a cleaner taste as compared to other variations of fried chicken. The unique flavor not only comes from the olive oil but also in the perfectly seasoned marinade, flour coating and batter. If blowing a candle won’t summon your long lost 939 year-old goblin husband, then perhaps cooking up a batch of this delicious fried chicken will.

Sundubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew)

In Itaewon Class, Sundubu Jjigae makes its appearance time and time again, finally signifying the rise of the underdog in the series finale. And let’s be real, as much as we would love to have Park Seo Joon serve us a bowl of this deliciously soft tofu stew himself, we can’t all have the pleasure of his company. This recipe comes close, though. With silky tofu and rich pork belly bathed in a spicy savory soup, this Korean dish is comfort food at its best and will guarantee you an endlessly “sweet night”.

Nurungji 2 Ways (Korean Scorched Rice)

Leftover rice? Making Nurungji is a great way to use it up. Also known as scorched rice, Nurungji is a traditional Korean food that’s often snacked on. If you’ve seen the record-breaking Korean drama, Crash Landing On You, then you might have caught female protagonist and heiress Yoon Se-Ri munching away on these addictive snacks during her time in the North. Besides using plain white rice, you can mix it up by adding Korean black rice for extra oomph and texture, giving you Korean purple rice. A great alternative to chips and crackers, Nurungji is best eaten with a sprinkle of sugar. You can even try out our brown sugar dip, mixed with toasted sesame seeds and seaweed flakes.

Recipe

Jjamppong (Korean Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup)

Seen in the hit Korean drama series It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Jjamppong is a spicy seafood noodle soup that packs a punch. And while the title of this K-Drama holds true, one slurp of these noodles will infinitely perk you up and have you feeling more than just okay. Flavored with chicken stock, rich slices of pork belly and mussels, the wholesome broth is given a spicy kick with the addition of gochugaru (Korean chili pepper powder) and capsaicin. Complemented with a medley of vegetables and mushrooms, this red hot noodle soup is sure to fire you up.

Crunchy Bubble Tea 2 Ways

Skip the long queues and make your very own homemade Crunchy Bubble Tea! Inspired by the Crunchy Milk Tea series that made a debut in the popular Korean drama, The King: Eternal Monarch, this Crunchy Bubble Tea recipe offers you two different flavors to choose from. True tea enthusiasts would appreciate the toasty roasted flavors in the Crunchy Hojicha Bubble Tea, but if you’re in need of a caffeine boost, the Crunchy Yuan Yang Dalgona Bubble Tea is the one for you. Either way, you get to enjoy the unique coconut-milk crunch topping that adds an extra bite and sweetness to these perfectly delectable drinks.

Bungeoppang 2 Ways (Korean Carp Bread)

If you’ve seen hit Korean drama Legend of the Blue Sea, you’ll know Bungeoppang - a deep-fried fish-shaped snack commonly stuffed with sweet red bean filling. Despite its appearance, there - as BTS leader RM once said - “ain’t no fish inside”. This pastry is a well-loved winter street food in South Korea and can be found in many different flavors at street stalls across the country. While it is similar to Japan’s Taiyaki, the main difference is that the batter used in Bungeoppang usually doesn’t require eggs. Enjoy two versions of this delightful snack with this quick and easy recipe - the Traditional Bungeoppang made with plain batter and red bean filling and the Purple Sweet Potato Bunggeopang made with sweet potato batter and sweet potato filling.

More K-Drama Favourites

If you've watched Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo you'll know that this girl eats a ginormous amount of foods. These are just some of the dishes featured in this coming-of-age romance that make us wish we were weightlifting fairies too, to be able to eat this amount of food!

Recipe

Ginseng Chicken Soup

Jam-packed with nutritious goodness, the Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgyetang) is said to be the perfect summer dish fight the heat. The chicken is lovingly stuffed with soaked glutinous rice and gently simmered with garlic, ginger, and the super-herb of Asian cuisine, ginseng, said to aid in boosting energy and the immune system. Serve piping hot with rice, chopped scallions, salt and pepper on the side!

Kimchi Jiggae

The answer is no, it’s not as spicy as it looks. The Kimchi Jigae, or kimchi stew, may look incredibly spicy but it is actually quite mild when compared to say, the crushed red pepper flakes you use on your pizza. The main ingredients that make thisdish include thinly sliced pork belly, Korean red pepper paste and chili flakes, firm tofu and of course, the kimchi!

Kimchi Fried Rice

Craving for that Kimchi Fried Rice that you had in Korea previously? Wait no more! You can now recreate this Kimchi Fried Rice dish under 30 minutes at home. Adjust the seasoning to your liking - add more gochujang (Korean chili paste) if you can take spice. Lastly, top it off some spam, cheese, or just anything that you like for that extra flavour!

These other dishes are just as famously eaten in korean dramas too, and you won't want to miss them out!

Recipe

Bibimbap

Have some leftover vegetables in your fridge? Thinking of making something healthy? Try our Korean Bibimbap recipe! Not only is it the most well-known and popular Korean dish in Korea, but it is also simple and easy to make. Switch it up according to your preferences, you can always replace the beef with chicken and pork, and add more Gochujang (Korean spicy pasta sauce) if you can tolerate spice. Just four simple steps, and you are ready to eat!

