What to eat in South Korea with kids: a family foodie guide

While Korean food is getting more and more popular (I’ve even spotted kimchi on the shelves of my local supermarket recently), it’s easy to be unsure about what to eat in South Korea with kids as it’s still less familiar for most families than other Southeast and East Asian cuisines.

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If you’ve heard about fiery spice levels and strong fermented flavours, you might be wondering if you’ll spend your whole trip hunting down plain rice, especially if you’ve got any picky eaters or different dietary requirements.

But South Korea is a very kid-friendly food destination if you know what to look out for (or have some adventurous mini gourmets), including street markets and plenty for low spice tolerance – the key is knowing what to order, what you might want to avoid and how to ask for things to be made milder.

Spice – and how to avoid it

When Korean menus say something is spicy, they mean it – you’ll find plenty of dishes using gochujang (red chilli paste) and gochugaru (chilli flakes), and many classic dishes arrive at the table with a decent kick. But you’ll often find these on the side for you to add, so it’s definitely possible to enjoy the dish without extra spice if you’re looking for food in South Korea with kids that’s chilli-free.

If you’re eating in more touristy areas, you may find that even spicier dishes have been made milder for non-Korean palates as well.

Here are a few things worth knowing before you go:

• Learn the phrase “덜 맵게 해주세요” (deol maepge haejuseyo) – it means “please make it less spicy” and restaurant staff are generally very happy to oblige. Or maebji anhda juseyo means ‘not spicy please’ if that’s easier.
• Look for children’s menus (어린이 메뉴 – eolin-i menyu) in family restaurants, which usually feature milder options. These aren’t standard though.
• Stick to the less spicy dishes mentioned in this guide – I’ve flagged the ones that are naturally mild and the ones where you might need to ask for adjustments.
• Don’t panic about side dishes (banchan) – these small accompaniments arrive automatically with most meals, and while some will be spicy, others (like steamed egg, spinach/leafy greens or fish cake) are perfectly child-friendly. You only pay for the main dish, so kids can taste as they please. It’s easy to spot the spicy ones as they’ll be noticeably red.

Bibimbap

If I had to pick one dish to introduce children to Korean food, it would be bibimbap – also one of my own personal favourites. This rice bowl comes with various vegetables, often plus meat or fish, and a fried egg on top, which you then mix all together.

You may find some pickles or kimchi included in the veggies, but you can scoop it out before mixing, although it’s less spicy once it’s been mixed through with all the other ingredients anyway. If you/your kids do like an extra kick, you can always add extra gochujang or kimchi, but it’s fine to eat it without any extra spice.

The vegetables will vary by restaurant and specific dish but often include spinach, bean sprouts, mushrooms, courgette and carrots, all cooked and seasoned individually. Plus there’s bonus fun for kids as you mix everything together before eating.

If you spot dolsot bibimbap on the menu, that’s the version served in a sizzling stone pot, which crisps the rice at the bottom into a delicious crust. If you’ve got younger kids, bear in mind the bowl is extremely hot to touch, but everyone tends to love the sizzling (and the crunch).

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★ (just go easy on the gochujang)

Kimchi

Korea’s most famous fermented side dish, there are around 200 different official types of kimchi, with the most common recipe using fermented Napa cabbage.

And you will encounter kimchi at virtually every meal in South Korea with kids. It arrives alongside your main course, it features in soups, stews, fried rice and pancakes, and Koreans eat it for breakfast (though you don’t have to).

Kimchi is traditionally made from fermented cabbage seasoned with garlic, ginger, fish sauce/fermented shrimp and gochugaru (red chilli flakes). It has a strong, often tangy flavour, although you’ll quickly discover that each dish will taste slightly different – although yes, it is usually spicy.

Some children take to it immediately, others are less convinced. But it’s easy to try a small amount and easy to avoid if they don’t love it.

Look out for baek kimchi (white kimchi) too, made without chilli and which has a much milder, lightly pickled flavour. It’s less common but worth asking for. Alternatively, simply move the kimchi to one side without a fuss – nobody will be offended.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★ (adventurous eaters will love it; fussier ones can skip it)

If your kids are kimchi converts, you can also join kimchi-making classes or visit the Museum Kimchikan in Seoul, dedicated to kimchi, which has its own classes too

Korean barbecue (bulgogi and galbi)

You’ll find Korean BBQ restaurants everywhere, and it’s an experience that’s as much fun for children as adults when you’re looking for food in South Korea with kids. You’ll sit around a table with a built-in grill, and plates of thinly sliced marinated meat arrive to cook (or be cooked) right in front of you.

The bonus is that it’s usually easy to keep this quite simple for kids, depending which meat option you go for – we came across smoked duck, for example, but there’s usually fairly plain beef and pork on offer.

You’ll get an array of side dishes, including lettuce leaf (and you can usually order a bowl of rice too) to eat with the meat, so you can stick with simple meat + lettuce/rice combinations, or mix it up with sides and spice.

It’s worth knowing that you usually have to order 2 portions, although most families will need that anyway (and if you’re visiting a quieter place or outside the busier times, it can be more flexible).

