Korea has a unique summer tradition of eating nourishing foods to stay healthy in the heat. Some dishes help restore energy by making you sweat over a hot, hearty broth, while others cool you down with icy, refreshing soups. From samgyetang or whole chicken soup to naengmyeon served in different styles and smoky charcoal-grilled eel, discover the best nourishing summer foods and recommended restaurants to keep you energized throughout your trip to Korea this summer.
- ✅ Why Do Koreans Eat Nourishing Foods in Summer?
- July and August are the hottest months of the year in Korea. The three days that mark the peak of the summer heat are known as Sambok, Korea’s version of dog days of summer; they include Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok. In the past when Korea was largely an agrarian society, people ate nourishing foods on these days to restore their energy and replenish nutrients lost in the heat. In 2026, Chobok falls on Wednesday, July 15; Jungbok is on Saturday, July 25, and Malbok, on Friday, August 14.
- 🔥 I-yeol-chi-yeol: Beating the Heat with Hot Foods
- I-yeol-chi-yeol is a traditional Korean approach to summer wellness based on the idea of “fighting heat with heat.” The belief is that working up a good sweat over a hot bowl of soup on a sweltering day can leave the body feeling lighter and more refreshed. In fact, hot foods can temporarily raise the body temperature and encourage sweating, which may help cool the body as the sweat evaporates.
- 🧊 I-naeng-chi-naeng: Cooling Down with Cold Foods
- In today’s Korea where air conditioning is widely available and food choices are increasingly shaped by personal preference, many people enjoy cold dishes in summer. Cold foods can cool the body almost instantly without working up a sweat, making them feel less draining physically. The appeal of icy, refreshing sensations has become a culture of its own, reflected in the popular Korean slang eoljuga, short for “iced drinks even if I freeze,” which refers to people who drink iced coffee even in winter.
- • A classic Korean nourishing dish made by simmering a young chicken stuffed with ginseng, glutinous rice, garlic, jujube, and other Korean herbal ingredients in an earthenware pot
- • A unique dish loved by international visitors and even sought by global tech CEOs during their visits to Korea
- ✅ TIP. Enjoy the glutinous rice inside the chicken by stirring it into the broth like soft porridge.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Korea Samgyetang] A restaurant serving samgyetang made with 49-day-old young chicken, accompanied by wild ginseng liquor
- - Address: 1 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 서소문로11길 1)
- [3Dae (Samdae) Samgye Jangin] A MICHELIN Guide-listed restaurant where visitors can try pine nuts, mung beans, and mugwort samgyetang
- - Address: 56-3 Banpo-daero 28-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 반포대로28길 56-3)
- • A clear, comforting chicken hot pot made with whole chicken simmered in a metal pot with green onions, potatoes, rice cakes, and other ingredients
- • Served with a special dipping sauce that diners can mix to their liking with soy sauce, red pepper powder, mustard, vinegar, and more
- ✅ TIP. After finishing the chicken, add kalguksu noodles to the remaining broth or make fried rice with it.
Recommended Restaurant
- [Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley] A food alley next to Dongdaemun Shopping Complex lined with restaurants specializing in dakhanmari
- - Address: 37-7 Jongno 5-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 종로5가 37-7)
- • A tangy cold noodle dish made with shredded chicken and somyeon (thin noodles) in chilled chicken broth
- • Originated from chogyetang (cold chicken soup), a traditional dish from the Pyeongan and Hamgyeong regions
- ✅ TIP. For an extra kick, add vinegar and mustard to taste.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Misari Milbit Chogyeguksu Main Branch] A chogyeguksu specialty restaurant known for its signature house-made broth, with several branches across Korea
- - Address: 608 Misa-daero, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 하남시 미사대로 608)
- • A classic summer dish made with noodles served in rich, creamy ground soybean broth
- • Known for the nutty yet clean flavor of its thick soybean broth and wheat noodles
- ✅ TIP. Start by tasting the soybean broth on its own, and then add salt or sugar to taste.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Jinju Hoegwan] A 60-year-old kongguksu specialty restaurant loved by presidents, Seoul mayors, and Samsung CEOs
- - Address: 26 Sejong-daero 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 세종대로11길 26)
- [Kim Myeonghwa Seoritae Kongguksu] A restaurant known for seoritae kongguksu (noodles in cold black soybean soup) featuring rich black soybean broth that pairs perfectly with chewy noodles
- - Address: 16 Cheonbyeonjwa-ro 338beon-gil, Nam-gu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City (전남광주통합특별시 남구 천변좌로338번길 16)
- • A dish loved for its chewy buckwheat noodles served in icy cold meat broth
- • Choose between Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles—known for its delicate buckwheat aroma and savory broth—or Hamheung-style spicy buckwheat noodles mixed with spicy-sweet sauce.
