Japchae (Stir-fried Noodles)
Healthy and packed with vegetables, japchae consists of sweet potato noodles (or glass noodles) stir-fried with nutty sesame oil and thinly sliced vegetables and beef. The noodles themselves are a bit sweet and slightly chewy and the dish is often garnished with sesame seeds. Since the noodles aren’t your typical wheat-based pasta, the dish is refreshingly light yet satisfying.
Naengmyeon (Cold Buckwheat Noodles)
Naengmyeon is a common cold Korean noodle dish that consists of long, thin noodles, cucumbers, slices of Korean pear, slices of beef and a hard-boiled egg. The noodles are often made of buckwheat, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, but can also be made of arrowroot and kudzu, depending on the type of naengmyeon. It is a popular dish especially during the summer to cool off under the scorching heat and thick humid air in South Korea.
Jajangmyeon (Black Bean Sauce Noodles)
Jajangmyeon is one of the most popular noodle dishes in Korea. It is delicious and satisfying but inexpensive to buy or make, so it is a favorite home-cooked or takeout meal among many people in Korea. It is the Korean adaptation of a Chinese black bean noodle dish with the same name, and you can find it in every Chinese restaurant in Korea. The Korean version of this dish is made with a dark sauce made from a chunking paste containing caramel and roasted soybeans.
It is most common to use wide, thick noodles made from wheat flour for jajangmyun, but if you cannot find any noodles that are intended specifically for this dish, you easily can substitute wide buckwheat noodles or even linguine.
Jjamppong (Spicy Seafood Noodle)
Jjamppong is a popular Korean-Chinese noodle soup, loaded with pork, seafood, and vegetables. The combination of all the natural ingredients creates a hearty bowl of soup that is packed with robust flavors.