Jeon

(Korean Pizza, Jeonyueo, Jeonyuhwa, Chŏn, 전, Buchimgae, 부침개, Jijimgae, 지짐, Jijim, 지짐개, Korean Pancake)

Jeon, also known as Korean pancakes, represents a number of pancake-like dishes in Korean cuisine that are often served as appetizers, side dishes, or consumed as snacks. Although jeon are typically prepared in savory versions, there are also some sweet varieties of these flavorful pancakes.

At their simplest, it is food that is first coated in flour and eggs, then pan-fried in oil. Jeon incorporates ingredients such as thinly sliced meat, poultry, seafood, and various vegetables. The pancakes are traditionally prepared every year during the Korean Lunar New Year and Korean Harvest Festival, although they are eaten daily throughout the year.

Some of the more popular varieties of jeon are made with shredded beef (yukjeon), oysters (guljeon), kimchi (kimchijeon), and green onions (pajeon). It is recommended to serve jeon with a spicy soy-based dipping sauce or a refreshing cucumber salad.

South Korea

WHERE TO EAT The best Jeon in the world (according to food experts)

Daniel Gray and 5 other food critics.

"Sunheenae offers a fortified pancake with bits of ground pork. Delicious, crispy and delicious."

JB Macatulad and 2 other food critics.

"Usually accompanied by beef, pork, kimchi, shellfish, and other seafood, this one was really good and was about the size of a small pizza."

Michael Powell and 2 other food critics.

"Our pancakes made with eggs, flour, chunks of pork and bunch of green onions. Yum."

Hannah Bae and 2 other food critics.

"Hot, filling and crisped to perfection, these pan-fried goodies are anything but breakfast food. Here's where to get the best bindaetteok: Jongno Bindaetteok - The bindaetteok here are denser and more savory than they are at other places."

Irene Santoso and 1 other food critic.

"The version served here is luscious, packed with an assortment of seafood but most notably, baby oysters that are so succulent and deliciously briny."

Lonely Planet

"Since 1979, this cosy restaurant with a delightfully cluttered and rustic interior has been serving tasty pajeon made from organic ingredients."

Yen Simpson and 1 other food critic.

"Pajeon was crispy and not oily, so yummy! Definitely good value for money :)"

Jason Kim

"The really great food consisted of spicy grilled jukumi, bindaetteok, and fried rice, with each of them tasting so good that there was little talking going on at our table."