Korean dramas have gained immense popularity over the years. Some like Signal and Sky Castle are fairly dark and serious, highlighting the injustices in Korean society. Others like 100 Days My Prince and Love in the Moonlight are historical, depicting what Korea was like centuries ago. Then, of course, you’ve got the light-hearted and lovey-dovey ones like Hometown Cha-cha-cha and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim that make you feel giddy on the inside. The point is—there’s a lot of diversity in Korean dramas.

But do you know what they all have in common? Food! No matter how deep into the storytelling these dramas get, they always make sure to leave some room for some food. Let’s take a look at food that are commonly seen in K-Drama.

1.     Kimbap

Kimbap might look a lot like sushi, but they’re pretty different. For one thing, kimbap has its rice seasoned with sesame oil rather than vinegar. It’s also usually filled with cooked ingredients like ham and eggs and not raw seafood. And lastly, kimbap is served with a ton of other Korean side dishes like kimchi instead of soy sauce and wasabi that usually come along with Japanese sushi rolls.

Kimbap is a quick and easy meal that’s popular among office workers in particular. Many street vendors sell them by the roll, and you can even munch on them like you would a gigantic hotdog!

In the screenshot below, we can see the adorable Woo Youngwoo from Extraordinary Attorney Woo carefully serving two rolls of crab meat kimbap to a customer.

2.     Fried Chicken

Did you know that fried chicken in Korea is so distinctive from its American counterpart that there is now such a thing as Korean fried chicken? Fried chicken restaurants over there season their chicken generously with ingredients like soy sauce, chili sauce, sesame oil, honey, scallions, onions, garlic, and more.

They sure do know how to dress things up over there, eh? It’s no wonder that Kim Bokjoo from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bokjoo over here is staring so lovingly at her chicken drumstick!

3.     Korean Barbecue

Korean barbecue is honestly more of an experience than an actual meal. Here, you’re served a couple of meats like beef, pork, and chicken, as well as a ton of side dishes for you to garnish your meat with. For example, you can make pork lettuce wraps by adding slices of grilled pork, soybean paste, rice, toasted garlic, and onion to some lettuce. Eat it all in one bite and you’ve got an absolute explosion of flavors!

Korean barbecues are common ways for people to bond with each other, whether it’s friends spending time together after a hectic week, family members celebrating a milestone, or coworkers getting to know their rather eccentric boss, as you can see on this screencap from Business Proposal here:

4.     Ramen

Where would we be without instant ramen? While fairly unhealthy, instant ramen has been with us through thick and thin. It gives us sufficient nutrition whenever we’re short on cash and satisfies our craving whenever we want something salty and spicy. Let’s face it—there’s just something about the chewy noodles and savory soup that warms the heart and soul.

Top off your bowl of instant ramen with eggs, cheese, and chives and you’ve got yourself a meal that’s just as good as heading to a restaurant! Just make sure not to overindulge—you still need proper meals in your system.

Ramen is a food that’s seen in many K-dramas like Reply 1988 and, indeed, Korean contemporary pop culture in general. Did you know, for example, that the Koreans’ version of ‘Netflix and chill’ is ‘eat ramen’?

5.     Tofu Stew

Tofu stew, or sundubu jjigae, is one of the healthiest Korean dishes around. It’s a spicy stew that features soft tofu as the main ingredient, and the tofu provides a light and airy contrast to the rich, savory broth flavored with tons of seafood and vegetables. Eat this with some fluffy, white rice and you’ve got yourself a nutrient-packed meal that’ll give you so much energy!

Just take a look at how adorable the main couple of Itaewon Class look as they share a huge serving of tofu stew.

6.     Jjajangmyeon

Jjajangmyeon is a sweet and savory noodle dish that’s made of black bean paste, hand-pulled noodles, meat, veggies, and more. While it was inspired by the Chinese dish zha jiang mian, jjajangmyeon is distinctively Korean and has cemented its place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many Koreans. Just take a look at how Do Kyungseok from My ID is Gangnam Beauty is positively devouring his bowl!

Indeed, many restaurants actually offer late-night deliveries of jjajangmyeon. And what’s even more interesting about them is that these restaurants usually use their own bowls too! After the customers are through with them, they just leave the bowls outside their households for the deliverymen to pick them up and take them back to the restaurant.

Doesn’t that seem more environmentally friendly than just using one-use plastic all the time? We certainly think so!