95 Korean Vocabulary Words About Food and Cuisine

Did you know kimchi is considered one of the world’s healthiest foods? But get ready for a mouthful, because kimchi is just one of the many foods Koreans love.

In this post, we’re diving deep into Korean for food—음식 (eumsik)—with this vocabulary-expanding food tour. By the end, you will have learned over 95 Korean food vocabulary words you need for ordering food, describing taste, cooking and more.

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How Do You Say “Food” in Korean?

In Korean, the word for food is 음식  (eumshik).

But when talking about eating or referring to a meal, you can use the informal word 밥  (bap), which specifically means cooked rice. But it’s often used colloquially to refer to a meal in general.

So, if you want to say you’re hungry or suggest grabbing a meal, you might say “밥 먹자” (bap meokja), which means “Let’s eat!”

The Korean language often revolves around shared meals and the significance of food in social interactions, making these expressions essential for everyday conversation.

Common Korean Food Words

Korean	Romanization	English
음식	Eumsik	Food
요리하다	Yolihada	To cook
저어주다	Jeoeojuda	To stir
맛보다	Matboda	To taste
먹다	Meokda	To eat
마시다	Masida	To drink
접시	Jeobsi	Plate
그릇	Geureut	Bowl
포크	Pokeu	Fork
숟가락	Sutgarak	Spoon
칼	Kal	Knife
젓가락	Jeotgarak	Chopsticks
식당 / 레스토랑	Sikdang / reseutorang	Restaurant
생	Saeng	Raw
패스트푸드	Paeseuteupudeu	Fast food

Now that you know a few basic food words in Korean, I suggest learning some useful restaurant phrases.

You can learn 20 with this video:

Vegetables in Korean

Korean meals typically contain at least five different colors (green, red, yellow, white and black).

This wallop results in a wide variety of tastes and textures that thrill the palate.

Koreans don’t just eat to quiet a grumbling stomach. They think of food as medicine.

Each meal contains a healthy assortment of veggies that provide nourishment, keep organs in fighting form and boost immunity.

Here’s a listing of common vegetables found on Korean tables and their English translations.

Korean	Romanization	English
생강	Saenggang	Ginger
인삼	Insam	Ginseng
양파	Yangpa	Onion
당근	Danggeun	Carrot
후추	Huchu	Pepper
고추	Gochu	Red pepper
마늘	Maneul	Garlic
무	Mu	Radish
상추	Sangchu	Lettuce
브로콜리	Beurokkoli	Broccoli
가지	Gaji	Eggplant
감자	Gamja	Potato
버섯	Beoseot	Mushroom

If you want to learn more vegetables in Korean, I recommend checking out this post:

Fruits in Korean

Fruits make up an easy vocabulary group to commit to memory.

Often, the Korean names of fruits sound very similar to the English names. So you just need to “Koreanize” them.

Here are the most common fruits in Korean:

Korean	Romantization	English
오렌지	Orenji	Orange
망고	Mango	Mango
바나나	Banana	Banana
레몬	Lemon	Lemon
멜론	Mellon	Melon
체리	Cheri	Cherry
올리브	Olibeu	Olive
파인애플	Painaepeul	Pineapple
파파야	Papaya	Papaya
토마토	Tomato	Tomato
포도	Podo	Grape
사과	Sagwa	Apple
복숭아	Boksunga	Peach

For a deeper dive into fruits in Korean, check out this post:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/korean/fruits-in-korean/

Meats in Korean

Koreans have excellent meat dishes, like 불고기 (bulgogi)—grilled marinated beef slices—and 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal)—grilled pork belly.

I’m sure you’ve heard of “Korean barbecue.”

It’s when you go to a restaurant and spend your hard-earned cash to cook your own food, your own way and love it.

The grill or stove is often built into the table, and you fire up any piece of meat you have on hand. And even grill veggies if you like.

Koreans also love to pair their beer with fried chicken.

