Kimchi is a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables. It is made with a variety of seasonings such as red pepper flakes, spring onions, and garlic.

❗ Although not all varieties are spicy (like Nabak-kimchi and White kimchi), the majority of them are

❗ Even though you may not taste it, many types of kimchi use fish sauce and/or salted shrimp/anchovies

❗ Kimchi is definitely an acquired taste- it's slightly tangy and and its odor is very powerful!

Soondooboo-jjigae is a hot, spicy stew with super soft tofu, vegetables, and occasionally, seafood and/or meat. Although it is spicy, Soondooboo-jjigae is typically much more palatable to foreigners than kimchi.

❗ Soondooboo-jjigae is spicy! It's ingredients include chili flakes AND chili oil

❗ Restaurants put lots of MSG in their Soondooboo-jjigae

Gyeran-mari is a rolled omelette side dish made with beaten eggs and diced vegetables. It's known for being a popular addition to kids' lunch boxes.

❗ Some varieties of Gyeran-mari include seaweed, processed meat (think ham, bacon, imitation crab meat, canned tuna), cheese, and/or seafood (think salted pollock roe or salted shrimp)

Samgak kimbap, or triangle kimbap, is a popular variety of kimbap that is commonly eaten as a snack, lunch, or even light dinner. Like regular kimbap, Samgak kimbap uses rice, seaweed, and a filling.

❗ Some varieties of Samgak kimbap include kimchi, mayo, and/or tuna

Tteokbokki, or stir-fried rice cakes in sauce, is a popular Korean street food you can find nearly anywhere in Korea.

❗ Although not all varieties of Tteokbokki are spicy (like Ganjang Tteokbokki), the Tteokbokki you find on the street in Korea will more likely than not be very spicy

❗ Rice "cakes" are not cakes but chewy cylinders made of rice that don't have much taste. However, when put in Tteokbokki, they can be very flavorful

❗ Some varieties of Tteokbokki include seafood, beef, cream sauce, curry sauce, and/or cheese

Banana ooyoo, specifically from the company Binggrae (빙그래) is a creamy, banana flavored drink that, despite its name, contains little to no milk.

❗ Banana ooyoo is super sweet (23 grams of sugar per small bottle!!) and can taste extremely artificial

Gogi-gu-i, regularly referred to as "Korean Barbeque", refers to grilled and marinated meat ranging from smoky, salty pork to sweet and savory L.A. style beef. Gogi-gu-i is usually eaten with a variety of side dishes (like Kimchi) and/or wrapped in lettuce.

❗ Gogi-gu-i may contain sesame seeds and/or sesame oil

Yangnyeom chicken, sometimes lovingly called KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), is a Korean variety of fried chicken. However, unlike American-style fried chicken, Yangnyeom chicken is smothered in a sweet and (per request, spicy) sauce.

❗ Even though Yangnyeom chicken is commonly paired with beer, it is still very enjoyable for kids

❗ Yangnyeom chicken may be sprinkled with chopped peanuts or sesame seeds

❗ Yangnyeom chicken sauce often contains starch syrup, strawberry jam, ketchup, and/or Korean pepper paste

Ramyeon needs no introduction! These instant noodles have truly taken over the world with their popularity and umami flavor; in fact, in Korea, you can easily find over 100 types of instant Ramyeon at a local convenience store!

❗ Ramyeon is extremely unhealthy- in addition to being full of artificial ingredients, it has way too much MSG, sodium, saturated fat, and carbohydrates for just one meal

❗ Ramyeon is known for being very hard to digest; it may even cause those with sensitive stomachs to experience major cramping after consumption

Jajangmyeon is a Chinese-style Korean noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of salty bean paste, diced pork, and vegetables.

❗ Some varieties of Jajangmyeon include seafood and/or other meat

❗ Jajangmyeon is undeniably unhealthy- it's greasy and is around 500 calories per bowl!

Bungeo-bbang is a fish-shaped pastry with a sweetened red bean filling. The ideal Bungeo-bbang is crispy on the outside and hot and sweet in the inside- unsurprisingly, Bungeo-bbang is often sold at street stalls during the winter.

Patbingsoo is a popular summer dessert made of shaved ice topped with chopped fruit, condensed milk, ice cream, fruit syrup, red beans, or even cheesecake.

❗ Although Patbingsoo is undeniably delicious, it's a lactose-intolerant person's nightmare; one bowl of Patbingsoo could easily give one cramps for an entire day