Hey food lovers (and language lovers)! 👋

Welcome back to the “Learn Korean With Me” series. If you missed previous lessons , go check those out first — it’ll help when you start using these food words. Today we’re doing something super useful and fun: 10 must-know Korean food words for beginners. These are the names you’ll see on menus, hear in K-dramas, and spot at convenience stores. I’ve grouped them by root so you can learn them in chunks.

📚 My Top Beginner-Friendly Korean Resources

#

Before we start learning our first set of verbs, here are some helpful resources that can guide you along the way. These tools are great whether you’re just starting or want something to support what you learn here:

• Rocket Korean – Structured, beginner-friendly, and great for pronunciation.
• Talk To Me In Korean – Their Hangul course is perfect for beginners.
• Drops Korean – Gamified, visual learning with a focus on vocab and Hangul basics.
• LingoDeer – Perfect for structured, grammar-focused learning with bite-sized lessons.
• Go Billy Korean – Fun, visual grammar and vocab lessons for all levels.
• Duocards – Flashcard-style app with real phrases and spaced repetition.

📚 Quick notes before we start

#

You should already know Hangul (the Korean alphabet). If you don’t, learn that first — it’ll make everything much easier.

Root 5: 면 (myeon = noodles) 🍜

#

21. 냉면 (naengmyeon) – cold noodles

#

💡 About 냉면
Chewy buckwheat or potato-starch noodles served cold with icy broth and toppings, popular in summer.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 냉면은 여름(summer)에 인기가 많아요. – Naengmyeon is very popular in summer.
• 저는 냉면에 식초(vinegar)를 넣어요(put). – I put vinegar in my cold noodles.
• 친구랑 냉면을 먹었어요(ate). – I ate naengmyeon with a friend.

22. 칼국수 (kalguksu) – knife-cut noodles

#

💡 About 칼국수
Hand-cut wheat noodles served in hot, savory broth, often with vegetables or seafood.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 칼국수는 국물이 맛있어요(tasty). – The broth of kalguksu is tasty.
• 저는 겨울(winter)에 칼국수를 자주(often) 먹어요. – I often eat kalguksu in winter.
• 어제 시장에서 칼국수를 먹었어요. – I ate kalguksu at the market yesterday.

23. 잡채 (japchae) – glass noodles

#

💡 About 잡채
Sweet potato starch noodles stir-fried with vegetables and thin slices of meat, slightly sweet and savory.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 잡채는 명절(holiday)에 자주 먹어요. – Japchae is often eaten during holidays.
• 저는 잡채를 잘 못 만들어요(can’t cook well). – I can’t cook japchae well.
• 잡채가 달콤해요(sweet). – Japchae is sweet.

24. 라면 (ramyeon) – instant noodles

#

💡 About 라면
Spicy and quick Korean-style instant noodle soup, a popular comfort food.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 라면은 싸요(cheap). – Ramen is cheap.
• 저는 밤(night)에 라면을 먹었어요(ate). – I ate ramen at night.
• 한국 사람들은 라면을 좋아해요(like). – Koreans like ramen.

25. 잔치국수 (janchi guksu) – banquet noodles

#

💡 About 잔치국수
Thin wheat noodles in light broth, traditionally served at celebrations like weddings and parties.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 잔치국수는 결혼식(wedding)에서 자주(often) 나와요(served). – Janchi guksu is often served at weddings.
• 저는 잔치국수를 처음(first time) 먹어 봤어요(tried). – I tried janchi guksu for the first time.
• 잔치국수는 국물이 시원해요(refreshing). – The broth of janchi guksu is refreshing.

Root 6: 고기 (gogi = meat dishes) 🍖

#

26. 불고기 (bulgogi) – marinated beef

#

💡 About 불고기
Thinly sliced beef marinated in soy sauce, sugar, and sesame, then grilled or stir-fried.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 불고기는 달콤해요(sweet). – Bulgogi is sweet.
• 저는 친구랑 불고기를 구웠어요(grilled). – I grilled bulgogi with a friend.
• 한국 사람들은 불고기를 자주 먹어요. – Koreans often eat bulgogi.

27. 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) – pork belly

#

💡 About 삼겹살
Thick slices of pork belly grilled at the table, often wrapped in lettuce with sauces.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 삼겹살을 상추(lettuce)에 싸서(wrap) 먹어요. – I eat samgyeopsal wrapped in lettuce.
• 어제 저녁에 삼겹살을 구웠어요(grilled). – I grilled pork belly for dinner yesterday.
• 삼겹살은 고소해요(nutty/flavorful). – Samgyeopsal is flavorful.

28. 갈비 (galbi) – ribs

#

💡 About 갈비
Marinated beef or pork ribs, grilled, slightly sweet and savory.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 갈비를 숯불(charcoal)로 구워요(grill). – Galbi is grilled over charcoal.
• 저는 갈비를 가족(family)과 함께 먹었어요. – I ate galbi with my family.
• 갈비 양념(sauce)은 달콤해요. – Galbi sauce is sweet.

29. 제육볶음 (jeyuk bokkeum) – spicy pork stir-fry

#

💡 About 제육볶음
Pork stir-fried in a spicy gochujang-based sauce, often served with rice.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 제육볶음은 매워요(spicy). – Jeyuk bokkeum is spicy.
• 저는 점심(lunch)에 제육볶음을 먹었어요. – I ate spicy pork stir-fry for lunch.
• 제육볶음과 밥을 같이(with) 먹어요. – I eat jeyuk bokkeum with rice.

30. 찜닭 (jjimdak) – braised chicken

#

💡 About 찜닭
Soy-sauce braised chicken with vegetables and glass noodles, slightly sweet and savory.

🗣 Example Sentences

• 찜닭에는 당면(glass noodles)이 들어가요(inside). – Jjimdak has glass noodles in it.
• 저는 찜닭을 친구들과 함께 먹었어요. – I ate jjimdak with my friends.
• 찜닭은 달콤하고(sweet) 맛있어요(delicious). – Jjimdak is sweet and delicious.

✅ Quick study tips

#

Group-study: learn by root (밥, 찌개) — it helps memory.

Visuals: match each word to a picture — food words stick fast that way.

Real-world practice: next time you order food online or look at a menu, try to spot 5 words you learned.

📬 Stay Tuned for the Next 10 Words

#

Subscribe to the newsletter to get notified when next part drops. Let me know what categories of words would you like to learn.

✅ Practice these 10 first

✅ Try making your own sentences

✅ Save this post for later review

✅Share with a friend who’s learning Korean. It helps to make the journey more easier.

Together, we’ll build your Korean word by word – but in a fun, natural way 🫰You’ve got this 💪 화이팅!