Discover the best Korean summer recipes, including refreshing noodles, easy rice bowls, crisp banchan, and BBQ favorites. Perfect for hot weather cooking and simple weeknight meals.
What do Koreans Eat During the Summer?
When the weather heats up, Korean home cooking also changes. Instead of heavy stews and cozy braised dishes, summer meals are fresh, bright, fragrant and cooling. Think cold noodles, chilled broths, icy drinks, crisp veggies and flavorful yet simple seasoning. With minimal cooking, too!
Summer is truly one of the best times to enjoy Korean cooking. Seasonal vegetables are at their peak, meals become lighter and brighter, and many recipes are quick to prepare.
Explore the very best of Korean summer cooking with a collection of easy recipes designed to cool you down on those sticky hot summer days!
Korean Cold Noodles
A refreshing noodle dish that is spicy, sweet and tangy. An iconic Korean summer meal that only takes 10 minutes to make!
Take advantage of juicy summer tomatoes with this easy 10-minute recipe! A chilled tomato broth, thin chewy wheat noodles (somyeon), and a small mountain of fragrant perilla leaves (kkaennip) will cool you down.
A cold noodle dish with rich and nutty Perilla oil, chewy soba noodles and savory toppings like crushed nori (gim) and sesame seeds. Surprisingly simple and deeply satisfying. Quick to prepare and full of savory, earthy flavor!
Easy Rice Bowls
A refreshing Korean dish made of seasoned raw beef, crisp Asian pear, and topped with an egg yolk for extra richness and flavor. An elegant meal layered on top of rice. Use the best high-quality raw beef you can find!
A rice bowl with fresh raw fish, crunchy veggies and warm rice topped with a spicy-sweet Gochujang sauce. Everything is mixed together before eating, like Bibimbap! A light yet satisfying meal with sashimi-grade fish.
An easy, pantry-friendly rice bowl made with canned tuna, spicy kimchi and white rice. A simple and satisfying recipe that’s packed with protein. My go-to recipe for busy weeknights or work from home lunches.
Al Bap (Fish Roe Bibimbap)
Al Bap, which translates to “fish roe rice,” is a variation of Bibimbap with fish roe instead of meat. The roe bursts with a satisfying pop in each bite! Light yet satisfying, and full of delicate briny flavor and contrasting textures.
Refreshing Side Dishes (Banchan)
Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
An easy and delicious way to enjoy garden fresh cucumbers. The crisp, crunchy cucumbers and vibrant dressing make the absolute best side dish. Goes with everything!
All you need is a chilled block of soft silken tofu and pantry ingredients shaken in a jar and poured on top! Easy, delicious, filling and a great side dish when you don’t want to cook.
A Korean-style seaweed salad that is bright and punchy with a subtle kick of spice. Served cold and tastes good with just about everything.
Marinated Perilla Leaves (Kkaennip)
A great no-cook recipe featuring one of Korea’s most fragrant and beloved herbs: Perilla (Kkaennip). Stacks of perilla leaves are marinated in a savory dressing. The leaves absorb every bit of the delicious flavor.
Korean BBQ Recipes for Summer Gatherings
A classic Korean BBQ meal featuring thick slices of grilled pork belly wrapped in lettuce with ssamjang and green onion salad. Enjoy this communal style of eating together with friend and family.
A summer BBQ is not complete without this Korean staple! Marinate thinly sliced beef short ribs with onion, garlic, soy sauce, sugar and Asian pear. Throw on the grill for smoky flavor and enjoy!
Korean Summer Drinks + Cafe Treats
Mango Bingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)
A refreshing Korean shaved ice dessert made with fluffy milk ice and juicy mango. A popular summer café treat in Korea that’s often served with chewy mochi bits on top.
A modern Korean cafe drink made with creamy milk and topped with lots of Dalgona or honeycomb toffee. The chunky Dalgona candy melts into the cold milk. So good!
Make a Korean-style strawberry syrup and add to cold milk all summer long. The key is to keep the strawberries slight chunky for added texture. Cold, creamy, and sweet — the ultimate summer drink!
A fun and refreshing drink that takes full advantage of sweet summer peaches. Make a fresh peach puree and combine with Yakult. Add Sago for extra texture.
PRO Tips
- Take advantage of seasonal produce. Choose recipes that highlight tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and leafy greens, etc.
- Serve fresh veggies with dip. An easy Korean way to enjoy garden fresh veggies. Cut veggies and serve on a plate with dipping sauce like ssamjang or gochujang sauce. Good with cucumber, tomato, carrots, bell peppers, shishito peppers, etc.
- Prepare banchan ahead of time. Most Korean side dishes keep well in the fridge for 4-5 days. Make in advance and enjoy for fast, easy meals all week long.
- Rinse cold noodles well. To keep the noodles ice-cold, make sure to rinse well with cold water and ice cubes.
FAQ
Some of the most popular Korean summer foods include cold noodle soups like Naengmyeon, Bibim Guksu and Kongguksu. They also include cucumber dishes, chilled soups, fresh banchan and light rice bowls.
Some are spicy but not always. Korean summer recipes include a balance of cooling ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes and chilled noodles.
