Whereas Korean meals is getting increasingly more fashionable (Iโve even noticed kimchi on the cabinets of my native grocery store not too long ago), itโs simple to be uncertain about what to eat in South Korea with youngsters because itโs nonetheless much less acquainted for many households than different Southeast and East Asian cuisines.
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When youโve heard about fiery spice ranges and robust fermented flavours, you may be questioning when youโll spend your complete journey looking down plain rice, particularly when youโve bought any choosy eaters or totally different dietary necessities.
However South Korea is a really kid-friendly meals vacation spot if you already know what to look out for (or have some adventurous mini gourmets), together with avenue markets and many for low spice tolerance โ the bottom line is figuring out what to order, what you may need to keep away from and how one can ask for issues to be made milder.
Spice โ and how one can keep away from it
When Korean menus say one thing is spicy, they imply it โ youโll discover loads of dishes utilizing gochujang (purple chilli paste) and gochugaru (chilli flakes), and lots of traditional dishes arrive on the desk with a good kick. However youโll typically discover these on the aspect so that you can add, so itโs undoubtedly attainable to benefit from the dish with out further spice when youโre in search of meals in South Korea with youngsters thatโs chilli-free.
When youโre consuming in additional touristy areas, chances are you’ll discover that even spicier dishes have been made milder for non-Korean palates as nicely.
Right here are some things value figuring out earlier than you go:
Be taught the phrase โ๋ ๋งต๊ฒ ํด์ฃผ์ธ์โ (deol maepge haejuseyo) โ it means โplease make it much less spicyโ and restaurant employees are typically very glad to oblige. Or maebji anhda juseyo means โnot spicy pleaseโ if thatโs simpler.
Search for youngstersโs menus (์ด๋ฆฐ์ด ๋ฉ๋ด โ eolin-i menyu) in household eating places, which often function milder choices. These arenโt customary although.
Persist with the much less spicy dishes talked about on this information โ Iโve flagged those which can be naturally gentle and those the place you may must ask for changes.
Donโt panic about aspect dishes (banchan) โ these small accompaniments arrive routinely with most meals, and whereas some shall be spicy, others (like steamed egg, spinach/leafy greens or fish cake) are completely child-friendly. You solely pay for the principle dish, so youngsters can style as they please. Itโs simple to identify the spicy ones as theyโll be noticeably purple.
Bibimbap
If I needed to choose one dish to introduce youngsters to Korean meals, it could be bibimbap โ additionally one in every of my very own private favourites. This rice bowl comes with varied greens, typically plus meat or fish, and a fried egg on high, which you then combine all collectively.
It’s possible you’ll discover some pickles or kimchi included within the veggies, however you’ll be able to scoop it out earlier than mixing, though itโs much less spicy as soon as itโs been blended by with all the opposite elements anyway. When you/your youngsters do like an additional kick, you’ll be able to at all times add further gochujang or kimchi, but it surelyโs superb to eat it with none further spice.
The greens will fluctuate by restaurant and particular dish however typically embrace spinach, bean sprouts, mushrooms, courgette and carrots, all cooked and seasoned individually. Plus thereโs bonus enjoyable for youths as you combine the whole lot collectively earlier than consuming.
When you spot dolsot bibimbap on the menu, thatโs the model served in a scorching stone pot, which crisps the rice on the backside right into a scrumptious crust. When youโve bought youthful youngsters, keep in mind the bowl is extraordinarily sizzling to the touch, however everybody tends to like the scorching (and the crunch).
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ (simply go simple on the gochujang)
Kimchi
Koreaโs most well-known fermented aspect dish, there are round 200 totally different official kinds of kimchi, with the most typical recipe utilizing fermented Napa cabbage.
And you’ll encounter kimchi at just about each meal in South Korea with youngsters. It arrives alongside your predominant course, it options in soups, stews, fried rice and pancakes, and Koreans eat it for breakfast (although you donโt must).
Kimchi is historically produced from fermented cabbage seasoned with garlic, ginger, fish sauce/fermented shrimp and gochugaru (purple chilli flakes). It has a powerful, typically tangy flavour, though youโll rapidly uncover that every dish will style barely totally different โ though sure, it’s often spicy.
Some youngsters take to it instantly, others are much less satisfied. However itโs simple to strive a small quantity and straightforward to keep away from in the event that they donโt adore it.
