7 Korean Eats To Keep You Cool This Summer

Summer in Korea can get uncomfortably hot, but despite the unpleasantness of its high temperatures and ever-present humidity, there are several summertime dishes that help make the heat a bit more tolerable. Whether you’re in the mood for a chilled, savory entrée or a refreshing frozen dessert, these seven Korean eats and treats are sure to keep you cool.

Bingsu

Appealing to Korea’s enormous sweet tooth, this popular dessert is served in countless restaurants across the peninsula. The shaved ice treat is traditionally topped with sweetened red beans, chewy rice cakes, and condensed milk, but more modern interpretations of bingsu include everything from fine chocolate and green tea ice cream to chunks of mango and fresh strawberries.

Naengmyeon

When days get particularly hot, Koreans turn to naengmyeon, or cold noodles, to cool down. Consisting of long buckwheat or sweet potato noodles served in an icy chicken or beef stock, naengmyeon is often topped with sliced cucumber, Asian pear, and radish to not only make it more cooling but also to enhance the flavors and texture of the dish. Add a dollop of gochujang (spicy red pepper paste) and a squeeze of vinegar and mustard and you’ve got yourself a solid lunch. (Insider tip: Use the provided scissors to cut the noodles to make them easier to chew.)

Oi-muchim

Arguably one of the best summertime vegetables due to its high water content, cucumbers are the main ingredient of oi-muchim, a chilled, spicy salad often served as a side dish in many Korean restaurants. Marinated in vinegar and red chili flakes, the subtle flavors and crisp texture of the cucumber make the dish both delicious and refreshing.

Chimaek

Literally translating to “chicken and beer,” chimaek is the quintessential summer snack, and is best enjoyed on a restaurant patio or along the Han River (where it can actually be delivered directly to your picnic spot). Korea’s famous twice-fried chicken (which has an entire festival devoted to it) is usually served with a side of radish cubes, which help to neutralize the heat of the chicken. Between the crunchy, crisp radishes and the ice-cold Cass, you’ll keep cool no matter how high the temperatures rise.

Kongguksu

Another favorite summer dish – particularly among vegetarians – is kongguksu, hand-cut noodles served in a cold, thick broth made from soybeans. Popular variations incorporate cucumber and peanuts, and if you’re eating it on an especially sweltering day, ice cubes may be included, too. Add salt to taste.

Ice cream

Sold in convenience stores and supermarkets alike, Korean ice cream bars are as ubiquitous as they are delicious. While Korea offers all the standard ice cream flavors, there are also countless inventive varieties for the more adventurous eater. Melona bars, for example, are a creamy, refreshing treat of honeydew melon-flavored ice cream. The Samanco, meanwhile, is a goldfish-shaped rice wafer filled with vanilla ice cream and a layer of sweetened red beans, and is unsurprisingly a favorite among children and children at heart. At around 1,000 won (US$1) a pop, you can try multiple kinds without breaking the bank, though not necessarily the scale.

Samgyetang

Koreans have a theory that during the three hottest days of the summer – chobok, jungbok, and malbok – the best way to fight the heat is with more heat, which is where samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) comes into play. The nutritious soup features a whole chicken simmering in hot broth and stuffed with various nuts, medicinal herbs, and vegetables – a culinary combination that is said to increase blood circulation in the body and thus help restore appetite and energy.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.