Joanna James
Seoul boasts a food scene that attracts the most enthusiastic foodies from around the world. Showcasing a cultural fusion with North Korea, the city serves an array of delicious North Korean food.
A standout North Korean dish, Pyongyang Naengmyeon features mild flavours as opposed to South Korean dishes with spicy, bold flavours. It’s a cold noodle dish with buckwheat noodles and a broth made from beef stock. If you’re used to more robust, spicy flavours, you might not like this right away, but it’s a popular dish known for its natural flavours – something that will grow on you over time. As you dig in, you’ll come to love the natural meaty flavour of the broth, which hasn’t been altered by the addition of condiments.
Embodying the true essence of North Korean cuisine, this Korean-style dumpling dish is favoured by locals as well as tourists for being so filling and comforting. It comes with a delicious broth, and added to it are soft dumplings filled with ground pork, tofu, and vegetables. Depending on the eatery, you might even find glass noodles. The dough of the dumpling is soft and chewy, which adds a delectable texture to the soup. The broth, made from chicken or beef stock, is deliciously light and clear. The broth complements the rich flavours of the dumplings without overpowering them. For a touch of freshness and crunch, a bit of green onions or sesame seeds are added. For Koreans, this is one of the best dishes on a cold day. Where can you find it? Street markets and restaurants alike. Stay at a place like Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan, one of the hotels near Myeongdong Shopping Street, to enjoy this delicacy whenever the mood strikes.
This is a hotpot broth served at Korean restaurants and street markets. An assortment of meat and veggies comes in a large brass pot. The dish cooks at the table itself. When the broth bubbles, you can dip your meat and veggies in it and enjoy a freshly cooked meal shared with others. Eobok Jangban goes well with the communal dining style Koreans love. If you’re new to it, eating Eobok Jangban with a group of people can be a fun and enjoyable experience. Unlike typical South Korean broths, this broth is mild but highly flavourful. What makes it a favourite among locals and foreigners is the community spirit they get to experience when eating Eobok Jangban.
Another type of noodle soup, Kimchi Mari Guksu is a cold dish. The broth is made from fermented kimchi. Chilled beef and vegetable stock are also added to achieve a unique, hearty flavour profile. It usually has a very sharp and slightly sour taste that’s cooling on a hot day. The springy and firm noodles, wheat or buckwheat, add a delightful contrast to the rich broth. If you’re not used to cold savoury dishes, Kimchi Mari Guksu is bound to be a new culinary experience for you. Keep in mind that the flavours might be a bit strong for you at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll practically inhale the dish.
Here’s another option for cold noodle lovers. The generous serving of noodles comes in a delicious cold broth, often topped with raw fish such as skate or flatfish. The noodles are chewy and a bit tangy, and the broth is rich, spicy, and flavourful, creating the perfect combination of two contrasts that surprisingly go well together. The chewy noodles used in Hamheung Naengmyeon are made from sweet potato starch and spicy sauce. This dish features a flavour profile that’s completely different from Pyongyang Naengmyeon, where the flavours are quite mild. If you love bold, rich, and hearty flavours, you’ll want a second helping of Hamheung Naengmyeon.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
