Bunsik-jip menus are divided into four main categories. Understanding these key areas is the first step to confidently ordering your meal!
1. The Big Four: Essential Menu Categories
A. 떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) – Spicy Rice Cakes
Chewy rice cakes doused in a sweet and spicy red chili sauce (Gochujang). Often contains fish cakes (eomuk). This is Korea’s most iconic street food.
떡볶이
Tteokbokki
(Spicy Rice Cakes)
The quintessential Korean street food. Chewy rice cakes and fish cakes (eomuk) simmered in a sweet and spicy Gochujang (chili paste) sauce.
치즈떡볶이
Cheese Tteokbokki
(Cheese + Tteokbokki)
Tteokbokki topped with melted cheese. The cheese adds a creamy texture and helps to cut down on the heat of the sauce.
라볶이
Rabokki
(Ramen + Tteokbokki)
A popular twist where a serving of Ramen noodles is added to the basic Tteokbokki. It’s heartier and more filling than the original.
B. 김밥 (Gimbap) – Seaweed Rolls
Cooked rice and various savory fillings rolled in dried seaweed (Gim). Sliced into bite-sized pieces, it’s the perfect light meal or snack.
야채김밥
Yachae Gimbap
(Vegetable Gimbap, Standard)
The most basic type, filled with classic vegetables, egg, and usually imitation crab meat (Massal). Caution for Vegans: Must ask for egg/crab/eomuk(fish cake) meat to be removed.
불고기김밥
Bulgogi Gimbap
(Gimbap + bulgogi)
Features sweet and savory soy-marinated beef (Bulgogi). This is a flavorful and non-spicy option.
참치김밥
Chamchi Gimbap
(Gimbap + tuna)
A popular choice filled with tuna salad mixed with creamy mayonnaise. It has a soft, rich flavor profile.
돈까스김밥
Donkkaseu Gimbap
(Gimbap + pork cutlet)
A very filling roll containing a strip of crispy, breaded pork cutlet (Donkkaseu). A great choice for a substantial meal.
C. 식사류 (Bap & Myeon) – Rice and Noodles
Hearty dishes that serve as a full meal. This category includes classic Korean fried rice dishes (Bokkeumbap) and simple noodle soups (Ramyeon).
라면
Ramyeon
(Instant Noodles)
Classic Korean instant noodles, usually cooked right away in the shop. Expect a basically spicy flavor profile, similar to popular brands like Shin Ramyen or Jin Ramyeon.
쫄면
Jjolmyeon
(Spicy Cold Chewy Noodles)
A refreshing bowl of extra-chewy noodles tossed in a sweet, tangy, and spicy Gochujang (chili paste) sauce, topped with lots of fresh vegetables. Great for hot weather.
김치볶음밥
Kimchi Bokkeumbap
(Kimchi Fried Rice)
A savory, hearty dish made by stir-frying kimchi and rice together. It often includes pork or ham and is typically served with a fried egg on top.
오므라이스
Omeuraisseu
(Omelet Rice)
Fried rice wrapped inside a thin egg omelet, then generously covered with a savory brown sauce. It’s a mild, comforting, and less spicy option.
D. 튀김 & 기타 (Fritters & Others)
Side dishes that pair perfectly with Tteokbokki. This section features deep-fried items (Twigim) and savory stuffed snacks (Mandu, Sundae).
튀김
Twigim
(Assorted Fried Foods)
A general term for deep-fried items, often including vegetables, sweet potatoes, squid, and Gim-mari (seaweed rolls filled with glass noodles). Pro Tip: Dip them in Tteokbokki sauce!
순대
Sundae
(Korean Blood Sausage)
A unique, savory street food made of pig’s intestines stuffed with glass noodles and pig’s blood. Typically steamed and served with salt or Tteokbokki sauce for dipping.
만두
Mandu
(Dumplings)
Korean dumplings that can be served fried (군만두), steamed (찐만두), or added to soup. In Bunsik-jip, they are usually fried.
어묵
Aomuk
(Fish Cake Skewers)
Thin fish cakes served on skewers in a hot, savory broth. The broth is often available for you to drink freely while you wait for your order.
2. Vegan & Vegetarian Ordering Hack
Warning: Most Bunsik-jip items are not automatically vegan, as they heavily use egg (계란), imitation crab meat (맛살), and fish cake (어묵). It is much safer to state the ingredients you cannot eat rather than using the term “vegan.”
| Korean Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | English Purpose |
| 고기, 생선, 계란 못 먹어요. | Gogi, saeng-seon, gye-ran mot meo-geo-yo. | “I cannot eat meat, fish, or egg.” (Simple, clear, and understood by all ages.) |
| [재료] 빼고 주세요. | [Ingredient] ppae-go ju-se-yo. | “Please make it without [Ingredient].” (The most practical phrase.) |
Key Ingredients to Exclude (ppae-go ju-se-yo):
계란 (Gye-ran) – Egg
햄 (Ham) – Ham
맛살 (Mas-sal) – Imitation Crab Meat
어묵 (Eo-muk) – Fish Cake
Pro-Tip for Gimbap:
When ordering 야채김밥 (Yachae Gimbap), the safest request is “Gye-ran, Ham, Mas-sal, Eo-muk ppae-go ju-se-yo“ (Please remove the egg, ham, crab meat, and fish cake).
3. Essential Dining Phrases
Use these phrases to navigate your Bunsik-jip experience seamlessly!
| Situation | Korean Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | English Meaning |
| Call the staff | 저기요! | Jeo-gi-yo! | “Excuse me!” |
| Order a dish | 이거 주세요. | Ee-geo Ju-se-yo. | “This one, please.” (Point at the menu item you want.) |
| Ask for takeout | 포장해 주세요. | Po-jang-hae Ju-se-yo. | “Please wrap this up for takeout.” |
| Ask for the bill | 계산해 주세요. | Gye-san-hae Ju-se-yo. | “The bill, please.” |
Korean Payment Culture: Pay at the Exit
In most Korean restaurants, especially casual places like Bunsik-jip or Korean BBQ (Gogi-jip), you do not pay at your table.
- When you are finished eating, simply get up. You do not need to wait for a server to bring the bill to your table.
- Walk to the front counter or cashier (계산대, Gye-san-dae), usually located near the entrance.
- Tell the cashier your table number (e.g., “3번 테이블이요,” Sam-beon Te-i-beul-i-yo), or they will simply look up your order in the system by checking your table.
- Pay with your card or cash there.
So, when you are ready to leave, just head straight for the exit and look for the counter!
Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments, or suggest topics you’d like us to cover!
Leave a Reply