THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026SEOUL · KSTENGLISH

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DecodeKorea

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Food desk

Food

The dishes, orders, and tables that make Korean food easier to read.

11 dispatches · Published times shown in your browser's local time

A modern ink-wash color painting of three Korean namul vegetable side dishes in ceramic bowls: seasoned spinach, gosari fernbrake, and dressed spring greens around an empty plate.

Food · Explainer

What Is Namul? Korea’s Seasonal Vegetable Side Dishes, Explained

Namul is not one vegetable or one recipe. It is a way of turning seasonal greens, roots, and shoots into small dishes through blanching, drying, seasoning, and sometimes a quick stir-fry.

· 4 sources checked

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A modern ink-wash color painting of a Korean bibimbap bowl with rice surrounded by separate portions of seasoned spinach, bean sprouts, carrot, zucchini, mushrooms, egg, and gochujang.

Food · recipe

Jeonju Bibimbap at Home: Build the Bowl, Then Mix

The trick is not piling everything into one pan. Keep the vegetables distinct, season them lightly, and let the final mix happen at the table.

· 4 sources checked

A modern ink-wash color painting of Korean barbecue meat grilling at the center of a shared table with lettuce, perilla, and side dishes.

Food · Explainer

Korean BBQ for First-Timers: How to Order, Grill, and Eat It

A Korean barbecue table is part restaurant, part cooking ritual, and part shared meal. Here is how to choose the meat, use the side dishes, build a ssam, and finish without guessing.

· 5 sources checked