Most exotic Korean dishes you should be brave enough to try

  In every country that you will visit, they have unusual and weird dishes to offer that not everyone can stomach yet they remain popular am...

 

In every country that you will visit, they have unusual and weird dishes to offer that not everyone can stomach yet they remain popular among tourists—a fun challenge for some while a struggle for those who are not bold enough to try.

South Korea is no different when it comes to exotic delicacies that might surprise you, or maybe not as they already resemble food from your country. Either way, your trip in the land of the morning calm won’t be complete if you only tried their famous and mouth watering foods, you should also be brave enough to try out of the ordinary Korean dishes that would test your palates.

Challenge your stomach with these dishes:

Gaebul (Live Spoon Worms)

This worm-like marine creature is commonly found in Korean markets. It is also known as the “penis fish” as it resembles a specific male anatomy, and it is believed to be aphrodisiac.

Gaebul is served into bite-sized pieces, and it is eaten raw with a sauce that can elevate its saltwater-like flavor.

Sannakji (Live Octopus)

This exotic dish is one of the most popular in Korean seafood restaurants and it is often suggested for foreigners to try. It is served fresh and eaten raw with dipping sauces.

Sannakji is commonly served with the tentacles cut off and the body is added into a soup. If you are brave enough to try this dish, you should keep it mind gnawing the octopus thoroughly so as to avoid its tentacles to grasp on your esophagus and choke you.

Beondegi (Silkworm Larvae)

If you love places with exotic street foods like Thailand, you should also consider putting Korea in your list and their popular silkworm snack.

Bondegi is a popular Korean street food that is packed with protein and low in fat. It is sold by street vendors in paper cups or a bowl at restaurants, it is also sold in sealed cans. It is boiled or steamed and has a crispy texture but is soft and juicy inside.

Dakttongjip (Chicken Gizzard)

Want to know the secret behind Koreans’ healthy-looking skins? You should try their Chicken Gizzard dish that is known to make your skin healthy, plus it can also cure hangovers!

The main ingredient in Dakttongjip is gizzard—the mechanical stomach of birds that is found in their digestive tracts. Koreans commonly pair this dish when they are drinking soju.

Soondae (Blood Sausage)

This dish is a popular street food in North and South Korea but out of ordinary for tourists because it is made from a cow or pig’s intestines and stuffed with pig’s blood and other ingredients that may include liver, heart or tongue and packed like a sausage.

Locals usually dip soondae in tteokbokki sauce.

Bokguk (Pufferfish soup)

Another exotic delicacy that is not only popular among the locals but also to visitors is Koreans’ pufferfish soup. This soup is only prepared by licensed chefs due to the highly toxic pufferfish to make sure it is cooked properly. Bokguk has a light and airy texture.

Would you dare to eat these dishes? If these exotic Korean foods intrigued you but you prefer something more familiar or appealing to your palate and stomach, you should check out Healingboy’s “Top 10 mouth-watering market foods - Korean street food” to add more on your list.

Written by: Johannes Daño

Johannes is a soon-to-be world traveler who used to see the world in black and white but is now finding ways to paint it yellow. She expresses her innermost thoughts through metaphors and fictional stories, but it takes her a while to do so as she is not a great first-drafter but a great rewriter.