If this is your first time eating at a Korean restaurant, you may be surprised when the table suddenly fills with several small dishes.
You might even wonder:
“Did I order all of this?”
Probably not.
Many of those small dishes are banchan (반찬) — Korean side dishes served alongside the main meal.
They may include kimchi, seasoned vegetables, pickled vegetables, tofu, fish cakes, or small savory pancakes. Some may look familiar, while others may be completely new to you.
But banchan are not simply extra food on the table.
They are an important part of how Koreans eat.
This guide will help you understand what banchan are, why there are so many of them, how to eat them, and what to expect at a Korean restaurant.
What Is Banchan?
Banchan are small side dishes served with a Korean meal.
They are usually eaten together with rice and the main dish rather than treated as a separate course.
🐰 Tosil: “So banchan are like appetizers?”
🐯 Hodong: “Not exactly. They are meant to be enjoyed throughout the meal, together with rice and other dishes.”
Unlike Western meals, where a side dish may simply accompany the main course, Korean banchan can change the taste and rhythm of each bite.
You can eat them on their own, with rice, or together with the main dish.
Why Are There So Many Side Dishes?
One reason Korean meals can look so generous is the variety of banchan.
Different side dishes bring different flavors, textures, and levels of seasoning to the table.
A typical Korean meal might include:
- Rice
- Soup or stew
- A main dish
- Kimchi
- Several vegetable side dishes
- Pickled or seasoned vegetables
The idea is not that you must eat everything together.
Instead, you can create different combinations throughout the meal.
One bite may be rice with kimchi.
Another may be rice with seasoned vegetables.
You might then eat a little banchan alongside your main dish.
This variety is part of what makes a Korean meal feel dynamic.
Don’t Judge a Banchan by Itself
Some banchan may taste stronger, saltier, or more sour than you expect when you try them alone.
Don’t decide too quickly that you dislike them.
Try the same banchan with a little rice or alongside the main dish.
The flavor can feel completely different when combined with other foods.
That is one of the fun parts of eating a Korean meal.
What Kind of Banchan Will You Get?
There is no single fixed list of banchan.
What you receive depends on the restaurant, the meal you order, and sometimes the region.
Kimchi
Kimchi is probably the most famous Korean side dish.
There are many varieties, but baechu kimchi, made with napa cabbage, is one of the most common.
It can be spicy, sour, salty, and slightly sweet, with a crisp texture and a distinctive fermented flavor.
Namul
Namul refers to various seasoned vegetables and greens.
They are often tender and slightly moist, with simple seasonings such as sesame oil, garlic, salt, or soy sauce bringing out the natural flavor of the vegetables.
Some varieties are soft and delicate, while others have a slight crunch.
Pickled Vegetables
Pickled vegetables provide a bright contrast to richer or heavier foods.
Depending on the preparation, they can be crisp and refreshing, with a balance of sweet, sour, salty, or slightly spicy flavors.
They are particularly good between bites of grilled meat or other strongly seasoned dishes.
Eomuk
Eomuk, or Korean fish cake, is a familiar banchan at many casual Korean restaurants.
It is usually soft and pleasantly chewy, with a savory flavor that can be enhanced by a sweet-and-salty sauce.
Some versions are stir-fried, while others are gently simmered until they absorb the seasoning.
Dubu
Dubu means tofu.
It has a soft, delicate texture and a mild flavor, which makes it a good partner for a stronger sauce or seasoning.
A simple piece of tofu can feel surprisingly satisfying when eaten with rice and a little savory sauce.
Jeon
Jeon are Korean-style savory pancakes made with ingredients such as vegetables, seafood, meat, or other fillings.
They are often golden and lightly crisp on the outside while remaining soft and moist inside.
Depending on the ingredients, they can range from delicate and savory to rich and hearty.
Freshly cooked jeon can be especially appealing because of the contrast between its warm, lightly crisp surface and tender center.
Are Banchan Free?
In many Korean restaurants, banchan are included with the meal rather than charged separately.
For common side dishes, you may also be able to ask for a refill during the meal.
However, not every banchan is necessarily included, and some restaurants may charge for additional portions.
