Scored 4.2 out of 5 to Top the World... The Must-Try Dish When Visiting Korea [K-Holic]

Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Gains Popularity with Foreigners

Rising Demand to Experience Korean Culinary Culture

"Rice Thief" Dish Even Attracts Hollywood Stars

Editor's NoteGlobal interest in Korean culture is rapidly increasing. Korean products and content, such as K-food and K-beauty, have permeated the daily lives of international consumers, expanding beyond a niche fan base. [K-Holic] sheds light on the 'Korean Wave' observed across the world, exploring why overseas consumers are now focusing their attention on Korea.

Soy sauce marinated crab, known to Koreans as the ultimate "rice thief," is captivating the palates of foreigners. While its unique soft, almost mushy texture and the method of marinating raw crab may be unfamiliar to many outside Korea, the spread of the Korean Wave has led to a growing number of foreigners seeking to experience Korean food culture firsthand, resulting in increased demand for soy sauce marinated crab among overseas visitors.

Korea's 'Rice Thief' Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Named World's Best Crab Dish

Soy Sauce Marinated Crab. Getty Images Bank

The global food magazine TasteAtlas ranked Korea's soy sauce marinated crab as number one in its "World's Best Crab Dishes" list announced last month. The dish received a score of 4.2 out of 5. The publication described soy sauce marinated crab as "a Korean dish made by marinating crab in seasoning," explaining that "soy sauce is usually used as the base, thus it is known as 'ganjanggejang.' In contrast, the spicy version is called 'yangnyeomgejang.'" The article also added, "It is often eaten together with rice."

Soy sauce marinated crab is a Korean dish made by soaking blue crabs in a soy sauce broth simmered with various ingredients and then aging them. Its savory, salty flavor pairs perfectly with rice, earning it the nickname "rice thief." However, the mushy texture and distinctive seafood aroma can make it a polarizing dish. In particular, the practice of aging and consuming raw crab may seem especially unfamiliar to foreigners not accustomed to such culinary traditions.

Taste Atlantis Instagram

Nevertheless, thanks to the influence of the Korean Wave and "mukbang" (eating broadcast) content, international interest in soy sauce marinated crab continues to grow. More tourists from abroad are seeking to experience the daily life of Koreans firsthand, and for many, soy sauce marinated crab has become a must-try dish during their trip to Korea.

In fact, Korea's inbound tourism platform Creatrip analyzed in its "2025 Inbound Tourism Trend" report released this January that last year's visits by foreign tourists to Korea often took the form of "K-Dive," as they sought to immerse themselves in everyday Korean life. Notably, in the culinary category, the demand from foreigners to experience Korea's unique food culture has become more diverse. According to their data, the share of individual reservations was ▲fried chicken (34%), ▲soy sauce marinated crab (24%), and ▲desserts (13%), in that order.

"Mix Rice in the Crab Shell" ... Foreigners Share Their Experiences on Social Media

On social media platforms including TikTok, there are continuous reviews from foreigners who have tasted soy sauce marinated crab. TikTok

Interest in soy sauce marinated crab is also evident online. On social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, searching keywords like "gejang" or "ganjanggejang" easily yields reviews from foreigners who have tried the dish. Many share their experiences of eating it just like Koreans—mixing rice in the crab shell, or opening the shell to show the roe and innards up close while enjoying the flavors.

One foreign tourist who tried soy sauce marinated crab in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, posted a YouTube review stating, "A plate of crab also comes with raw shrimp, and every ingredient was well-marinated in a salty yet sweet soy sauce. Female crabs with full roe were used, and mixing the roe with rice and seaweed made for a delicious bite. Mixing the innards and rice in the crab shell was also incredibly tasty." Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender was also spotted in April 2024 eating soy sauce marinated crab with sanitary gloves at a local restaurant, which became a hot topic in online communities.

As global interest in Korean food continues to rise, the popularity of K-food is expected to persist. According to the "2026 Global Hallyu Survey" (based on 2025 data) released in March by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, 69.7% of 27,400 respondents across 30 countries who have experienced Korean cultural content had a positive impression of it. In particular, respondents ranked "food" as the most popular sector of Korean culture in their countries (55.1%). The rate of those who had actually tried Korean food (78.0%) also surpassed that of film (77.9%), drama (72.9%), and music (71.9%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.