Look out for baek kimchi (white kimchi) too, made with out chilli and which has a a lot milder, frivolously pickled flavour. Itโs much less frequent however value asking for. Alternatively, merely transfer the kimchi to at least one aspect and not using a fuss โ no person shall be offended.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ (adventurous eaters will adore it; fussier ones can skip it)
In case your youngsters are kimchi converts, you may as well be a part of kimchi-making courses or go to the Museum Kimchikan in Seoul, devoted to kimchi, which has its personal courses too
Korean barbecue (bulgogi and galbi)
Youโll discover Korean BBQ eating places all over the place, and itโs an expertise thatโs as a lot enjoyable for youngsters as adults once youโre in search of meals in South Korea with youngsters. Youโll sit round a desk with a built-in grill, and plates of thinly sliced marinated meat arrive to prepare dinner (or be cooked) proper in entrance of you.
The bonus is that itโs often simple to maintain this fairly easy for youths, relying which meat choice you go for โ we got here throughout smoked duck, for instance, however thereโs often pretty plain beef and pork on supply.
Youโll get an array of aspect dishes, together with lettuce leaf (and you’ll often order a bowl of rice too) to eat with the meat, so you’ll be able to persist with easy meat + lettuce/rice mixtures, or combine it up with sides and spice.
Itโs value figuring out that you just often must order 2 parts, though most households will want that anyway (and when youโre visiting a quieter place or exterior the busier instances, it may be extra versatile).
Bulgogi is thinly sliced beef marinated in a candy and savoury sauce of soy, pear, garlic and sesame oil. It’s not spicy โ in truth, itโs barely candy, so most kids completely adore it. Wrap it within the lettuce plus another sides you need, after which eat.
Galbi is marinated beef quick ribs โ equally candy and tender. Each bulgogi and galbi are naturally gentle and are among the many most secure choices for youngsters when it comes to warmth.
Ask the restaurant employees that will help you with the grill when youโre undecided โ they’ll typically come over and prepare dinner the meat for you on the desk, which is useful (and reassuring when youโre making an attempt to maintain your eye on little arms close to sizzling surfaces). If employees go away the tongs for you, you’ll be anticipated to show the meat your self; in the event that they hold them, theyโll kind all of it for you
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ (enjoyable and scrumptious, win win)
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is one in every of South Koreaโs traditional dishes, and also youโll discover on sale alongside different avenue meals in markets in addition to eating places.
The usual model is spicy although, with chewy rice cake tubes cooked in a shiny purple gochujang sauce. When you love your meals to be sizzling, it’s best to undoubtedly give this a strive, but it surelyโs going to be spicier than most youngsters can deal with.
In any other case, look out for ganjang tteokbokki (soy sauce tteokbokki), which makes use of a savoury, non-spicy sauce as an alternative โ itโs not as broadly out there, however not unattainable to seek out and itโs a approach to let youngsters benefit from the chewy rice muffins with out the fireplace. I even discovered non-spicy tteokbokki ramen at one level.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ (customary model; ganjang model โ โ โ โ โ )
We took a Seoul meals tour which was a incredible approach to strive quite a lot of totally different conventional Korean dishes with out committing to consuming the entire thing โ together with tteokbokki. My daughter managed one mouthful, I managed a bit extra however undoubtedly wouldnโt have fancied consuming a complete bowl! Different issues have been much less tempting, whereas for some we virtually cleaned the plate after which hunted it out once more time and again throughout our keep.
Gimbap (or kimbap)
Gimbap in a short time turned our go-to snack, good for choosing up on the run and itโs an amazing simple choice for meals in South Korea with youngsters. Typically referred to as Korean sushi, because it contains rice rolled inside seaweed, this makes use of cooked elements which can be designed to maintain for longer, fairly than the uncooked fish or different contemporary greens you may count on in Japan.
Youโll discover it bought in stalls within the underground malls, in addition to in comfort shops like 7-Eleven, CU and GS25 too โ these typically promote onigiri variations as nicely, principally simply triangular gimbap โ plus in eating places.
