Along with the surging popularity of K-pop idols and K-beauty, there is another cultural trend spreading worldwide: Korean food. It is not a surprise to see a long line ahead of you at your favorite Korean restaurant during peak dinner time. From a full-out dinner course of Korean barbeque to a simple bowl of bibimbap, it is as easy to find these as your non-Korean friend’s favorite dishes.

Korean food may seem challenging to cook at home with so many side dishes and ingredients for one meal. Don’t worry, these books will guide and introduce you to easy recipes to try at home, Korean food history, and unique Korean temple food. After reading these books, you will be able to enjoy Korean food more than before.

The Korean Table: From Barbecue To Bibimbap 100 Easy-To-Prepare Recipes by Taekyung Chung

This book introduces a hundred traditional and contemporary Korean dishes. It contains specific step-by-step guidelines to achieve the perfect Korean dish at home. There is no need to find a Korean restaurant on Yelp or Google Maps near you with this book. It will also teach the readers how to go grocery shopping for Korean food without a fuss.

Korean Cuisine: An Illustrated History by Michael J. Pettid

Korean food is beloved for the rich and hearty flavors from the various ingredients. The author explores how Korean food has evolved over the last twelve centuries, along with its development and political changes. He also examines the impact of how regional and historical transformations play roles in the Korean diet. This book will be your ultimate instructor if you would like to learn more about the culture of Korean gastronomy.

A Food Adventure In Korea (Soul Of Seoul) by Hallie Bradley

I consider Korea as the country of food heaven, as there are countless exceptional restaurants all over the nation. If you plan to go to Korea once the pandemic is over, this book will be your perfect Korean food tour guide. With exceptional pictures with detailed descriptions, the author picks out some of the best places that she discovered while traveling to every city of Korea extensively.

Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food: The Road to the Taste of Enlightenment by Wookwan

Wookwan, the author, who is a Buddhist nun, introduces the one-of-a-kind Korean Buddhist temple cuisine. The unique farm-to-table concept with only natural or homegrown ingredients, the Korean vegetarian temple food has a clean eating ritual with a history of over seventeen hundred years. The author’s precisely curated recipes of forty-one dishes will also show you the core belief of Korean Buddhism.

Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes by Robin Ha

Still having a challenging time cooking Korean food at home? This book has you covered. With easy and fun graphics, the author shows you a colorful illustration that will visually take you every step of cooking a Korean dish. With the addition of personal stories of the authors and cultural insights, the playful book is the perfect starter for a novice home cook.