It's Raining in Korea. Here's What We Crave.

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☔ Let the rain play while you read.
Korea is a country with four distinct seasons.

Spring and autumn are getting a little shorter these days as the weather gets warmer, but we still have four very different seasons — spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

And it rains in every one of them.

We even have different feelings for rain depending on the season: spring rain, summer monsoon rain, autumn rain, and winter rain. To me, each one feels and even smells a little different.

I love rainy days. And I think a lot of Koreans do too.

Maybe it’s in our Korean DNA — we love hot food and a very cold drink. 😄

Whatever the reason, when it rains, there are certain foods I immediately start craving.

So here are my personal top three.


1. Kalguksu (칼국수)

For me, kalguksu is pure comfort food on a rainy day.

Hot broth that warms me all the way through, thick plump noodles, and spicy kimchi on the side.

I don’t care if it’s from a famous restaurant or a tiny neighborhood place.

When it rains, I want kalguksu.


2. Pajeon & Makgeolli (파전과 막걸리)

People say we crave pajeon on rainy days because the sizzling sound of the pancake frying sounds like falling rain.

I don’t know if that’s true. 😄

I just know that hot, crispy pajeon and cold makgeolli taste ridiculously good on a rainy day.

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine — slightly sweet, slightly tangy and usually served cold.

And after a good sip, you might hear a Korean say:

“Kyaaaaah~~!”

Hot pajeon, cold makgeolli and rain outside.

For me, that’s an eternal Korean rainy-day combo.


3. Pojangmacha(포장마차)

This one may be my favorite.

Old-fashioned pojangmacha are harder to find these days, but I still love them.

Hot eomuk broth, spicy chicken feet, a cold shot of soju — and the sound of rain hitting the plastic tent above me.

That cold soju going down my throat while I listen to the rain...

I could sit there for hours.

That’s my Korean rainy night.


Flo’s Pick — Gongdeok Market Jeon Alley

There isn’t one particular place you have to go for rainy-day food, but if you want to experience pajeon and makgeolli in Seoul, I recommend Gongdeok Market’s Jeon Alley (공덕시장 전골목).

It’s an old-fashioned market alley where you can choose from different kinds of jeon and fried food and enjoy them with makgeolli.

Getting there:
Gongdeok Station — Line 5 or Line 6, Exit 5
It’s only a short walk from the station.

Hours:
Hours vary by restaurant, and many places stay open into the evening.

Price:
It depends on what and how much you order, but around ₩15,000–₩30,000 per person with drinks is a reasonable budget.

If it happens to be raining when you go?

Even better. ☔


📍Gongdeok Market’s Jeon Alley   (Click for the map)




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