The best things I ate in South Korea (and where to find it in Adelaide)
South Korea is on the rise as a top travel destination for 2026, so we’ve listed their best bites and where to find them in Adelaide.
Despite missing the top 10 most visited countries among South Australians, South Korea is seeing a rise in tourism. The country has been at the forefront of mainstream pop culture in recent years with K-pop stars regularly topping global charts and K-dramas and films garnering significant critical and commercial acclaim.
The country is climbing up Australians’ travel bucket lists too, with the number of Australians travelling to South Korea rising 11 per cent in 2024/25, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Though K-pop might be the first of the country’s output to come to mind, South Korea’s greatest commodity is its cuisine. Having also travelled to Japan and China in the same trip, South Korean cuisine just edged out the competition. There is something to delight travellers no matter their preferred tastes, with extravagant desserts, healthy salad bowls and (extremely) spicy dishes all on offer.
Salt Bread
After a pleasant ride on the Busan sky capsule, with picturesque views of the ocean and city, we stumbled upon a local bakery that specialised in salt bread. The specialty salt bread is the only item on the bakery’s menu and boasted a flurry of visitors, moving swiftly in and out with their acquisition. Travellers and locals alike travel far to the viral TikTok spot to get a taste of the fluffy, buttery and, like its namesake, salty variant of the French croissant.
Salt bread can be purchased from Prove Patisserie in Stepney.
Tteokbokki
This popular street food can be found at any market throughout Seoul. Tteokbokki consists of chewy white rice cakes cooked in a spicy gochujang sauce, making it the perfect dish for spice lovers. The uniquely sweet and spicy flavour may be an acquired taste for some, but for those wanting to try something new, this is the perfect dish.
Tteokbokki can be ordered at Mr Bulgogi on Wakefield Street.
Bibimbap
Rice and salad bowls are all the rage these days, and bibimbap is the best of the lot. The dish features white rice topped with assorted seasonal vegetables, meat, fried egg and gochujang for those wanting a spice kick. For vegetarians, the meat can be replaced with tofu or simply enjoyed on its own.
Sunmi’s Sushi in the Central Markets is the best place to try bibimbap in Adelaide.
Korean BBQ
Korean BBQ has seen a rise in popularity across Australia in recent times, thanks to its blend of delicious ingredients and DIY concept. The servers bring out a wide array of vegetables, kimchi, soup and rice to be enjoyed as an appetiser while you wait for the main event: the meat. The tender pork loin was prepared and cooked by the servers on the table, adding a sense of excitement. K-BBQ is perfect for those wanting an alternative dining experience.
Plus 82 GoGi Korean BBQ restaurant on Eliza Street in the CBD is my pick for an authentic K-BBQ experience.
Dakgalbi
Cheese lovers unite. Shin Mi-kyung in Hongdae is famous for its cheese fondue Dakgalbi, a spicy chicken stir fry that offers another DIY experience. Cooked in a giant cast-iron skillet on the table, the dish is topped with an abundance of mozzarella and cheddar to mix yourself. The spice comes from a fermented gochujang paste that provides a sweet and spicy sauce base. Be wary — it can get very spicy.
88 Pocha on The Parade, Norwood is Adelaide’s dedicated dakgalbi spot where you can try a similar cheese variation.
Mandu Dumplings
Mandu is South Korea’s take on the dumpling. The traditional dumplings can be steamed, pan-fried or deep-fried and come with a wide range of fillings. These dumplings were from the Michelin Guide restaurant Myeongdong Kyoja, famous for its delicious dishes and long queues. The dumplings featured succulent pork, vegetables and chives and were the top pick of dumplings on the trip.
Check out Mandoo on 3/26 Bank Street for Adelaide’s best Korean dumplings.
Banana Flavoured Milk
Now for the sweet stuff. South Korea’s number one selling flavoured milk drink, the banana flavoured milk from beverage company Binggrae can be found in any convenience store across the country. This is the perfect treat for fans of banana-flavoured sweets, tasting eerily reminiscent of the banana Paddle-Pop. The beverage comes in a small package, so it’s unlikely you’ll feel too guilty about finishing it instantly.
This can be found at Koreana Mart in the Market Plaza on Grote Street or ordered online.
Bingsu
Despite the temperature reaching lows of -15 degrees in Seoul, it was still not enough to deter me from trying the famous shaved ice dessert. Presented like a giant snowball and topped with sweetened condensed milk, frozen yoghurt, fresh berries and a fruity syrup, this dessert could hang in the Louvre without second thought. The dish is best enjoyed shared with a friend at the end of the night.
You can try bingsu at Busan Baby on Morphett Street.
Hotteok (w/ice cream)
Possibly my favourite dish of the entire trip, this hot pancake is crispy on the outside and filled with a brown sugar syrup. I can confirm the sugar syrup is both messy and scalding hot, but it doesn’t take away from the experience. You can find a variety of different fillings depending on where in South Korea you stay, for instance, Busan is famous for including a dense mix of sunflower seed, pumpkin seeds and peanuts. In Seoul, I was lucky enough to encounter a hotteok served with a generous milk soft serve on top.
In Adelaide, you can find original hotteok served at 88 Pocha.