Some will include meat, particularly pork and beef (when youโre grabbing some on the go, remember these may be spicy) but additionally tuna mayo, egg or veggie variations. A second phrase of warning; spam is a standard ingredient, and also youโll typically discover a slice of that in even in any other case vegetarian gimbap, in addition to crab stick showing in fish and veggie rolls (one in every of many sudden traps for vegetarians/those that donโt eat shellfish/pork in South Korea)
In case your youngsters are accustomed to sushi, that is going to be a straightforward different โ transportable, fuss-free and straightforward to seek out, so itโs ideally suited for lunch on the go. In the event that they arenโt sushi followers, the tuna mayo variations are a straightforward introduction.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ (our go-to lunch on the run)
Mandu
Korean dumplings, or mandu, are one other nice, simple choice for youths. Theyโre not too totally different to Japanese gyoza, in case your youngsters are already accustomed to these and also youโll discover each boiled and fried choices.
There are many fillings to select from too โ hen, pork and beef are frequent, however you may additionally come throughout prawn choices, in addition to veggie variations.
Theyโre not often spicy both, and you may as well choose up a field of half a dozen at market stalls when youโre in search of a fast lunch or one thing to snack on as you go.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ
Korean corn canines
When youโre questioning what to eat in South Korea with youngsters, hold your eyes peeled for Korean corn canines.
In contrast to your customary hotdog, youโll generally discover sausage, however typically mozzarella, often coated in a chewy batter, rolled in crunchy breadcrumbs (or potato or ramen noodles) after which cooked. The top result’s sizzling, crispy, chewy and is often a winner with all ages.
The cheese model โ the place the mozzarella pulls into lengthy strings as you chew โ is spice-free too, and also youโll discover them throughout Seoul and different main cities, at chains like Myungrang Sizzling Canine and a couple of.0 Corn Canine, but additionally at avenue meals stalls and markets.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ
Hotteok
This scrumptious heat doughy candy pancake rapidly turned a giant hit with myself and my daughter. Like a cross between doughnut dough and a thick pancake, itโs filled with brown sugar, cinnamon and (often) nuts, then pressed flat and cooked till golden and caramelised.
Itโs then folded over, and as you chew within the sizzling syrupy filling oozes out in a really satisfying manner (do be cautious of drips, we have been caught out a number of instances!)
It’s a avenue meals staple, particularly fashionable in winter, and also youโll scent it earlier than you see it โ the scent of caramelised sugar drifting from market stalls is now one thing I can recognise at 10 paces after our time in South Korea. You may additionally discover savoury variations out there, however the candy treats are the one to go for with youngsters.
One phrase of warning: the filling will be very popular if it does come straight from the griddle, so let it cool for a minute earlier than biting in if that’s the case.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ (fully scrumptious, my mouth is definitely watering once more as I kind)
Gyeranppang
Gyeranppang interprets actually as โegg breadโ, and that’s precisely what it’s: a small, candy bread roll baked with a complete egg inside. Itโs bought heat from avenue stalls, significantly within the morning, and it makes an excellent fast breakfast or snack.
The bread itself is barely candy and fluffy โ itโs not fairly cake, but it surelyโs undoubtedly on the sweeter aspect โ and the egg within the centre is baked simply sufficient to be cooked by.
Itโs gentle, filling, and requires completely no bravery on the a part of fussy eaters. Even youngsters who often dislike eggs will typically discover gyeranppang completely acceptable, maybe as a result of the candy bread softens the deal.
Youโll discover them at out of doors markets, close to vacationer points of interest and at avenue meals stalls throughout Seoul. They price little or no and straightforward to eat on the go, making them ideally suited for preserving small folks fuelled throughout a busy morning of sightseeing.
Child-friendliness score: โ โ โ โ โ (no spice, no fuss, nice snack)
Different South Korean meals for youths
Past the (principally) kid-friendly dishes above, just a few others are nicely value placing in your radar for meals in South Korea with youngsters.
Bindae-tteok โ mung bean pancakes. Normally made for festivals, this deep-fried pancake is much like a latke or fritter however utilizing beansprouts, and often comes with a aspect of vinegary onions to assist reduce by the fried flavour.
Japchae โ glass noodles stir-fried with greens in a candy soy sauce. Generally comes with meat, significantly beef, and often gentle and really slurpable. Youโll typically discover different noodle dishes, together with udon noodles in eating places too.
Jeon (Korean pancakes) โ savoury pancakes made with spring onion, typically with seafood or kimchi. The plain haemul pajeon (seafood and spring onion) model is gentle and excellent.
