Got a new culinary adventure on the horizon, but need some help with ideas for what to serve with Korean fried chicken? You’re in the right place, and you’re about to discover the tastiest, most irresistible side dishes to complement your main course.
Korean fried chicken is rich, flavoursome, and complex. It’s smoky sweet, slightly spicy taste will keep you coming back for more, so if you’ve never tried this dish before, be prepared to have a new go-to on your weekly meal plan!
Whether you’re looking for something that’s authentically Korean to serve as an accompaniment, or you’re just looking for the tastiest side dishes that you can have on the table super fast, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 16 of the very best options for what to serve with Korean fried chicken…
The richness of Korean fried chicken works so well with a spicy, fresh, and vibrant salad side dish.
This is why I recommend trying spicy cucumber salad. Soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, chilli, and a little sugar come together to create a dish that’s cool yet fiery, and looks beautiful when placed in a serving bowl at the table.
Korean fried rice is a great option for what to serve with Korean fried chicken if you like things a little spicy! It’s packed with bacon, snow peas, and ginger, and you’re likely to find it way more exciting and interesting than a bowl of plain, steamed rice.
The all-important secret ingredient here is gochujang, which is a spicy fermented red chilli based condiment that you’ll often find in Korean cuisine. These days, it’s fairly readily available, and you’re likely to find it in many major supermarkets in the international foods aisle.
Japchae is a traditional glass noodle stir fry, and it’s particularly popular to prepare for Korean celebrations. Of course though, it works just as well for everyday dining!
It translates as mixed vegetables, and is best when it achieves a balance of a sweet and savoury flavour, and a bouncy noodle texture (not too mushy is of utmost importance here).
It’s a fitting choice for what to serve with Korean fried chicken as it brings a variety of different textures to the table, whilst also ensuring that you’ve got a decent serving of vitamin and minerals in your veggies.
Gamja jorim is a delicious side dish for Korean fried chicken that requires just a handful of ingredients, and around half an hour to cook and prepare.
Though a basic version of this recipe will include just potatoes, you can add a variety of additional vegetables for extra crunch. I like to add some chopped peppers, spring onions, garlic, and mushrooms.
Remember that a recipe is there to guide you, but you can come across some unique dishes that will prove to be family favourites for years to come when you give yourself to experiment and go off piste now and again.
An egg roll omelette is a popular side dish in Korean cuisine, and you can tailor the fillings to suit your own individual tastes.
You might want to add meat, mushrooms, seafood, and cheese, for example.
I like to keep things simple by making an egg roll omelette with a spinach filling. It’s quick and easy, and it’s also wonderfully nutritious.
If you’re a keen lover of Korean street food, you’re very likely to have come across Korean cream cheese garlic bread whilst on your culinary travels.
The exterior is crisp and crunchy, whilst the middle is soft, chewy, slightly sweet, and deliciously garlicky, just as you’d expect!
Pickled radish is a top choice for what to serve with Korean fried rice, and it’s a combination that you’ll often find in restaurants.
These spicy quick pickled radishes can be prepped in advance and kept in the fridge, and they’re so eye-catching!
You’ll have plenty of leftovers, and you can use these with tacos, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and much more.
Wilted spinach is quick to prepare, and so full of goodness. It’s also a fantastic choice for what to serve with Korean fried chicken!
I like to add garlic to this dish. Just slice and fry until golden, then add the spinach until wilted, making sure that you mix together your two ingredients well.
Stir fried rice cakes are Asian comfort food at its very best. They’re soft and chewy, and are wonderful at soaking up the flavours of any sauce that they’re served in.
Do remember that for best results, you should soak the rice cakes overnight to ensure they’re dehydrated.
Crispy seaweed is one of my favourite side dishes when making Asian food, and those light, crispy mouthfuls and the sweet meets salty taste is something that’s always worth writing home about.
I love substituting seaweed for more readily available kale in this crispy kale recipe.
Do you love seafood?
If so, a squid based side dish for Korean fried chicken is likely to be right up your street.
If you’re a little apprehensive about preparing squid, you needn’t be. You can pick up ready prepared, cleaned squid from reputable fishmongers and some larger supermarkets.
Try this spicy stir fried squid recipe. It’s easy enough for even inexperienced home chefs, and the result is seriously impressive!
Kimchi pancakes are a Korean side dish staple, and a brilliant way to use up any leftover kimchi that might be lurking at the back of your fridge.
You can also make them a couple of days in advance and store in the fridge before cooking, making them a good choice if you’re having friends over and you want to make sure that you’ve dome as much preparation as possible before the meal itself.
Aubergines are a great source of dietary fibre, as well as a range of essential vitamins and minerals.
Though there are many more complex recipes you can try when it comes to what to serve with Korean fried chicken, I sometimes like to keep things super simple by serving a portion of steamed aubergine.
An interesting fact… Aubergine and eggplant are exactly the same vegetable. Aubergine is a word of French origin and tends to be how Europeans refer to it, whilst eggplant is used by Americans.
Imagine crispy chips of courgette, encased in a deliciously light batter. That’s exactly what you get when you make tempura courgette, and it makes a good side dish for Korean main courses when you want to add veggies, but you don’t want to compromise on satisfaction.
Of course, if you like, you can add a bigger variety of vegetables. It’s a great way to use up any that might be about to be past their best.
Tofu isn’t just for vegetarians! It’s actually a deliciously tasty choice for what to serve with Korean fried chicken, and there are so many different ways to make it into something special.
My favourite at the moment is tofu muchim. This is tofu braised in a simple soy-based sauce that’s easy to prepare and a real taste sensation.
If you enjoy savoury umami flavours, you need to try this next time you’re making Asian food!
Korean fried chicken is an absolutely delicious filling for bao buns, and it’s a meal that can be a quick street food treat, or something more special that’s worthy of a place at a Korean banquet.
Be sure to add some extra garnishes, such as chopped carrot, spring onion, cashew nuts, and herbs.
Eager to explore similar meals further? Be sure to check out my guide for what to serve with bao buns.
From stir fried rice cakes to traditional fried rice, there are so many different choices that can bring something extra to this popular Korean main course.
Get a little experimental if you’re in the mood, but remember that ultimately, cooking should be a fun, pleasurable experience. You don’t have to create a full banquet, even if you have guests for the evening, and there’s often beauty to be found in keeping things simple.
Whatever side dishes and accompaniments you choose, I hope you thoroughly enjoy them!
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