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  • 10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More 1
  • 10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More 2
  • 10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More 3
  • 10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More 4
  • 10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More 5

10 Best Korean Cookbooks UK 2024 | Maangchi, Our Korean Kitchen and More

We are massive fans of Korean food and since you've clicked on this article, we're guessing you are too! Whether you're a kimchi queen, a bibimbap beginner or somewhere in between, in this article we share tips on how to find the best Korean cookbooks for your home kitchen.


Below you'll discover the top ten Korean cookbooks in the UK; from authentic flavours to contemporary treats, these books are packed with delicious Korean recipes and are all available on Amazon and eBay. We've found vegetarian Korean food, mouthwatering paleo picks and even the perfect guide to a tasty Korean bbq. Bab meokja!

Last updated 26/03/2024

Quick List - Top Korean Cookbooks

1

Maangchi With Martha Rose Shulman

Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking
Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking

Award-Winning Bestseller With Top Quality Images and a Broad Array of Treats

2

Robin Ha

Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes
Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes

A Joyful Blend of Graphic and Culinary Art

3

Hooni Kim and Aki Kamozawa

My Korea: Tradition
My Korea: Tradition

High Class Korean Cooking From a Seasoned Chef

4

Naomi Imatome-Yun

Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo
Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo

Korean Flavour Sensations Passed Down From Grandma

5

Sohui Kim

Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes
Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes

Super Straightforward Homely Korean Recipes

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Korean Cookbook in the UK - Buying Guide

This guide is dedicated to breaking down your decision into simple steps. We'll help you carefully consider your purchase, rather than making a snap decision, and hopefully inspire you with Korean cookery books and cuisine to try at home.

1

Check Out the Range of Dishes Covered Before You Buy

Check Out the Range of Dishes Covered Before You Buy

Make sure you know the types of dishes and ingredients the cookbook you've chosen includes, so you can realistically plan out the kinds of things you will be learning to prepare. The staples of Korean cooking are soups, stews, kimchi and other pickles, meat, seafood, noodles and rice. 


However, you might want to check whether the book you're considering also contains dessert recipes, ideas for snacks, cocktails and banchan (side dishes). That way, you can create a more comprehensive Korean spread or host a dinner party that ticks every possible box. Some books even have a special barbecue chapter with pastes and sauces too!

2

Cater for Everyone With Specialised Books

Cater for Everyone With Specialised Books

Specialised books can be ideal for catering to specific diets and tastes. If you're all about the Korean barbecue, forget the single chapter and choose a tome which focuses wholeheartedly on this mainstay of Korean eating. These books talk you through the whole process from prep, to pepper sauce, to presentation.


You may have a more serious dietary aim, like avoiding meat and fish or cutting out grains, gluten and dairy. For such cases we've pinpointed the most inspiring, educational books on veggie options in Korea and even handpicked our favourite paleo book, which reinvents Korean classics using only ingredients that would have been available in the Palaeolithic era. 

3

Illustrations and Images Make Cookbooks Far More Appealing

Illustrations and Images Make Cookbooks Far More Appealing

Few are budding chefs capable of spotting a new recipe to try, without a photograph to help decide. A picture speaks quite a few words, or so we've heard, so you'll likely want to pick one that contains glorious images to illustrate how the final product should ideally look.


Top-quality, full colour photographs clearly present the recipes and get you licking your lips before you've so much as opened the cutlery draw. Others have more trendy, artsy images and hand-drawn illustrations, providing a quirky twist that feels sweetly nostalgic - and could serve as a thoughtful gift!

4

Pick a Format that Suits Your Kitchen Space and Cooking Style

Pick a Format that Suits Your Kitchen Space and Cooking Style

Hardcover or paperback? While paperbacks are cheaper, lighter and more flexible, a hardcover is often the best way to go when buying a cookbook. You can open it out flat more easily, or prop it up for reference when cooking without the need for a stand as paperbacks have a tendency to suddenly ping shut.


Another handy option is choosing the Kindle edition of a cookbook, saving space on your shelves. Digital cookbooks have shot up in popularity as they are convenient to store and much cheaper on average than buying the book itself. Just be careful not to get doenjang on your screen as you swipe! 

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Top 10 Best Korean Cookbooks in the UK

Now we are pleased to introduce the top ten best Korean recipe books in the UK!  We hope at least one will make it to your kitchen bookshelf and bring Korean cuisine into your weekly menu.
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Key features
1

Maangchi With Martha Rose Shulman

Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking

Maangchi With Martha Rose Shulman Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking 1