치맥 (chimaek) comes from a mashup of 치 (chi) from 치킨 (chikin), which is Korean slang for “fried chicken.” And 맥 (maek) from 맥주 (maekju), which is the Korean word for “beer.”

South Korea is dotted with thousands of 치맥 restaurants that offer different arrays of batter, frying oils and dips.

You don’t even have to dress up to enjoy your chicken. Many restaurants deliver straight to your doorstep.

That said, here’s a list of common Korean meats and their English translations.

Korean	Romanization	English
닭고기	Dakgogi	Chicken
오리고기	Origogi	Duck
소고기	Sogogi	Beef
생선	Saengseon	Fish
돼지고기	Dwaejigogi	Pork
스테이크	Seuteikeu	Steak
베이컨	Beikon	Bacon
햄	Haem	Ham

Food Adjectives in Korean

Now let’s learn a few words to describe food in Korean:

Korean	Romanization	English
맛있는	Masinneun	Delicious
매운	Maeun	Spicy
신선한	Sinseonhan	Fresh
달콤한	Dalkomhan	Sweet
짭짤한	Jjapjjalhan	Savory
쓴	Sseun	Bitter
시원한	Siwonhan	Refreshing
부드러운	Budeureoun	Tender, soft
고소한	Gosohan	Nutty
푸짐한	Pujimhan	Hearty, generous
건강한	Geonganghan	Healthy
느끼한	Neukkihan	Greasy, fatty
매콤한	Maekomhan	Spicy (Hot)
유명한	Yumyeonghan	Famous
기름진	Gireumjin	Oily, greasy

Drinks in Korean

Koreans also have a wide range of common beverages, from banana milk, to teas, to alcoholic drinks that not only reflect history but also make drinking games really fun.

Koreans have many teas, like citron, omija, corn, barley, chrysanthemum and green plum.

These are known for their exquisite taste and positive effects on the body.

Koreans observe drinking etiquette. When receiving a drink, receive it with both hands—the right hand holds the glass, and the left hand supports the bottom.

Here’s a list of some of the most common drinks in Korean.

Korean	Romanization	English
물	Mul	Water
주스	Juseu	Juice
우유	Uyu	Milk
차	Cha	Tea
맥주	Maekju	Beer
소주	Soju	Distilled spirits
막걸리	Makgeolli	Rice wine
커피	Keopi	Coffee

Cooking Ingredients in Korean

Korean food is known for being spicy.

One slurp of 육개장 (yukgaejang)—a beef and vegetable soup—and you know what it would be like to lose your tongue and lips in an inferno.

But Korean cuisine isn’t just about the heat.

It’s about the whole range of flavor profiles—from savory, to sweet, to sour, to bitter and salty.

Here’s a list of some seasonings and ingredients that give flexibility and flair to Korean dishes.

Korean	Romanization	English
소금	Sogeum	Salt
식초	Sigcho	Vinegar
간장	Ganjang	Soy sauce
설탕	Sultang	Sugar
기름	Gileum	Oil
밀가루	Milgaru	Flour
계란	Gyeran	Egg
버터	Beoteo	Butter
치즈	Chijeu	Cheese

Famous Korean Dishes

So, we’ve done individual food items.

My advice is to memorize and practice this vocab so you can properly pronounce each item.

Create a dedicated flashcard deck on Anki and check out some Korean food videos on FluentU.

But are you wondering what happens when you cook and mix all those meats, vegetables and flavors?

Here are some of the most famous Korean dishes that deserve a permanent place in your vocabulary. And a temporary home in your mouth.

You can find even more in this video from sweetandtastyTV.

Rice Dishes

밥 (bap) is “rice” in Korean.

Every time you see 밥 on a menu, expect a bed of rice somewhere on the plate.

Famous examples of rice dishes include:

Korean	Romanization	English
흰밥	Huinbap	White rice
볶음밥	Bokkeumbap	Fried rice
김밥	Kimbap	Seaweed rice roll
비빔밥	Bibimbap	Mixed rice with vegetables

김밥 looks very similar to sushi because they’re both wrapped in dark seaweed sheets.

