치맥
Chimaek (Chicken & Beer)Korean fried chicken paired with beer — a cultural phenomenon, not just a meal. Korean fried chicken is double-fried for extra crunch and comes in flavors like soy garlic, spicy, and honey butter. It changed the world.
How to Eat
Order a mix of original and seasoned flavors. Eat with pickled radish cubes to cut the richness. Wash down with cold draft beer or soju-beer (somaek).
Where to Find
Chicken chains like BBQ, BHC, Kyochon, and Nene are everywhere. For the full experience, eat outdoors along the Han River.
Related Dishes
닭갈비
Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken
Chunks of chicken stir-fried with gochujang, cabbage, rice cakes, and sweet potato in a large pan. Chuncheon in Gangwon-do is the birthplace. Adding fried rice at the end is mandatory.
보쌈
Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps)
Tender boiled pork belly sliced thin and wrapped in napa cabbage or perilla leaves with pickled radish and raw garlic. It's a beloved drinking food and a staple at Korean gatherings. The contrast of textures is heavenly.
족발
Jokbal (Braised Pig's Feet)
Pig's feet braised in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender. It's Korea's ultimate late-night delivery food and a favorite anju (drinking snack). The collagen-rich skin is the star.