The 7 Spiciest Korean Foods in Seoul! Can You Handle It?! – Page 2 – Seoulistic

5. Donkasseu (aka Donkatsu) & Curry (돈까쓰 & 카레)

Onnuri-e Donkkasseu (Source)

Koreans have their own take on the Japanese dish donkatsu. Korean donkatsu is less flaky and the sauce is usually a bit sweeter. It’s a popular food to get at gimbap restaurants as they’re pretty cheap, quick to make and taste pretty darn good. But donkkasseu (Korean spelling) isn’t known for being a spicy food. That’s why we were surprised to find Onnuri-e Donkatteu (온누리에 돈까쓰) on the famous Korean show Sponge 2.0. You don’t have to get super spicy donkkasseu; they have regular items as well. But if you do get the spicy one (or the ultra big one) and finish the entire thing, you get a picture on the wall and free donkkasseu (biggest prize: 6 months donkkasseu free for eating in 5 minutes). Yea. It’s one of THOSE places.

Also, if you like other spicy Japanese food, you might want to try spicy curry at these two Japanese imports: Abiko Curry (아비꼬카레) and Coco Ichiban (코코이찌방야). You can set your desired spiciness level (levels 1-5 at Abiko and levels 1-10 at Coco Ichiban). Also, Abiko offers free rice and curry refills. 🙂
 

Onnuri-e Donkkasseu
Address (click for map): 서울시 동작구 신대방2동 355-23
(Seoul, Dongjak-gu, Shindaebang 2-dong 355-23)
Closest Subway Station: Sindaebang Samgeori Station (Line 7)
See food porn via Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

Abiko Curry (Locations everywhere, but here’s one in Hongdae)
Address (click for map): 서울시 마포구 서교동 356-1
(Seoul, Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong 356-1)
Closest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2)
See food porn via Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

Coco Ichiban (Locations everywhere, but here’s one near Gangnam Station)
Address (click for map): 서울 강남구 역삼동 619-4
(Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Yeoksam-dong 619-4)
Closest Subway Station: Gangnam Station (Line 2) & Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9)
See food porn via Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

 

6. Ramyun (라면)

Teumsae Ramyun (Source)

Ramyun noodles are Korean people’s go to food when they don’t have any food in their refrigerator. And even though it’s a simple snack that’s supposed to be a quick meal, Korean’s like it spicy. The most popular, Shin Ramyun — Korea’s number 1 ramyun noodle brand, is one of the spiciest instant noodles you can buy. But that’s child’s play compared to how hot ramyun noodles can actually get. If you want the spiciest, head over to Teumsae Ramyun in Myeongdong. This place has been around for 30 years serving up specialty ramyun that’s some of the hottest you can find. Think of it as Shin Ramyun, but with double the spiciness. They got so popular that they even make their own ramyun that can be made at home!

Teumsae Ramyun (틈새라면)
Address (click for map): 서울 중구 명동2가 3-2 (Naver Maps, Google Maps is inaccurate :P)
(Seoul, Jung-gu, Myeongdong 2-ga 3-2)
Closest Subway Stations: Myeongdong Station (Line 4) and Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2)
Official website: www.teumsae.com

 

7. Bibim Naengmyeon (비빔냉면)

Haeju Naengmyun (Source)

Most people are familiar with mul naengmyeon (물냉면) — the ultra tasty buckwheat noodles in super refreshing icy cool broth. But less people are familiar with its spicy cousin, bibim naengmyeon (비빔냉면). The noodles are exactly the same, but bibimb naengmyeon is mixed with a spicy dressing made from gochujang. Most of the time the spicy dressing isn’t too spicy, making it still very refreshing and of course mega tasty at most restaurants. But head over to Haeju Naengmyeon (해주냉면) for the tear inducing version. It’s a unique sensation of icy cool noodles with ultra hot spices that’ll probably confuse you more than anything else ;).

Haeju Naengmyun (해주냉면)
Address (click for map): 서울시 송파구 잠실본동 183-4
(Seoul, Songpa-gu, Jamsilbon-dong 183-4)
Closest Subway Station: Sincheon Station (Line 2) (don’t confuse with Sinchon / 신촌 station — line 2).
See food porn via Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

Tip: For any of these, cool your mouth down like Koreans do! Ask for cheese toppings (for tteokbokki) or egg casseroles aka gyeranmari (계랑마리) if they have. Also, you can get the drink Coolpis (쿨피스), a peach drink that helps fight spiciness.

Keith
Keith
Keith Kim is a Korean-American who has been living in Korea for almost a decade. Being in a unique position as both a Korean and a non-Korean, he's put all his experience and knowledge for surviving in Korea in Survival Korean . Read it to learn how you can survive in Korea. Follow him on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

15 Comments

  1. Mara says:

    How does Korean spicy food compare to Mexican spicy food? Is it spicier? Less? Around the same? I’m curious to know. If it’s around the same or a little less I think I can handle it. If it’s more… I’m in trouble.

    • Keith says:

      Pretty similar! 🙂 but these are the spiciest of Seoul

    • Andrew Ahn says:

      I think the Mexican food is much spicier than Korean food. The reason is the way of Korean food being made. They use almost same spiciness as Mexican food but the difference is that they put their food in the proccesing of fermenting. When the chilli go through the stage of fermenting, the taste gets much more smoother taste than raw spiciness. If you can taste those two foods on same time you will know what I mean.

      • Jayson Cha says:

        it depends. i find some korean food way too spicy for mankind to handle. however, some foods are manageable so it really depends what you’re talking about.

  2. Sam Tsai says:

    The “monthly count” thing cracked me up… but the only one I’ve ever been close to trying is spicy shin ramyun… which actually isn’t that spicy at all :O

  3. dija says:

    Waw so nice, I loooooove spicy food, I’d like to visit South Korea someday 🙂

  4. Lita says:

    Hi! Love this site. Been actively reading to prepare for my trip to Korea this summer. Just wondering if you could provide some info about those tent stalls that we always see in Korean dramas where ppl order food and soju. Perhaps where to find some of the better ones and what and how to order? Thanks!! 🙂

  5. Astrid says:

    I can’t believe you did not mention nakji! That was the only food I considered as ‘spicy’ in Seoul. LOL.
    I do love spicy food, and to people who doesn’t like spicy, I would not recommend nakji to them.. LOL

  6. John says:

    We usually have to drink alot of Soju and then dare each other to eat 불닭 (Fire Chicken). It hurts so gooood!

  7. Matt says:

    one day I ate some spicy chicken wings on jeju island.. that was something. I love spicy food and that restaurant was my top choice 😀 One day I’ll go back there 😀 It burned even out of my mouth… lips etc.. freakin’ awesome!

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  10. Jacquie says:

    How does the spicy chicken at Oppadak compare to this stuff?? I ate the chicken and loved it but I couldn’t speak in full sentences while I was doing it!

  11. Brad says:

    These all look amazing. I’ll be in Seoul in July and have put these on my list of things to eat. Keith, have you tried all of these?

  12. steph says:

    불닭!~

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