South Korea: Kimberly Andrade (Food in Seoul)

Food in Seoul

As I complete my fifth week of studying abroad in Seoul, I can honestly say I have had some of the best food of all my life right here in South Korea. At first, I thought my friend and I were stumbling upon hidden gem restaurants when we would taste amazing food after doing such little research on where to eat. However, I soon found out that we weren’t getting lucky, rather, most of the restaurants we tried in Seoul just had amazing food. I have noticed a variety of different food influences including Italian, Indian, and Japanese cuisine but I was especially intrigued by the Mexican restaurants in Seoul. The tacos I tried at the two Mexican restaurants I visited surprised me to say the least. Though the texture was different, the flavor was rich and included all the classic garnishes found in the authentic version. Both times, the restaurants were run by Koreans, but the flavor of the tacos reminded me of home.

Though I like to eat familiar dishes occasionally to feel closer to home, I also love trying new foods. Myeongdong Market, famous for its street food and shopping centers, is where my friend and I discovered a new delicious dessert: marshmallow covered ice cream. The worker torches the outer layer of the marshmallow so that when you bite into it, the warm gooey marshmallow pairs with the sweet cold ice cream. This dessert is one that I never skip when visiting Myeongdong. Recently, we discovered a delicious restaurant that specializes in Dak-galbi, a dish with stir-fried chicken paired with cheese, rice cakes, ramen, and fried rice. My friend and I liked it so much we went twice in one week! For anyone visiting in the future, I highly recommend trying this meal at least once during your time here.

Kimberly Andrade 

Major: Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Program: Ewha University Exchange, South Korea

Being a recipient of the Global Gateway Fellowship means gaining the opportunity to experience study abroad to the fullest extent. This fellowship will allow me to personally develop through the various challenges and growth opportunities that come with living abroad.

One academic goal I have for this program is improving my fluency in Korean. Living in Korea and being exposed to the culture and language everyday will challenge me to navigate everyday life in a different language. This experience will push me to improve my language skills as well as my cultural competency.

I am looking forward to exploring the historical sights and learning about the history of South Korea. It is a country with an extensive history and has also experienced many challenges throughout its establishment. I want to know more about how these events throughout history have shaped the cultural context of the country today.