Korean recipes and food trends to try 2025

Korean flavours are everywhere right now. Thanks to a new wave of restaurants and social media tied to a broader appreciation for South Korean culture, there’s a growing appetite for so-called ‘K-Food.’

There’s so much to love about this cuisine, with its bold, fermented flavours thanks to ingredients like kimchi and gochujang (a fermented chilli paste), layers of spice, sweetness and heat, sizzling Korean barbecue, hearty bibimbap (rice bowls) and nourishing soups and stews.

Korean food has taken social media by storm. Dishes and ingredients that are racking up thousands of views on TikTok and Instagram include:

• Kimchi – whether homemade, or in recipes such as kimchi mac and cheese, kimchi fried rice and kimcheese toasties.

• Gochujang – this fermented chilli paste is being used to add depth to marinades (such as bulgogi beef), dressings (hello, gochujang mayo) and sauces.

• Korean fried chicken – crispy buttermilk-fried chicken in a lip-smacking sweet and spicy gochujang sauce, it's no wonder social media is obsessed with 'KFC'.

• Korean street foods, such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), hotteok (sweet pancakes) and kimpab (seaweed rice rolls).

• Bibimbap – fiery Korean rice bowls, typically topped with marinated meat, seasoned vegetables and a fried egg.

Try these dishes in the Foodhall, which combine bold Korean flavours with fusion ingredients and techniques.

• Tom Kerridge with M&S Collection slow-cooked Korean baby back ribs.

• Korean Chilli BBQ slaw, made with crunchy veg and a gochujang dressing.

• Our spicy-and-creamy Gochujang Mayo.

• Korean BBQ Rub and Marinade Kit, ideal for marinating meat and veg.

• Korean-Style Tteokbokki, rice dumplings perfect for sizzling in stir-fries.

• Extra Crunchy Korean Chicken Bites, with a super-crunchy exterior and gochujang drizzle.

• Vadasz Kimchi for adding fermented flavour to fried rice and cheese toasties.

Embrace big-hitting flavours with these recipes, inspired by Korean dishes and ingredients.