Finding Breakfast in South Korea
The South of Seoul Pyeongtaek Food & Fun group on Facebook is often getting questions about where to find breakfast. Until recently we had always answered this question by talking about the numerous wonderful places to eat a western-style breakfast.
Finding Korean Breakfast in Korea
However, we recently realized that we were keeping a secret we didn’t mean to keep. There are many Korean restaurants that also serve breakfast and it’s delicious!!!!! Yes, that’s right! There are more options for breakfast than bacon and eggs.
In order to identify who serves breakfast, the Korean phrases you are looking for are 아침밥됩니다 or 아침식사됩니다. These phrases will often be written on the window or doors of the restaurant. The phrases often mean the restaurant opens around 8:00am in order to serve hungry individuals getting ready for the day. Sometimes it can mean they open as early as 6:00am. Generally, the exact time will be on the door and look like this: 6시 (6:00), 7시 (7:00), or 8시 (8:00).
What Koreans Eat for Breakfast
A Korean breakfast menu looks much different than a western breakfast menu. Don’t expect eggs, bacon, or pancakes. Instead, you may find delicious Korean soups with rice and a few side dishes. The selection is also often limited. We recommend trying a few places until you find the right soup for you.
Reasons We Love Korean Breakfast
We started sliding over to Korean breakfast a few years ago because we found that it made us more productive on the weekends. It was back before western breakfast was an option for us in Pyeongtaek. Once we made the switch it has been hard to go back. We still love to go for brunch, but day-to-day we prefer a Korean breakfast.
Although we love spicy food, we do tend to prefer lighter soups like Galbitang when we are eating in the morning. We love galbitang‘s smooth taste and the fact the bone broth is filled with nutrition. Lately, though, we have started graving Gamjatang in the morning. The soup is both hearty and warm which means it is perfect for winter.
Our Top Picks for Korean Breakfasts:
Click any of the options to learn more about the recommended dish.
Budaejjigae = 부대찌개
A spicy stew filled with meat and veggies.
Kimchijjigae = 김치찌개
A classic Korean stew filled with lots of kimchi and sometimes pork.
Galbitang = 갈비탕
Non-spicy and light beef rib soup.
Gamjatang = 감자탕
Spicy and hearty meat stew filled with greens and meat on the bone.
BaekBan = 백반
A meal of side dishes and a soup eaten with rice.
Good Luck!
We hope this helps your search for breakfast. One of the things we find joyful about life in Pyeongtaek is that we have so many wonderful breakfast choices that are both traditionally western or traditionally Korean. It gives our mornings variety that we have never had anywhere else we have lived.
Happy eating!!!!
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
