Banchan Explained: A Guide to Korean Side Dishes
Banchan are the side dishes served alongside rice in a Korean meal. Kimchi is one example, but the little plates can also hold seasoned vegetables, a rolled omelet or other preparations. If several dishes arrive at your first Korean restaurant visit, you can enjoy them throughout the meal.
Start by learning one dish’s name and trying a small bite with rice. This guide helps you recognize four examples, understand kimchi’s place among them, and ask about more when you find a favorite—whether you are eating in Seoul, the US or Europe.
Jump to: Four dishes to recognize · How to enjoy them · Kimchi’s place · Asking for more
A meal built from several small dishes
The Korea Tourism Organization’s introduction to Korean food describes a table where rice is accompanied by dishes such as kimchi, stir-fried foods and braised foods. You choose the combinations you enjoy rather than follow a set sequence.
That gives the small plates a useful role: each offers another taste or texture to explore with the same bowl of rice. The spread can vary between households and regions. At a restaurant, use the dishes actually served as your starting point; the four below are examples to learn, rather than a checklist you must receive.
Four banchan names to recognize
| Name | What it is | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| Baechu kimchi 배추김치 | Cabbage kimchi, salted and seasoned before fermentation. | Layers of cabbage; the version pictured below has red seasoning. |
| Kkakdugi 깍두기 | Kimchi made from diced radish. | Small radish pieces rather than cabbage leaves; a crunchy texture. |
| Namul 나물 | A family of seasoned vegetable preparations, including spinach or bean sprouts. | The name describes a category; different vegetables and preparations give different results. |
| Gyeranmari 계란말이 | A rolled omelet cut into slices; onion or carrot may be added. | A sliced roll made from layers of egg. |
Dish background: VISITKOREA on kimchi varieties, kkakdugi, namul examples and rolled omelet.
Use the names as a conversation starter. “What is this dish called?” is more useful than guessing from its color. Once you know the name, you can recognize it again on a menu or find a recipe that explains its preparation.
A simple way to enjoy your first spread
Our suggestion is to start with a food you already recognize. If there is rolled egg and you enjoy omelets, try that first. Then sample another dish in a small amount, followed by rice. You can compare the two without committing to a large portion of something unfamiliar.
Let your own preference guide the next bite. Try the cabbage kimchi and diced radish kimchi separately, if both are available, and notice their different shapes and textures. Or move between a vegetable dish and egg. There is no need to discover every dish in one visit.
For shared plates, take a modest portion so others can try them too. If you are unsure how the table is meant to share food, ask your host or server. A quick question is easier than trying to memorize a long set of dining rules beforehand.
Where does kimchi fit in?
Kimchi is one kind of banchan; banchan is the broader category. Cabbage kimchi and kkakdugi are two different kimchi varieties. Namul and rolled omelet help show why a banchan spread can offer much more than one type of fermented vegetable.
You may also encounter kimchi as an ingredient in a cooked dish, such as kimchi jjigae, or kimchi stew. That menu name refers to a stew, while the small dish of kimchi alongside your rice has its own place in the meal.
Can you ask for more banchan?
Before ordering, ask which side dishes come with the meal. When you want more, check with the restaurant. VISITKOREA describes both staff service and self-service systems in Korea, but you should check the house policy before assuming that every dish is refillable or that more is included in the price. This is especially useful when visiting a Korean restaurant in the US or Europe.
A clear question is: “Could we have a little more of this? Is there an extra charge?” Point to the dish if you do not know its name. If there is a side-dish station, ask whether you should use it, then take only an amount you expect to eat.
For your next meal, aim to remember one name and one combination you liked. If you want to recognize the Korean writing too, our Hangul first-reading guide explains how Korean syllable blocks fit together. For another everyday cultural experience, see our guide to a first noraebang visit.
By Kpop From Seoul. Food background and photograph licenses checked October 7, 2026. The photographs are archival examples; the tasting route is our editorial suggestion.
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