Korean Chicken Stir Fry

When you’re feeling hungry, but looking to go healthy (and low carb!) – this Korean Chicken Stir-Fry’s just that thing to make. It’s a lightly sizzled chicken on a bed of fresh, crunchy veggies of carrots, cabbage, chives and more. What gives it its sweetness is the blistered onions, a trickle of honey and for its savory side, sesame oil, soy sauce and salt. But the magic sauce is Korean red pepper paste, or Gochujang, that lends a bit of sweet, peppery heat.

Kimchi Seafood Pancake

Sink your teeth into this chewy Kimchi Seafood Pancake and savor the taste of succulent fresh prawns amidst the soft, starchy pancake with each bite. When the hunger pang hits in the mid-afternoon, this slightly spicy Korean snack makes for the perfect treat, side dish or appetizer. Refreshing green onions balance out the starchiness of the potato and flour, while the seafood infuses the entire pancake with an addictive ocean-brine taste. Enjoy them while they are hot and slightly crispy on the outside!

Beef Bulgogi

Without a doubt, the Beef Bulgogi is one of the most popular and oldest Korean traditional foods. The secret to this dish lies in the cut of the beef -make sure to get a cut that has a good amount of marbling, sliced thinly, and you’re almost guaranteed a dish that melts in your mouth. The sauce is a burst of umami made from a blend of sauces and oil, ginger, garlic and, the Asian pear! Best served wrapped in a cold crispy piece of lettuce or a bowl of steamed rice.

Eat Like A Korean Mukbanger With These Famous Mukbang Dishes

Mukbangs originated from korea and basically means an 'eating show' where a 'mukbanger' eats copious amounts of food in a video. Delicious, slurpalicious, savoury foods that you wish you were eating instead! And we have just those recipes that you need to officially be a mukbanger.

Recipe

Tteokbokki

Tteobokki also known as korean rice cake is sweet and spicy. These bite-sized stir-fried rice cakes is a popular Korean street food made from rice flour. Some versions contain fishcakes boiled eggs, but you can literally add any thing you want. This Korean recipe is a must try for all chilli lovers and if you love korean cuisine, this is a must try!

Korean Fried Chicken

You can now recreate the most juicest sweet and spicy Korean Fried Chicken recipe that will make your friends and family ask for more. We can't emphasize that the sauce is so delicious , you can literally dip anything in it. The perfect side dish that you can serve with this amazing plate of Korean Fried Chicken recipe would be a bowl of vinegary pickle that will just make every bite a little more delicious. Here’s a secret that Korean grandmas would never share with you -The key to the crunch lies in adding a wee bit of baking powder in the corn starch.

Jjajangmyeon

Did you know that the Koreans have a special dish to eat on Korean Black Day, a day where singles commiserate with each other? That dish is the JajangMyeon, which not coincidentally, is a noodle dish that looks rather black. The colour comes from the black bean sauce, which consists of salty black bean paste (or chunjang), diced pork and vegetables. Ladle a generous of that sauce over fresh Chinese yellow noodles and hey presto, you’ve got JajangMyeon!

Chicken Bulgogi

Look no further than this Chicken Bulgogi for the perfect low carb meal! A sizzle of juicy morsels of chicken is marinated with sesame oil, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and honey. Now for a kick of Korean flavors, it’s accompanied by a hearty serving of sautéed vegetables seasoned with sweet spicy gochujang (Korean chili paste) and savory doenjang (Korean soybean paste). A side of pickled cucumbers completes the meal with a sweet tartness that brightens up everything.

Missing Korea Vibes? Make These Korean Favourites In Your Kitchen Right Now

When you're stuck at home and your wanderlust is at an all-time high, make these comforting korean dishes that will remind you of the land of k-drama & your favourite idols. From the best hangover foods to warm, comforting dishes that are perfect for cool weather. Make the famous Korean Garlic Cheese Bread, herbaliciously easy, savoury and oh so garlicky, or japchae, the easy comfort food perfectly paired with a bowl of rice. Yum!

Recipe

Marinated Eggs in Soy Broth

Aptly named the "Drug Egg", Mayak Gyeran makes you come back for more and it is really easy to prepare. The egg may be the main ingredient but the hero is the soy sauce mixture -a delicate balance of soy sauce, water, sugar, minced garlic and sesame seeds. Easy, right? Serve it over rice for a hearty meal or eat it on its own as a snack.

Make Every Day Festive with Korean Glass Noodles (Japchae)

The literal translation of Japchae, mixed vegetables, is quite misleading because the main ingredient of this dish is the Korean sweet potato starch noodles, also known as glass noodles. This dish is a must-have for the Korean festive holidays (like New Year’s Day or the Harvest festival), probably because of its celebratory colours derived from the strips of carrots, bell peppers, spinach, cucumbers and mushrooms. The secret to success? Finding the right balance between soy sauce and sugar!

Korean BBQ Tofu

A spicy vegetarian dish that’s bursting with flavor, this Korean BBQ Tofu will make your mouth water. The juicy tofu is seasoned and grilled with a generous serving of sweet peppery gochujang (Korean chili paste) sauce, paired with spicy kimchi udon and a delightful medley of vegetables and mushrooms. A swift garnish of grassy chives, punchy peanuts and sesame seeds gives the whole thing a fragrant finish.

Korean Garlic Cheese Bread

Take a bite of this herbalicious, buttery Korean Garlic Bread and you’ll never want to go back to ordinary garlic bread again. With a little kneading effort, you can recreate the same crusty exterior and fluffy and stretchy interior that defines any good bread. The best part? Molten cheese! In fact, it’s just the thing that defines this popular Korean street food. One thing is for sure – this bread will never ever go stale on your kitchen counter as it’ll be wiped out in seconds!

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