Korean fried hen โ youโll discover devoted hen eating places far and wide, with many providing plain buttermilk fried hen (simply a few of the greatest youโll eat). Others will are likely to have spicier dishes, so simply be sure you know what youโre ordering.
Korean hotpot (jeongolย orย shabu-shabu) โ one other enjoyable choice for households, youโll prepare dinner your thinly sliced meat, greens and noodles within the sizzling broth on the desk, with an array of aspect dishes to style.
Salt bread โ one other of our day by day addictions, these are a more moderen addition to Koreaโs meals scene, however I’m already impatiently ready for the primary salt bread bakery to look within the UK. The bread is deliciously buttery (one thing between brioche and croissant in style) and topped with salt.
Youโll discover flavoured variations as nicely, together with ones filled with apple, they usuallyโre one other simple choice to seize and go.
Samgyetang (ginseng hen soup) โ a complete child hen filled with glutinous rice, ginseng and dates is then simmered in a transparent, aromatic broth. The ensuing soup is totally gentle and deeply nourishing, significantly good in sizzling climate (Koreans swear by it for beating the summer season warmth).
Sundubu jjigae (gentle tofu stew) โ this can be a nice warming bowl for chilly days, in case your youngsters are pleased with silky tofu. Itโs usually a spicy choice however you’ll be able to attempt to request a milder model, or look out for white sundubu jjigae โ Haemul-sundubu-jjigae โ for non-spicy variations
Sensible ideas for consuming in South Korea with youngsters
A couple of remaining issues value figuring out earlier than you head to the desk:
Meals are communal โ dishes are sometimes shared within the centre of the desk, which suggests youngsters can strive numerous totally different tastes (though when youโre having one thing like bibimbap, youโll get your personal bowl).
Water and tea are often free โ search for the self-service water dispensers frequent in lots of Korean eating places, or simply ask for โmul juseyoโ
Chopsticks are steel โ youโll usually solely have a alternative of those and spoons, typically tucked away in a drawer within the desk. Whereas some locations might have forks when you ask, itโs nicely value studying how one can use chopsticks if attainable or deliver some disposable forks or picket/coaching chopsticks.
Comfort shops are your pals โ GS25 and CU shops are open 24 hours and inventory a exceptional vary of cold and hot meals, from kimbap and egg sandwiches to on the spot ramen (which you’ll be able to often prepare dinner on-site). A real lifesaver for jet-lagged youngsters at odd hours.
Markets make life simple โ youโll discover conventional markets, in addition to avenue meals stalls and markets in locations lik Myeongdong in Seoul or Haeundae in Busan. In addition to loads of conventional dishes, theyโll promote child-friendly choices like hen teriyaki skewers and twister potato that are nice to seize and go, in addition to tanghulu โ sugar coated fruit.
Pay attention to opening instances โ quite a lot of locations, together with cafes and occasional retailers, will open later than you may count on when youโre hoping to seize breakfast so itโs at all times value checking. Itโs additionally frequent for eating places to shut between 3pm and 5pm, so that youโll should be seated by 2pm to eat.
Donโt be afraid to ask โ Korean restaurant employees are typically very affected person and useful with international guests. A translation app in your telephone will go a good distance โ we used Google Translate, and the digicam operate was very useful when checking elements at comfort shops too.
Portion sizes are beneficiant โ plus the banchan (vegetable aspect dishes) that include each meal add up rapidly, so chances are you’ll discover youthful youngsters are superb sharing a dish.
Western meals is an choice โ whereas itโs nice to strive the native meals, Seoul and Busan (specifically) are filled with eating places serving each kind of delicacies, so if your loved ones does want a break, youโll have loads of alternative. There are additionally cafes galore, which frequently have extra Western-style salads and muffins โ Twosome Place is all over the place and has nice fruit drinks too.
Simply need a sandwich? โ Paris Baguette is likely one of the chains youโll discover throughout cities like Seoul and Busan, or Egg Drop is an effective different when you fancy one thing extra Korean (and like eggs). Isaac Toast is one other fashionable place, though an acquired style relying when you just like the sweeter bread.
For extra South Korea journey ideas, try my information to South Korea with youngsters
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Corn canine picture courtesy Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
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