"I Thought Only Koreans Were Crazy About It"... This Dish Ranks No. 1 in the World

Korean-Style Fried Chicken Tops the World's Fried Dishes List
Chicken Also Ranks No. 1 on the '100 Best Korean Foods' List

Korean-style fried chicken has been named the world's best fried dish. It also ranked No. 1 among Korean foods, ahead of bibimbap and galbi.

Korean fried chicken topped the "100 Best Fried Dishes in the World," recently released by global food website TasteAtlas, with a score of 4.4 out of 5. Getty Images

Korean-Style Fried Chicken Ranks No. 1 Among Fried Dishes

Korean-style fried chicken ranked No. 1 in TasteAtlas' recently released "100 Best Fried Dishes in the World," receiving a score of 4.4 out of 5.

TasteAtlas cited crispy batter and a variety of seasonings as defining features of Korean-style fried chicken. It highlighted a cooking method in which the chicken is first cooked thoroughly at a relatively low temperature, then fried again at a higher temperature to make it crispier. Diners can choose from a wide range of sauces to suit their tastes, from sweet-and-spicy gochujang sauce to soy garlic and honey butter. The site also noted that it is often served with pickled radish and coleslaw.

Korean-style fried chicken ranked No. 1 on TasteAtlas' "100 Best Fried Dishes in the World."

The site also cited "chimaek," the culture of enjoying chicken with beer, as a feature of Korean-style fried chicken. It said that this food culture has gained recognition overseas and helped boost the popularity of Korean-style fried chicken.

Indonesia's batagor, a street food made of fried dumplings filled with fish and served with peanut sauce and other accompaniments, ranked No. 2. Peru's jalea came in third. The dish consists of fried seafood, such as fish, squid and shrimp, served with vegetables. North African potato dish maakouda ranked fourth.

Chicken Beats Bibimbap and Galbi to Rank No. 1 on "100 Best Korean Foods" List

Chicken received the highest rating among Korean foods as well. As of October 7 (local time), chicken ranked No. 1 on TasteAtlas' "100 Best Korean Foods" list.

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TasteAtlas ranks dishes based on ratings from general users and users with specialized knowledge. It says it excludes bot-generated ratings and reviews biased toward the cuisine of a particular country. Of the 8,430 ratings considered for this ranking, 7,514, or 89.1%, were deemed valid.

The publication also highlighted the evolution of Korean-style chicken. It said fried chicken was introduced through U.S. servicemembers during the Korean War, seasonings diversified through franchise chains in the 1970s and 1980s, and the dish spread overseas in the 21st century.

Galbi, which ranked No. 2, was described as grilled beef ribs marinated in a sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, cheongju, sesame oil and garlic, among other ingredients. The site also cited an account of its origins: King Jeongjo had a slaughterhouse operated to provide food for the workers building Hwaseong Fortress in the 18th century.

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Beef tenderloin ranked third. The publication explained that tenderloin is not the name of a dish but a cut from the area along a cow's back. Because it gets little exercise, the meat is tender and expensive. The site said it is best cooked quickly over high heat and served slightly underdone.

Fourth-place dakgalbi originated in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The site also cited the practice of frying rice in the leftover sauce after finishing the meal as a distinctive feature.

Kimchi jjigae ranked fifth. The stew is made with ingredients such as tofu and pork, and the site noted that aged kimchi can give it a deeper flavor. Yukhoe, in sixth place, was described as Korea's take on steak tartare: seasoned raw beef served with a raw egg yolk and pear. Tuna gimbap, gejang, jeyuk-bokkeum and lettuce wraps followed.

TasteAtlas noted, however, that the ranking is not intended to determine which cuisines are superior. Its aim is to introduce traditional foods from around the world and encourage interest in new dishes.

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