Bulgogi is thinly sliced beef marinated in a sweet and savoury sauce of soy, pear, garlic and sesame oil. It is not spicy – in fact, it’s slightly sweet, so most children absolutely love it. Wrap it in the lettuce plus any other sides you want, and then eat.

Galbi is marinated beef short ribs – similarly sweet and tender. Both bulgogi and galbi are naturally mild and are among the safest options for children in terms of heat.

Ask the restaurant staff to help you with the grill if you’re not sure – they will often come over and cook the meat for you at the table, which is helpful (and reassuring if you’re trying to keep your eye on little hands near hot surfaces). If staff leave the tongs for you, you will be expected to turn the meat yourself; if they keep them, they’ll sort it all for you

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★ (fun and delicious, win win)

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki is one of South Korea’s classic dishes, and you’ll find on sale alongside other street food in markets as well as restaurants.

The standard version is spicy though, with chewy rice cake tubes cooked in a bright red gochujang sauce. If you love your food to be hot, you should definitely give this a try, but it’s going to be spicier than most kids can handle.

Otherwise, look out for ganjang tteokbokki (soy sauce tteokbokki), which uses a savoury, non-spicy sauce instead – it’s not as widely available, but not impossible to find and it’s a way to let kids enjoy the chewy rice cakes without the fire. I even found non-spicy tteokbokki ramen at one point.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★ (standard version; ganjang version – ★★★★)

We took a Seoul food tour which was a fantastic way to try a lot of different traditional Korean dishes without committing to eating the whole thing – including tteokbokki. My daughter managed one mouthful, I managed a bit more but definitely wouldn’t have fancied eating a whole bowl! Other things were less tempting, while for some we practically cleaned the plate and then hunted it out again over and over during our stay.

Gimbap (or kimbap)

Gimbap very quickly became our go-to snack, perfect for picking up on the run and it’s a great easy option for food in South Korea with kids. Often called Korean sushi, as it includes rice rolled inside seaweed, this uses cooked ingredients that are designed to keep for longer, rather than the raw fish or other fresh vegetables you might expect in Japan.

You’ll find it sold in stalls in the underground malls, as well as in convenience stores like 7-Eleven, CU and GS25 too – these often sell onigiri versions as well, basically just triangular gimbap – plus in restaurants.

Some will contain meat, especially pork and beef (if you’re grabbing some on the go, be aware these might be spicy) but also tuna mayo, egg or veggie versions. A second word of warning; spam is a traditional ingredient, and you’ll often find a slice of that in even otherwise vegetarian gimbap, as well as crab stick appearing in fish and veggie rolls (one of many unexpected traps for vegetarians/those who don’t eat shellfish/pork in South Korea)

If your kids are familiar with sushi, this is going to be an easy alternative – portable, fuss-free and easy to find, so it’s ideal for lunch on the go. If they aren’t sushi fans, the tuna mayo versions are an easy introduction.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★ (our go-to lunch on the run)

Mandu

Korean dumplings, or mandu, are another great, easy option for kids. They’re not too different to Japanese gyoza, if your kids are already familiar with these and you’ll find both boiled and fried options.

There are plenty of fillings to choose from too – chicken, pork and beef are common, but you may also come across prawn options, as well as veggie versions.

They’re not usually spicy either, and you can also pick up a box of half a dozen at market stalls if you’re looking for a quick lunch or something to snack on as you go.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★

Korean corn dogs

If you’re wondering what to eat in South Korea with kids, keep your eyes peeled for Korean corn dogs.

Unlike your standard hotdog, you’ll sometimes find sausage, but often mozzarella, usually coated in a chewy batter, rolled in crunchy breadcrumbs (or potato or ramen noodles) and then cooked. The end result is hot, crispy, chewy and is usually a winner with all ages.

The cheese version – where the mozzarella pulls into long strings as you bite – is spice-free too, and you’ll find them all over Seoul and other major cities, at chains like Myungrang Hot Dog and 2.0 Corn Dog, but also at street food stalls and markets.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★

Hotteok

This delicious warm doughy sweet pancake quickly became a big hit with myself and my daughter. Like a cross between doughnut dough and a thick pancake, it’s stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon and (usually) nuts, then pressed flat and cooked until golden and caramelised.

It’s then folded over, and as you bite in the hot syrupy filling oozes out in a very satisfying way (do be wary of drips, we were caught out several times!)

It is a street food staple, especially popular in winter, and you’ll smell it before you see it – the scent of caramelised sugar drifting from market stalls is now something I can recognise at 10 paces after our time in South Korea. You may also find savoury versions available, but the sweet treats are the one to go for with children.

One word of warning: the filling can be very hot if it does come straight from the griddle, so let it cool for a minute before biting in if so.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★ (completely delicious, my mouth is actually watering again as I type)

Gyeranppang

Gyeranppang translates literally as “egg bread”, and that is exactly what it is: a small, sweet bread roll baked with a whole egg inside. It’s sold warm from street stalls, particularly in the morning, and it makes a brilliant quick breakfast or snack.

