Our spice ratings describe the usual restaurant version. Chains often let you choose a level (맵기 단계), and the same dish can be much hotter in one restaurant than another.
Not spicy
- 김밥Gimbap (Seaweed Rice Roll)
- 참치김밥Tuna Gimbap
- 새우볶음밥Shrimp Fried Rice
- 오므라이스Omurice (Omelette Rice)
- 돈가스Donkatsu (Breaded Pork Cutlet)
- 불고기덮밥Bulgogi Rice Bowl
- 카레라이스Korean Curry Rice
- 주먹밥Rice Ball
- 유부초밥Fried Tofu Rice Pockets
- 쌈밥Lettuce Wrap Rice Meal
- 곤드레밥Thistle Rice
- 영양돌솥밥Stone Pot Rice with Nuts and Grains
- 알밥Fish Roe Rice Bowl
- 돼지국밥Pork Rice Soup
- 순대국밥Blood Sausage Rice Soup
- 소머리국밥Beef Head Rice Soup
- 전복죽Abalone Rice Porridge
- 호박죽Pumpkin Porridge
- 팥죽Red Bean Porridge
- 야채죽Vegetable Rice Porridge
- 소고기죽Beef Rice Porridge
- 갈비탕Beef Short Rib Soup
- 설렁탕Ox Bone Soup
- 곰탕Beef Bone Soup
- 꼬리곰탕Oxtail Soup
- 도가니탕Ox Knee Soup
- 삼계탕Ginseng Chicken Soup
- 미역국Seaweed Soup
- 떡국Rice Cake Soup
- 떡만둣국Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup
- 만둣국Dumpling Soup
- 북엇국Dried Pollock Soup
- 콩나물국Bean Sprout Soup
- 불고기전골Bulgogi Hot Pot
- 닭한마리Whole Chicken Hot Pot
- 삼겹살Samgyeopsal (Grilled Pork Belly)
- 오겹살Pork Belly with Skin
- 목살Grilled Pork Shoulder
- 항정살Grilled Pork Jowl
- 가브리살Pork Cap Muscle
Mild
- 비빔밥Bibimbap (Mixed Rice Bowl)
- 돌솥비빔밥Hot Stone Pot Bibimbap
- 산채비빔밥Mountain Vegetable Bibimbap
- 김치볶음밥Kimchi Fried Rice
- 회덮밥Raw Fish Rice Bowl
- 콩나물국밥Bean Sprout Rice Soup
- 선지해장국Ox Blood Hangover Soup
- 추어탕Loach Soup
- 대구탕Cod Soup
- 어묵탕Fish Cake Soup
- 된장찌개Soybean Paste Stew
- 청국장Fast-fermented Soybean Stew
- 버섯전골Mushroom Hot Pot
- 만두전골Dumpling Hot Pot
- 샤브샤브Korean Shabu-shabu
- 숯불닭갈비Charcoal-grilled Chicken
- 찜닭Braised Soy Chicken
- 두부조림Braised Tofu
- 두부김치Tofu with Stir-fried Kimchi
- 보쌈Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps)
- 막국수Makguksu (Buckwheat Noodles)
- 잡채밥Japchae Rice
- 김치전Kimchi Pancake
- 양념치킨Yangnyeom Chicken (Sweet & Spicy)
- 파닭Fried Chicken with Green Onions
- 닭강정Dakgangjeong (Sweet Crispy Chicken)
- 로제떡볶이Rosé Tteokbokki
- 닭꼬치Chicken Skewer
- 떡꼬치Rice Cake Skewer
- 소떡소떡Sausage and Rice Cake Skewer
- 편의점 도시락Convenience Store Lunch Box
- 컵밥Cup Rice
Spicy
- 충무김밥Chungmu Gimbap
- 제육덮밥Spicy Pork Rice Bowl
- 오징어덮밥Spicy Squid Rice Bowl
- 따로국밥Spicy Beef Soup with Rice on the Side
- 감자탕Pork Back-bone Stew
- 뼈해장국Pork Bone Hangover Soup
- 육개장Spicy Beef Soup
- 매운탕Spicy Fish Stew
- 알탕Spicy Fish Roe Stew
- 꽃게탕Spicy Blue Crab Stew
- 해물탕Spicy Seafood Stew
- 김치찌개Kimchi Stew
- 참치김치찌개Tuna Kimchi Stew
- 순두부찌개Soft Tofu Stew
- 부대찌개Budae Jjigae (Army Base Stew)
- 동태찌개Frozen Pollock Stew
- 고추장찌개Chili Paste Stew
- 곱창전골Beef Tripe Hot Pot
- 철판닭갈비Dakgalbi (Spicy Stir-fried Chicken)
- 등갈비찜Braised Pork Back Ribs
- 김치찜Braised Kimchi with Pork
- 제육볶음Spicy Stir-fried Pork
- 오징어볶음Spicy Stir-fried Squid
- 오삼불고기Spicy Squid and Pork
