Boiled rice(Bop), either plain or cooked with other grains, is the main dish at the Korean meals. Rice is accompanied by a variety of side dishes that vary greatly according to the region and the season. Next to rice comes "kimchi", a spicy vegetable dish generally comprised of celery, cabbage and turnips or cucumbers seasoned with salt, garlic, onions, ginger, red pepper and shellfish. Soup is also a vital part of almost every meal. Other dishes include seafood, meat or poultry, greens, herbs and roots. Each person has his own rice and soup bowls but all other dishes are placed in the center of the table for everyone to partake of. A spoon and chopsticks are used for eating. One of the most popular and favorite dish among foreigners is "Bulgogi," strips of beef roasted on a barbecue grill at the table after being marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, green onions and other seasonings. Koreans generally like hot, spicy foods, so red pepper is an indispensable seasoning.
In big cities like Seoul, Daegu and Busan, you might not worry about food. You can find all kinds of western fast food on almost any street corner (Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, Subway, DUNKIN' DONUTS, T.G.I Fridays, Bennigan's, Baskin Robbins, Pizza Hut, etc.). In downtown Seoul and some hotel restaurants provide French, Mexican, Indian, German, and Vietnamese. However, it is not easy to find food exactly like it is at your home. There are a lot of Chinese and Japanese restaurants but the style of dishes is adjusted to Korean tastes.