The bread itself is slightly sweet and fluffy – it’s not quite cake, but it’s definitely on the sweeter side – and the egg in the centre is baked just enough to be cooked through.

It’s mild, filling, and requires absolutely no bravery on the part of fussy eaters. Even children who usually dislike eggs will often find gyeranppang perfectly acceptable, perhaps because the sweet bread softens the deal.

You’ll find them at outdoor markets, near tourist attractions and at street food stalls across Seoul. They cost very little and easy to eat on the go, making them ideal for keeping small people fuelled during a busy morning of sightseeing.

Kid-friendliness rating: ★★★★★ (no spice, no fuss, great snack)

Other South Korean food for kids

Beyond the (mostly) kid-friendly dishes above, a few others are well worth putting on your radar for food in South Korea with kids.

Bindae-tteok – mung bean pancakes. Usually made for festivals, this deep-fried pancake is similar to a latke or fritter but using beansprouts, and usually comes with a side of vinegary onions to help cut through the fried flavour.

Japchae – glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables in a sweet soy sauce. Sometimes comes with meat, particularly beef, and usually mild and very slurpable. You’ll often find other noodle dishes, including udon noodles in restaurants too.

Jeon (Korean pancakes) – savoury pancakes made with spring onion, often with seafood or kimchi. The plain haemul pajeon (seafood and spring onion) version is mild and very good.

Korean fried chicken – you’ll find dedicated chicken restaurants all over the place, with many offering plain buttermilk fried chicken (easily some of the best you’ll eat). Others will tend to have spicier dishes, so just make sure you know what you’re ordering.

Korean hotpot (jeongol or shabu-shabu) – another fun option for families, you’ll cook your thinly sliced meat, vegetables and noodles in the hot broth on the table, with an array of side dishes to taste.

Salt bread – another of our daily addictions, these are a newer addition to Korea’s food scene, but I am already impatiently waiting for the first salt bread bakery to appear in the UK. The bread is deliciously buttery (something between brioche and croissant in taste) and topped with salt.

You’ll find flavoured versions as well, including ones stuffed with apple, and they’re another easy option to grab and go.

Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) – a whole baby chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng and dates is then simmered in a clear, fragrant broth. The resulting soup is completely mild and deeply nourishing, particularly good in hot weather (Koreans swear by it for beating the summer heat).

Sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) – this is a great warming bowl for cold days, if your kids are happy with silky tofu. It’s normally a spicy option but you can try to request a milder version, or look out for white sundubu jjigae – Haemul-sundubu-jjigae – for non-spicy versions

Practical tips for eating in South Korea with kids

A few final things worth knowing before you head to the table:

• Meals are communal – dishes are often shared in the centre of the table, which means children can try lots of different tastes (although if you’re having something like bibimbap, you’ll get your own bowl).
  
• Water and tea are usually free – look for the self-service water dispensers common in many Korean restaurants, or just ask for “mul juseyo”
  
• Chopsticks are metal – you’ll normally only have a choice of these and spoons, generally tucked away in a drawer in the table. While some places may have forks if you ask, it’s well worth learning how to use chopsticks if possible or bring some disposable forks or wooden/training chopsticks.
  
• Convenience stores are your friends – GS25 and CU stores are open 24 hours and stock a remarkable range of hot and cold food, from kimbap and egg sandwiches to instant ramen (which you can usually cook on-site). A genuine lifesaver for jet-lagged children at odd hours.

• Markets make life easy – you’ll find traditional markets, as well as street food stalls and markets in places lik Myeongdong in Seoul or Haeundae in Busan. As well as plenty of traditional dishes, they’ll sell child-friendly options like chicken teriyaki skewers and tornado potato which are great to grab and go, as well as tanghulu – sugar coated fruit.
  
• Be aware of opening times – a lot of places, including cafes and coffee shops, will open later than you might expect if you’re hoping to grab breakfast so it’s always worth checking. It’s also common for restaurants to close between 3pm and 5pm, so you’ll need to be seated by 2pm to eat.
  
• Don’t be afraid to ask – Korean restaurant staff are generally very patient and helpful with foreign visitors. A translation app on your phone will go a long way – we used Google Translate, and the camera function was very handy when checking ingredients at convenience stores too.
  
• Portion sizes are generous – plus the banchan (vegetable side dishes) that come with every meal add up quickly, so you may find younger kids are fine sharing a dish.

• Western food is an option – while it’s great to try the local food, Seoul and Busan (in particular) are packed with restaurants serving every type of cuisine, so if your family does need a break, you’ll have plenty of choice. There are also cafes galore, which often have more Western-style salads and cakes – Twosome Place is everywhere and has great fruit drinks too.
  
• Just want a sandwich? – Paris Baguette is one of the chains you’ll find across cities like Seoul and Busan, or Egg Drop is a good alternative if you fancy something more Korean (and like eggs). Isaac Toast is another popular place, although an acquired taste depending if you like the sweeter bread.

For more South Korea travel tips, check out my guide to South Korea with kids

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Corn dog image courtesy Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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