Beyond “Annyeonghaseyo”: Talk About Your Favorite K-Food!

Hello! Welcome to Daily Korean (매일한글), the place to upgrade your Korean skills! 😊

Have you ever watched a K-Drama and found your mouth watering as the characters devoured some delicious-looking food? You’re not alone! Lately in Korea, and all over the world, K-food is a massive trend. From the spicy tteokbokki you see on social media to the crispy fried chicken that K-pop idols rave about, food is a huge part of Korean culture.

Today, we’re going to learn how to talk about your favorite foods in Korean. This is a super useful skill for making new friends, ordering at a restaurant, and sharing a piece of yourself. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three simple but powerful expressions to talk about the food you love.

1. I like… (-을/를 좋아해요)

• Korean Expression: -을/를 좋아해요
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: -eul/reul joahaeyo
• English Meaning: I like…
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most basic and important pattern! You attach it to the end of a noun (in this case, a food).
  • Use -을 (eul) if the food name ends in a consonant. (e.g., 김밥 -> 김밥을 좋아해요)
  • Use -를 (reul) if the food name ends in a vowel. (e.g., 불고기 -> 불고기를 좋아해요)
    좋아해요 (joahaeyo) is the polite form, so you can use it with anyone!
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Listen closely to 좋아해요 [jo-a-hae-yo]. The letter ‘ㅎ’ (h) is in the spelling, but you almost can’t hear it, right? When ‘ㅎ’ is between two vowel sounds, it often becomes silent or very soft. So instead of a strong “jo-HA-hae-yo,” it sounds more like a smooth [jo-a-hae-yo]. This will make you sound much more natural!

2. What do you like? (뭐 좋아해요?)

• Korean Expression: 뭐 좋아해요?
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Mwo joahaeyo?
• English Meaning: What do you like?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the question you’ll use to ask someone about their favorite food. 뭐 (mwo) simply means “what.” It’s a friendly and direct way to start a conversation.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The vowel in 뭐 (mwo) is a combination of ‘ㅜ’ (u) and ‘ㅓ’ (eo). Try to say them quickly together. It’s one quick syllable, [mwo], not two separate sounds like “moo-oh.”

3. I like … the most. (제일 좋아해요)

• Korean Expression: 저는 [음식 이름] 제일 좋아해요.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jeoneun [food name] jeil joahaeyo.
• English Meaning: I like [food name] the most. / My favorite is [food name].
• Detailed Explanation: Want to say something is your absolute favorite? Just add 제일 (jeil) before 좋아해요. 제일 means “the most,” “number one,” or “best.” 저는 (jeoneun) is a polite way to say “I” or “As for me.”
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The word 제일 [je-il] has two distinct vowel sounds: ‘ㅔ’ (e) and ‘ㅣ’ (i). Pronounce them clearly one after the other, [je-il], rather than blending them into one sound.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation between two friends, Alex and Yuna, talking about food they saw in a drama.

A (Alex): 유나 씨, 한국 음식 뭐 좋아해요?
(Yuna-ssi, hanguk eumsik mwo joahaeyo?)
Yuna, what Korean food do you like?

B (Yuna): 저는 떡볶이를 좋아해요. 알렉스 씨는요?
(Jeoneun tteokbokki-reul joahaeyo. Allekseu-ssi-neun-yo?)
I like tteokbokki. How about you, Alex?

A (Alex): 저도 떡볶이 좋아해요! 하지만 저는 치맥을 제일 좋아해요.
(Jeodo tteokbokki joahaeyo! Hajiman jeoneun chimaek-eul jeil joahaeyo.)
I like tteokbokki too! But I like chimaek the most.

B (Yuna): 아, 치맥! 드라마에 많이 나오죠? 맛있어요!
(A, chimaek! Deurama-e mani naojyo? Masisseoyo!)
Ah, chimaek! It appears a lot in dramas, right? It’s delicious!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive 🍜

In Korea, food is more than just fuel—it’s about connection. Asking “뭐 좋아해요?” isn’t just small talk; it’s an invitation. If you tell a Korean friend, “I like samgyeopsal (삼겹살),” their next sentence will likely be, “Really? I know an amazing place. Let’s go together sometime!” (진짜요? 저 맛있는 곳 알아요. 다음에 같이 가요!).

You see this in the global Mukbang (먹방) trend, which started in Korea. It’s a broadcast of someone eating, but its popularity comes from the feeling of sharing a meal together, even virtually.

So, when you use today’s phrases, you’re not just speaking Korean—you’re participating in a huge part of Korean culture. Mentioning a trendy food like Tteokbokki (떡볶이) or Chimaek (치맥 – chicken and beer) will show you’re in touch with what’s popular and open up even more conversations!

Let’s Wrap Up & Practice!

Great job today! You learned how to:
* Say you like something with -을/를 좋아해요.
* Ask what someone likes with 뭐 좋아해요?.
* Share your absolute favorite with 제일 좋아해요.

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to say, “I like Bulgogi.” How would you complete the sentence?
* 저는 불고기______ 좋아해요. (를 / 을)

2. Make a sentence: Your favorite food in the whole world is Ramyeon (라면). How would you tell someone this using 제일?

You’re all set to talk about your favorite K-foods! Now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite Korean food? Leave a comment below using the phrases you learned today! We can’t wait to read them! 👇