KOREA · FOOD
Korean Food Spice Level Guide
Choose how much heat you can handle and see which Korean dishes are usually fine, which to order less spicy and which to skip, plus the Korean phrases to ask for it.
Find dishes for your spice level
What to order
Usually fine for you (9)
- Bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) 불고기 · Not spicy. Sweet soy marinade.
- Galbitang (beef short rib soup) 갈비탕 · Not spicy. Clear broth.
- Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) 삼계탕 · Not spicy. Clear broth; add salt and pepper yourself.
- Japchae (glass noodles with vegetables) 잡채 · Not spicy. Soy-based.
- Gimbap (rice rolled in seaweed) 김밥 · Not spicy. Some fillings, like spicy tuna, add heat.
- Seolleongtang (ox bone soup) 설렁탕 · Not spicy. Kimchi on the side is spicy.
- Haemul pajeon (seafood scallion pancake) 해물파전 · Not spicy. Dipping sauce may have chili.
- Bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) 비빔밥 · Mild. Chili paste is often served separately, so you can add a little.
- Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) 된장찌개 · Mild. Some places add chili.
Ask for it less spicy (4)
- Kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) 김치찌개 · Medium. Heat depends on the kimchi.
- Sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) 순두부찌개 · Medium. Many restaurants let you choose the spice level.
- Jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) 제육볶음 · Medium. Chili paste marinade.
- Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) 닭갈비 · Medium. Often cooked at your table; ask before the sauce goes in.
Likely too spicy (7)
- Kimchi (fermented cabbage) 김치 · Medium. Already made; white kimchi (백김치) is not spicy.
- Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) 육개장 · Medium. Usually made in a big pot ahead of time.
- Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) 떡볶이 · Hot. Street stalls make it ahead; some shops sell a mild version.
- Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) 짬뽕 · Hot. Korean-Chinese dish; a non-spicy white version exists at some places.
- Nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus) 낙지볶음 · Hot. Known for strong heat.
- Jukkumi bokkeum (spicy stir-fried webfoot octopus) 주꾸미볶음 · Hot. Often very spicy.
- Spicy chicken feet 매운 닭발 · Very hot. Eaten as a challenge by many Koreans.
Levels are a general guide from this site, not measured heat. The same dish can be much hotter or milder depending on the restaurant.
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 덜 맵게 해 주세요 | deol maepge hae juseyo | Please make it less spicy. |
| 안 맵게 해 주세요 | an maepge hae juseyo | Please make it not spicy. |
| 맵지 않은 메뉴 있어요? | maepji aneun menyu isseoyo? | Do you have anything that isn’t spicy? |
| 고춧가루 빼 주세요 | gochutgaru ppae juseyo | Please leave out the chili flakes. |
Example
If you choose “A little heat is fine”, bulgogi and bibimbap are fine, kimchi jjigae and jeyuk bokkeum are worth ordering less spicy, and tteokbokki and spicy chicken feet are likely too hot.
How the levels work
Each dish has a level from Not spicy to Very hot, written by Koreans as a general guide to how it is usually made. Dishes at or below your level are listed as usually fine. Dishes one level hotter that are cooked to order, such as stews and stir-fries, are listed as worth asking for less spicy. Everything else is likely too spicy for you.
Heat in Korean food comes mostly from gochugaru (chili flakes) and gochujang (chili paste). Clear soups, grilled meats and soy-based dishes are usually mild, while red stews, stir-fries and street snacks are hotter. Restaurants differ a lot, so taste a little first, and ask staff when unsure.
Frequently asked questions
What Korean food is not spicy?
Bulgogi, galbitang, samgyetang, japchae, gimbap and seolleongtang are usually not spicy. Side dishes such as kimchi can be, so taste them first.
How do I ask for less spicy food in Korean?
Say 덜 맵게 해 주세요 (deol maepge hae juseyo), “Please make it less spicy.” It works best for stews and stir-fries that are cooked when you order.
Why are there no Scoville numbers?
We could not find an official source for the heat of these dishes, and the same dish varies a lot between restaurants. The levels here are a general guide.
Is tteokbokki very spicy?
It is usually one of the hotter everyday dishes. Street stalls make it ahead in a big pan, so it cannot be made milder, but some shops sell a mild version.
More tools
Sources and last updated
- We could not find an official, numeric heat standard for Korean dishes (checked October 27, 2026), so the levels and the “ask for less spicy” marks are site defaults.
- Phrase romanization follows the Revised Romanization of Korean. Your choice is not stored or sent.
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