Gukbap (국밥) is a beloved Korean dish that combines rice (bap) in hot soup (guk). It’s comfort food at its finest — warm, savory, and deeply satisfying.
What Is Gukbap?
At its simplest, gukbap is rice served in or alongside a hot broth. But that simple definition barely scratches the surface. Across Korea, dozens of regional variations have developed, each with its own unique broth, toppings, and traditions.
The most famous styles include:
- Dwaeji-gukbap (돼지국밥) — Pork soup rice, the legendary Busan specialty
- Kongnamul-gukbap (콩나물국밥) — Bean sprout soup rice, a Jeonju classic
- Sundae-gukbap (순대국밥) — Blood sausage soup rice
- Sogogi-gukbap (소고기국밥) — Beef soup rice
- Seolleongtang (설렁탕) — Milky ox bone soup (technically a tang, but closely related)
Why Gukbap Is Having a Moment
Gukbap is experiencing a surge in global popularity:
- Baemin (Korea’s #1 food delivery platform) named “New Wave Gukbap” one of the top three food trends of 2025
- NYT Cooking published a featured gukbap recipe in January 2025
- Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars (2024) spotlighted Okdongsik, a famous gukbap restaurant
- Foreign tourists in Korea ranked gukbap 7th among their favorite foods in 2024 — up from nowhere in 2022
- K-pop idols like Stray Kids have been seen enjoying gukbap on variety shows
How to Use This Guide
- Browse Guides for deep dives into each gukbap variety
- Check City Guides for where to find the best bowls near you
- Try our Recipes to make gukbap at home
- Visit Shopping for our recommended ingredients and tools