Say "Chuncheon" to any Korean and you'll get one word back: dakgalbi. This lake city northeast of Seoul is synonymous with the spicy stir-fried chicken that's now eaten all over the country — but tastes best where it was born. Chuncheon is a small food town that does its handful of dishes exceptionally well.
It's also easy buckwheat-and-potato country, thanks to the surrounding Gangwon hills. Here's what to eat, and where to find it.
It's simple in Chuncheon: Myeongdong's Dakgalbi Alley for dakgalbi, makguksu houses all over the city for the noodles, and the markets for buckwheat and potato dishes. Most of it is an easy train ride from Seoul.
The Chuncheon must-eats
Chuncheon's claim to fame and one of Korea's great communal meals: spicy stir-fried chicken with cabbage, sweet potato, rice cake and perilla leaves, all cooked on a big hot plate right at your table. It started as cheap, filling food and became a national obsession.
The grand finale: once the dakgalbi is nearly gone, the staff fry rice, seaweed, kimchi and cheese right in the leftover spicy sauce on your hot plate. Crispy, smoky and arguably better than the main event.
Chuncheon's other signature: cold buckwheat noodles in a chilled, tangy broth (or tossed with a spicy sauce), topped with cucumber, egg and sesame. Light, refreshing and the perfect cool-down after the fiery dakgalbi.
A Gangwon-Province specialty: thin buckwheat crepes rolled around a savoury filling of kimchi and vegetables. Rustic, chewy and often served alongside makguksu - the buckwheat theme runs deep in this region.
Gangwon Province is potato country, and gamja-jeon - a crisp-edged, chewy pan-fried potato pancake - is the comfort-food proof. Simple, golden and very moreish, especially on a rainy day.
Make a food trip of Chuncheon
The classic Chuncheon move is a day out by the lake, then dakgalbi for dinner with friends — sizzling chicken, then fried rice in the leftover sauce, with cold makguksu to cool things down. Simple, social and very Korean.
Pair this with our Gapyeong & Chuncheon travel guide for Nami Island and the lake country, and see where Chuncheon fits on our map of Korean regional foods and the 10 Korean foods every fan must try.
And if you want a drama set around these lakes (hello, Winter Sonata), our AI Drama Recommender will find you one. 🎬