- ✅ TIP.
- - For cold buckwheat noodles, taste the broth before and after detangling the noodles and see how the flavor changes.
- - Spicy buckwheat noodles are a great choice for travelers who want to try Korea’s signature spicy-sweet flavor.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Woo Lae Oak] A MICHELIN Guide-listed restaurant with 70 years’ history, known for its rich, memorable hanu (Korean beef) broth
- - Address: 62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 창경궁로 62-29)
- [Incheon Hwapyeong-dong Sesutdaeya Naengmyeon Street] A naengmyeon street lined with restaurants known for distinctive flavors and generous portions
- - Address: Hwapyeong-ro area, Dong-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 동구 화평로 일대)
- • A grilled eel dish enjoyed in summer for its energy-boosting qualities, cooked directly over an open grill
- • Known for its smoky charcoal aroma, with both lightly salted grilled eel and spicy-sweet marinated eel as popular choices
- ✅ TIP. For a lighter bite, wrap the eel in lettuce or perilla leaves with thinly sliced ginger and garlic to balance its richness.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Haengjuoe-dong Eel Village] A cluster of eel restaurants near Haengjusanseong Fortress, perfect for recharging before or after exploring the area
- - Address: Haengjusanseong-ro 144beon-gil area, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 고양시 덕양구 행주산성로144번길 일대)
- [Seonunsan Pungcheon Eel Street] A gourmet street known for eel raised in clean waters where freshwater and seawater meet
- - Address: Seonunsa-ro area, Asan-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do (전북특별자치도 고창군 아산면 선운사로 일대)
- • A premium seasonal fish soup traditionally enjoyed on a Sambok day by the royal court and noble families during the Joseon dynasty
- • Known for its mild, deeply flavorful broth that highlights the delicate richness of white fish
- ✅ TIP. First-time visitors may want to try the clear version instead of the spicy one to enjoy the fish’s mild, natural flavor.
Recommended Restaurants
- [Sinpo International Market] A traditional market known for croaker stew as well as a wide variety of seafood dishes
- - Address: Uhyeon-ro 49beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 우현로49번길 일대)
- [Mokpo Mineo Street] A place where visitors can enjoy seasonal croaker as a course meal, including soup, sliced raw fish, jeon (Korean pancakes), and seasoned raw fish salad
- - Address: Jungang-dong 1-ga area, Mokpo-si, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City (전남광주통합특별시 목포시 중앙동1가 일대)
Bingsu is an essential summer dessert in Korea. Varieties range from traditional patbingsu—made with finely shaved ice topped with red bean paste and rice cakes—to fruit bingsu loaded with seasonal fruits such as mango, peach, and melon.
• Learn More about Bingsu in Korea
Korean Summer Nourishing Foods FAQ
- Q. Are Korean nourishing foods eaten only in summer?
- A. Not at all. Many restaurants specializing in dishes like samgyetang, dakhanmari, naengmyeon, and grilled eel are open all year round, so you can enjoy them anytime. However, dishes such as kongguksu and mineotang are often served as seasonal menu items or summer specialties from June to August, so it’s a good idea to check before you go.
- Q. Are there any Korean nourishing foods suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
- A. Yes. Kongguksu is a good choice as it is made with a soybean-based broth. Some restaurants, however, may add egg as a garnish, so it’s best to check the ingredients before ordering.
- Q. Will I have to wait long at popular nourishing food restaurants on a Sambok day?
- A. Yes. On Sambok days, popular samgyetang and grilled eel restaurants often have long lines. For a more relaxed meal, try visiting on a different day, right after the restaurant opens, or during quieter afternoon hours at around 15:00 to 16:00.
- - Original article by Jung Won Park / Translated by KTO
- - Photos by Korea Tourism Organization and ClipartKorea