If you really enjoy one particular side dish, you can simply ask whether you can have more.
A polite “Can I have a little more of this?” is usually enough.
Restaurant policies vary, so it is best to check rather than assume.
How Should You Eat Banchan?
There is no strict rule.
You can eat banchan:
- On their own
- With rice
- Together with the main dish
- Wrapped in lettuce or other leafy vegetables
- In different combinations
The important thing is to experiment.
Try one by itself.
Then try it with rice.
Then combine it with the main dish.
You may discover that a banchan you did not particularly enjoy on its own tastes much better when combined with something else.
That mix-and-match style is a natural part of the Korean dining experience.
Banchan and Korean BBQ
Banchan become especially interesting when you eat Korean BBQ.
A typical Korean BBQ table may include:
- Kimchi
- Garlic
- Pickled vegetables
- Leafy greens
- Dipping sauces
- Seasoned vegetables
- Other small side dishes
If you are new to Korean BBQ, you can learn how the meal works in our guide to Korean BBQ for First Timers.
One of the most popular ways to enjoy Korean BBQ is to make a ssam.
Place grilled meat on a lettuce or perilla leaf, add some garlic, sauce, kimchi, or another banchan, and wrap everything together.
The combination of flavors and textures is part of the experience.
In this kind of meal, banchan are not just decorations around the main dish.
They help you build each bite.
Don’t Be Afraid to Mix and Match
There is no single “correct” combination.
You might enjoy:
- Rice + kimchi
- Rice + seasoned vegetables
- Meat + pickled vegetables
- BBQ + garlic + sauce
- Rice + several different banchan
Korean meals often give you the freedom to decide how you want each bite to taste.
This is one reason a table full of small dishes can be more interesting than it first appears.
You are not simply eating one main dish from beginning to end.
You are changing the flavor as you go.
Can You Take Banchan Home?
Leftover banchan are a little different from the side dishes served during the meal.
You should not automatically assume that you can take them home.
Some restaurants may allow it, while others may have different policies depending on the type of food or how it was served.
If you especially like a particular banchan, a better option is to ask whether an additional portion is available for purchase.
That way, you can enjoy more of it without assuming that the complimentary side dishes can be packed up.
Do You Have to Finish Every Banchan?
No.
A Korean table may come with several different side dishes, and you are not expected to love every one of them.
Try whatever looks interesting, eat the dishes you enjoy, and leave the ones that are not to your taste.
There is no need to force yourself to finish everything.
The variety is there partly so that you can discover your own favorites.
Banchan Change With the Restaurant
One of the interesting things about banchan is that they can tell you something about the restaurant.
A seafood restaurant may serve very different side dishes from a Korean BBQ restaurant.
A restaurant specializing in regional food may offer banchan influenced by local ingredients and cooking traditions.
Even two restaurants serving the same main dish may have completely different banchan.
That is why banchan can reveal a restaurant's cooking style.
If you pay attention, the small dishes around your main meal can sometimes be just as interesting as the dish you ordered.
If you want to feel more comfortable at a Korean restaurant, take a look at our Korean Restaurant Etiquette Guide before your next meal.
A Simple Way to Think About Banchan
A useful way to think about a Korean meal is this:
Main dish = the star
Banchan = the supporting cast
But the supporting cast can change the entire experience.
A little kimchi can add acidity and spice.
Pickled vegetables can refresh your palate.
Seasoned vegetables can add a softer, more savory flavor.
And rice can bring everything together.
There is no need to understand every dish before you start eating.
Just try one, see what you think, and keep exploring.
Sometimes, I visit a restaurant where the banchan tastes so good that I almost forget about the main dish.
Everyone has a different preference for seasoning.
But when you find a restaurant whose banchan tastes just right for you, rice and a few side dishes can be more than enough.
In Korea, we sometimes call this personal touch in cooking sonmat (손맛).
It describes the distinctive flavor that comes from a cook's own way of preparing food.
If you happen to find a restaurant with great sonmat during your short trip to Korea, consider yourself lucky.
You may have just found one of the best meals of your trip.
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