What Koreans eat in Fall
Autumn in Korea is one of the most flavorful times of the year. As the air cools and the mountains turn red and gold, Korean kitchens fill with the aromas of roasted chestnuts, grilled fish, and freshly harvested rice. This season is all about comfort, warmth, and the abundance of nature’s harvest.
Seasonal Harvest and Ingredients
Autumn is the season of plenty in Korea. Freshly harvested rice (쌀), sweet potatoes (고구마), chestnuts (밤), jujubes (대추), and persimmons (감) fill local markets. The sea also offers its best catches—fatty mackerel (고등어), gizzard shad (전어), and blue crab (꽃게)—which are all considered seasonal delicacies.
Traditional Fall Dishes in Korea
During Chuseok (추석), the Korean harvest festival, families gather to make songpyeon (송편), half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame, red bean, or chestnut paste. These rice cakes are steamed over pine needles, giving them a subtle forest aroma.
Another Chuseok favorite is jeon (전)—savory pancakes made with seafood, kimchi, or vegetables—often enjoyed with a cup of makgeolli (막걸리), traditional rice wine.
Comforting stews and porridge dishes also define Korean autumn food. Galbijjim (갈비찜), a soy-braised beef short rib dish, and jeonbokjuk (전복죽), creamy abalone porridge, are popular seasonal meals. The mild sweetness of hobakjuk (호박죽), pumpkin porridge, is another autumn classic served warm.
Korean Street Food in Autumn
Autumn street food in Korea is cozy, sweet, and full of nostalgia. Vendors roast chestnuts (군밤) and sweet potatoes (군고구마) over charcoal, filling the streets with their signature aroma.
Crispy, golden hotteok (호떡)—sweet pancakes stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts—are another autumn favorite. On chilly evenings, nothing beats a plate of spicy tteokbokki (떡볶이), chewy rice cakes simmered in gochujang sauce.
Seasonal Seafood Dishes
Korean seafood reaches peak flavor in autumn. Grilled mackerel (고등어구이) and saury (꽁치구이) are simple but beloved dishes found in homes and markets nationwide. Blue crab stew (꽃게탕), a spicy crab soup made with vegetables and chili paste, is also a popular fall meal, symbolizing comfort and nourishment.
Fruits and Traditional Desserts
Autumn fruits in Korea include persimmons (감), apples (사과), and Asian pears (배). Dried persimmons, called gotgam (곶감), are used in desserts and traditional teas. A typical autumn drink is sujeonggwa (수정과), a sweet punch made from dried persimmons, cinnamon, and ginger, served chilled or warm.
Why Koreans Love Autumn Food
Autumn food in Korea reflects gratitude for the harvest and the beauty of seasonal balance. From hearty stews to sweet street snacks, each dish expresses warmth, sharing, and the deep connection between people, food, and nature.