김밥 tends to be a bit sweeter and often doesn’t include raw fish.

Instead, you get meat fillings like beef, ham, crab meat and pork cutlets, surrounded by veggies like radish, cucumber, kimchi and perilla leaves.

비빔밥 is sauteed veggies, meat and chili pepper paste placed on a bed of rice.

Your job is to mix all the ingredients before taking a mouthful. Sometimes, a raw or fried egg is added.

Stews

Korean	Romanization	English
김치찌개	Gimchi-jjigae	Kimchi stew
된장찌개	Doenjang-jjigae	Fermented soybean paste stew
부대찌개	Budae-jjigae	"Army stew"

An assortment of available meats, seafood and veggies is thrown into 된장찌개. (Add a little bit of chili paste to show your date how brave you are.)

부대찌개 contains Spam, sausages, cheese, ham, baked beans—in short, all the different ingredients available on a U.S. Army base.

They’re thrown together in a pot and reinforced with stuff like kimchi, chili paste, ramyeon noodles and a platoon of available veggies.

Soups

Korean	Romanization	English
삼계탕	Samgyetang	Chicken ginseng soup
갈비탕	Galbitang	Short ribs soup
미역국	Miyeokguk	Seaweed soup

Koreans often eat 삼계탕 during the summer months. Imagine slurping warm soup flavored by a whole chicken that’s stuffed with ginseng, garlic, pine nuts, jujubes and of course, sticky rice.

갈비탕 is made by simmering beef short ribs for several hours and throwing in onions, radish, green onions, garlic, black pepper and even noodles.

The hearty dish is often served during weddings, although you can get one any day of the week from a good Korean restaurant.

Because 미역국 is rich in calcium and iodine, seaweed soup is often served to mothers after giving birth.

And because of this, as homage to one’s mother, 미역국 is also traditionally eaten for breakfast on birthdays.

Noodles

Korean	Romanization	English
라면	Ramyun	Instant noodles
짜장면	Jjajangmyun	Black bean noodles
냉면	Naengmyun	Cold noodles

라면 is Korea’s answer to Japan’s ramen.

짜장면 is noodles served with black bean paste, some soy/oyster sauce and topped with a little meat/seafood. Along with some aromatics and veggies.

The dish looks like a squid squirted ink on your noodles. And yes, it really is tasty!

Side Dishes

The Korean side dishes that dot your table are called 반찬  (banchan).

Unlike Western meals, where your food comes in courses—soup, appetizer, salad, main course and dessert—Korean dishes are served all at once.

The basic table setting is called 반상  (bansang).

In front of you, you’ll have a rice bowl and a soup bowl that will sit side by side.

In front of them—farther from you—will be the condiments like chili and soy sauce.

Hot foods—like stews—will be placed on your right. Cold dishes will be on your left. Side dishes will be placed in front of the condiments, in the third row.

(Here’s an article that explains Korean table setting in more detail.)

When you look at everything together, you’ll see all the different colors of the 반찬.

You’ll have your sweet, sour, salty and savory side dishes, and there’s no proper order to eating them. You can have them at any time during the meal.

To give you an idea of the great number of Korean side dishes, here’s an infographic of what’s possible.

Some examples of 반찬 are:

Korean	Romanization	English
김치	Gimchi	Spicy pickled cabbage
잡채	Japchae	Stir-fried glass noodles mixed with vegetables
계란말이	Gyeran-mari	Rolled omelette
가지나물	Gaji-namul	Seasoned eggplants
멸치볶음	Myeolchi-bokkeum	Stir-fried dried anchovies

 

So there you go—the biggest buffet of words in Korean for food lovers!

You now have a full buffet of Korean food vocabulary. You know individual food items in Korean, as well as Korean dishes that are worth a try.

When you have a chance, go visit a Korean restaurant and have a taste of what you’re talking about!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)