- 닭볶음탕Spicy Braised Chicken
- 고등어조림Braised Mackerel
- 갈치조림Braised Hairtail Fish
- 코다리조림Braised Half-dried Pollock
- 물회Cold Raw Fish Soup
- 양념게장Spicy Marinated Raw Crab
- 비빔냉면Bibim Naengmyeon (Spicy Cold Noodles)
- 비빔국수Spicy Mixed Noodles
- 쫄면Jjolmyeon (Chewy Spicy Noodles)
- 라면Ramyeon (Korean Instant Noodles)
- 라볶이Rabokki (Ramyeon Tteokbokki)
- 짬짜면Half Jjajangmyeon, Half Jjamppong
- 깐풍기Kkanpunggi (Spicy Garlic Fried Chicken)
- 마파두부밥Mapo Tofu Rice
- 떡볶이Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes)
- 컵라면Cup Ramyeon
- 컵떡볶이Cup Tteokbokki
Very spicy
- 낙지덮밥Spicy Octopus Rice Bowl
- 아귀찜Spicy Braised Monkfish
- 해물찜Spicy Braised Seafood
- 낙지볶음Spicy Stir-fried Octopus
- 쭈꾸미볶음Spicy Stir-fried Baby Octopus
- 닭발Spicy Chicken Feet
- 짬뽕Jjamppong (Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup)
Tips
- Ask for 덜 맵게 (less spicy) or 안 맵게 (not spicy). Stews can be made milder; sauces that are mixed in advance cannot.
- Small green chilies on the side are often 청양고추 — very hot. Dip carefully.
- Rice, egg dishes, cheese and milk drinks cool your mouth better than water.
- When a Korean friend says “조금 매워요” (a little spicy), plan for spicy.
Quick answers
Is Korean food spicy?
Some of it is, but far from all. Of the 204 dishes MenuSum rates (not counting drinks, sauces, side dishes and desserts), 124 are not spicy, 32 mild, 41 spicy and 7 very spicy. You can usually ask for less: 덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Is all Korean food spicy?
No. 124 of the 204 dishes here are not spicy at all — for example Samgyeopsal, Bulgogi, Jjajangmyeon, Mul Naengmyeon, Korean Fried Chicken.
How spicy is Korean BBQ?
Usually not spicy: 19 of the 21 Korean BBQ cuts and dishes here are rated not spicy. The heat comes from what you add at the table, such as chili paste, kimchi and raw green chilies.
How spicy is tteokbokki?
Spicy: Chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce, usually with fish cakes and boiled egg.
How spicy is bulgogi?
Not spicy: Thin slices of beef marinated in sweet soy sauce with pear and garlic, grilled or cooked in a shallow pan with broth.
How spicy is kimchi?
Mild: The classic kimchi: napa cabbage fermented with chili, garlic and ginger.
How spicy is kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae)?
Spicy: Spicy stew of aged kimchi, tofu and usually pork — the most common Korean stew at home and in restaurants.
What are the spiciest Korean dishes?
The dishes we rate very spicy include Jjamppong, Spicy Braised Monkfish, Spicy Braised Seafood, Spicy Chicken Feet, Spicy Octopus Rice Bowl, Spicy Stir-fried Baby Octopus.
How do you say “less spicy” in Korean?
덜 맵게 해 주세요 (deol maepge hae juseyo) means “less spicy, please”. 안 맵게 해 주세요 (an maepge hae juseyo) means “not spicy, please”.