Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: Bulgogi

Koreans' favorite foods consistently rank high, including kimchi stew , doenjang stew , bulgogi , kimchi , bibimbap , and samgyeopsal . Depending on age and occasion, a variety of other dishes, including tteokbokki, chicken, naengmyeon, kalguksu, and gimbap, are also popular. While Korean food generally accounts for a large portion of stews, grilled dishes, and snacks, rice bowls have recently become increasingly popular as a dining-out menu.

1. Consistently popular menu (stew/soup)

* kimchi soup: The most popular signature menu.

* soy bean paste soup: Along with kimchi stew, it is considered a soul food of Koreans.

* Sundubu jjigae, budae jjigae, gamjatang, seolleongtang, kalguksu, and kongguksu are also consistently loved.

2. Koreans' representative dining menu (grilled/meat)

* Bulgogi: A representative Korean food loved by people of all ages.

* Samgyeopsal: It is also ranked as the number one favorite menu item among Koreans when eating out.

* Galbi (grilled/steamed), dakgalbi, bossam, etc. are also popular .

3. Convenience foods and snacks

* Tteokbokki: A national snack loved by people of all ages and genders.

* Kimbap: A convenient food that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.

* Japchae: Popular as a banquet food or as a side dish.

4. Other popular menus

4-1) Ilbinsik

* Bibimbap: A representative traditional food that is healthy and delicious.

* Chicken: Korean

4-2) A regular menu for late-night snacks and company dinners.

* Naengmyeon, Jjamppong: Summer delicacies, popular as a menu item when eating out.

* Pajeon, Kimchijeon: Foods that come to mind on rainy days.

5. Trend Change Koreans Love Food, Comparision of 2004/2014/2019

Doenjang Jjigae has been continiousely declined from first position in 2004 and dropped to third position in 2024. On the other hand Kimchijigae has taken over Doenjangjigae first position in 2014 and still keeeping first position till now.Bulgogi has been keeping popular position all the way, not remarkable position change. All other memu have not much different position and keep almost steady position

note : This information has been referred to Korea Gallup Report which was released on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 | Inquiries: 02-3702-2571/2621/2622

This information has been made by the Gallup Korea from Oct 2 to 29, 2014 based on 1,700 people above 13 years old Korean questioning about their favorite menu. The best menu is Kimchi Jjigae – Kimchi Stew- (21%) and Doenjang Jjigae – Soybean Paste Stew - follows 2nd position (16%) which is increasing at Kimchi Jjigae and Bulgogi –Korea Beef Barbeque - while Doenjang Jjigae is decreasing comparing to those data at 10 years ago.

1. Korean 10 Favorite Menu

Korean favorite menu with Kimchi Jjigae (18%) was 2nd position while Doenjang Jjigae (first position) was 23% in 2004. But this favorite rate position was changing to reverse for 10 years. We think this change would be the reason most people would prefer to take Kimchi Jjigae than Doenjang Jjigae at all age, regardless young or old, while Kimchi has been keeping its position at 3^rd which was no changing for 10 years’ time. As you probably know, Kimchi Jjigae raw material is Kimchi which means Kimchi is the best menu Korean likes to cook for food.

The most favorite menu from ranking 1st to 3^rd is almost serving at Korean dining table every day and every meal. But menu at 4^th ranking is somewhat special or irregular menu calling as Bulgogi – Korean Beef Barbeque (12%) which was particularly loved by teenager due to its tender and sweet beef. Next one (ranking five) is Bibimbab (6%) which is widely and internationally introduced and is serving at some local internal outbound flight. Other Korean favorit menu at the best 10 Korean Menu are Japchae (3%) – mixed dish of boiled bean thread, stir fried vegetables and shredded meat, Galbi (3%) – grilled rib, Cheonggukjang (2%) – fast fermented bean paste soup, Samkyeopsal (2%) – grilled bacon pork and Galbi Jjim (1%) – Stewed rib.

2. Korean 10 Favorite Fruit Juice

Korean favorite fruit juice is first orange juice (23%), apple juice (15%) and strawberry juice (15%) which was remarkably decreasing at orange juice (43%) in 2004 and diversifying many different fruit juice for last 10 years’ time. There are many different fruits are available depend on different seasons in Korea which Korean could enjoy different nutrition according to different season. But people is inclined to take instant fruit juice without complicated cleaning and preparation process of each fruit. It is typical example Korean favorite fruit juice is apple juice people outstandingly increasing to 15% from 6% in 2004 which could be offsetting orange juice losing market. There are many imported fruits were introduced and closer to Korean for last 10 years.

Orange juice (23%) is still the best fruit juice at Korean, even considering remarkable drop, apple juice (15%), grape juice (12%), strawberry juice (12%), Kiwi juice (9%), tomato juice (9%), mango juice (3%), banana juice (2%), tangerine juice (2%) and peach juice (2%)..

3. Korean 10 Favorite Drink

There are one person out of three Korean who could dink and could be fond of dinking Soju (54%) – around 20 to 25% alcohol percent drink - and bear (35%) which is decreasing at Soju consumption while increasing bear and Maguelri – about 5% alcohol rice wine. They questioned which drink you lie to take and answered to this question as first Soju (54%), second bear (35%), Makgeulri (7%), wine (2%) and whisky (1%).

If you look up data referring to gender, Soju (70%) and bear (21%) in male which is mostly Soju while bear (54%) and Soju (34%) which they prefer to take milder drink in female. Soju is more favorite than bear at higher age while bear more love at younger age.

4. Korean 10 Favorite Side Dish for Drink

Korean drinker’s favorite side dishes are Samkyeopsal (18%) – grilled pork bacon – going well with Soju at man while fried chicken (12%) at woman going well with bear. Chimak (chicken + bear ) has been popularized at home and abroad market thanks for lovely home melody drama at domestic as well as global market and peak for the best menu at 2002 Korea and Japan World Cup event times. Chimak was widely welcome to all ages from younger to senior. But the best side dish at Korean drink is not Chimak but Samkyeopsal. What is the reason why Chimak is not at top? It is the answer to this question Soju drinkers are still majority at drink market and preferably taking Samkyeopsal side dish with Soju who takes side dish as Samkyeopsal (31%), Kimchi Jjigae (10%), Sashimi (7%) – raw fish, fried chicken (4%), Odenftang (3%) – fish cake soupo, Jeokbal (3%) – pig foot and fish hot soup (3%). While bear drinker case, their side dish are obviously different from Soju drinker as fired chicken (28%), dried squid (19%), fruit (11%), peanut (5%), golbangei (4%) – whelk, Samkyeopsal (3%) and Pajeon (3%) – pan cake with green onion and sausage (2%).