Award-Winning Bestseller With Top Quality Images and a Broad Array of Treats

2

Robin Ha

Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes

Robin Ha Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes 1

A Joyful Blend of Graphic and Culinary Art

3

Hooni Kim and Aki Kamozawa

My Korea: Tradition

Hooni Kim and Aki Kamozawa My Korea: Tradition 1

High Class Korean Cooking From a Seasoned Chef

4

Naomi Imatome-Yun

Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo

Naomi Imatome-Yun Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo 1

Korean Flavour Sensations Passed Down From Grandma

5

Sohui Kim

Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes

Sohui Kim Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes 1

Super Straightforward Homely Korean Recipes

6

Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard

Koreatown: A Cookbook

Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard Koreatown: A Cookbook 1

Bestselling Cookbook Sharing Korean Recipes Through an American Lens

7

Jordan Bourke and Rejina Pyo

Our Korean Kitchen

Jordan Bourke and Rejina Pyo Our Korean Kitchen 1

Award-Winning Celebration of Culture, Etiquette and Feasting

8

Bill Kim with Chandra Ram

Korean BBQ

Bill Kim with Chandra Ram Korean BBQ 1

Seven Sumptuous Sauces Adding a Dash of Korea to Your Barbie

9

Jean Choi

Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes

Jean Choi Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes 1

Tasty Dairy, Grain and Gluten Free Versions of Korean Classics

10

Shin Kim

Vegetarian Dishes from My Korean Home

Shin Kim Vegetarian Dishes from My Korean Home 1

A Straightforward Guide to Veggie Feasting, Korean Style!

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Maangchi With Martha Rose Shulman
Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking

Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
£21.99
High Mid
Reference price
£21.99
High Mid

Award-Winning Bestseller With Top Quality Images and a Broad Array of Treats

Maangchi, whose real name is Emily Kim, is a Korean YouTuber and influencer renowned for her accessible and lip-smacking cooking tutorials. This book brings her tips directly into your kitchen, leading you by the hand, away from your screen and into the pots and pans cupboard. 


The whopping range of dishes are both inspiring and exciting, and  you'll find something here for every course, occasion and time of day. This book has been featured in the New York Times, Eater magazine, Forbes and Bon Apetit, so you know you're onto a winner here!

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No.2

Robin Ha
Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes

Cook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£15.99
Low Mid
Reference price
£15.99
Low Mid

A Joyful Blend of Graphic and Culinary Art

We adore this boldly hand-illustrated comic book, which is brimming with tasty recipes you will definitely want to try. The little comics are between one and three pages long, directing you through simple cooking steps with humour and charming graphics. 


A great advantage of this book is the fact the instructions are made clearer thanks to the step-by-step drawings. The range of dishes is vast and there are some great additions to the contents page that you won't find in other books, such as porridges, cocktails, street food and fusion recipes. 

No.3

Hooni Kim and Aki Kamozawa
My Korea: Tradition

My Korea: Tradition 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£25.27
High Mid
Reference price
£25.27
High Mid

High Class Korean Cooking From a Seasoned Chef

Perhaps the top selling point of this graphically glamorous cookbook is that it combines the expertise of a top chef with fascinating facts and down-to-earth advice on buying, storing and preparing classic Korean meals. Cook up a sumptuous storm of seafood, soups, stews and side dishes, as well as 'muchim' tossing sauces that can add bags of flavour to dumplings, rice and meats.


There's somewhat of an autobiographical feel, which brings the dishes to life. Just be warned, the pictures will have your tummy rumbling, so make sure you check out the store cupboard staples list first thing!

No.4

Naomi Imatome-Yun
Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo

Seoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£9.99
Low
Reference price
£9.99
Low

Korean Flavour Sensations Passed Down From Grandma

Growing up in an American suburb, author Naomi Imatome-Yun was introduced to the magic of Korean ingredients by her grandmother. This book artfully combines the joy of tradition with the thrill of evolution and change, including interviews with Korean Americans and other Korean food aficionados peppered throughout.


This book contains a vast range of recipes including every possible course, ingredient and side dish, as well as fusion food. Blending Korean script throughout, Imatome-Yun introduces non-Korean speakers to the Korean name and pronunciation of every dish, a lovely touch we think. 

No.5

Sohui Kim
Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes

Korean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£18.85
Mid
Reference price
£18.85
Mid

Super Straightforward Homely Korean Recipes

Korean Home Cooking by Sohui Kim has bags of five star reviews and we can see why! Blending traditional and contemporary takes on the best dishes Korea has to offer, its layout is fantastically simple, meaning you'll feel inspired rather than intimidated as you browse its pages.


Including clear breakdowns of the basics of Korean cookery, such as cutting vegetables Julienne, and preparing seaweed and rice, this lovely guide embraces the essentials with a moreish twist. With noodles, bibimbap, marinated meats and sesame sprinkled chicken, readers can sense the author's authenticity and passion on every page.

No.6

Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard
Koreatown: A Cookbook

Koreatown: A Cookbook 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£12.12
Low Mid
Reference price
£12.12
Low Mid

Bestselling Cookbook Sharing Korean Recipes Through an American Lens

This cookbook is something a little bit different, introducing its readers to the glory of Korean food through the cafe culture of the USA's Koreatowns; home to various Korean communities living in North America. Within are bold, inviting photographs and heartening recipes you'll be desperate to try!


Evoking not just the vibrant array of flavours Korean cooking offers, but also the very atmosphere of Koreatown restaurants and meeting spots in all corners of the USA, this book is a truly sensory read and brings a feel for the way Korean cuisine has made its mark on America.

No.7

Jordan Bourke and Rejina Pyo
Our Korean Kitchen

Our Korean Kitchen 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£17.69
Mid
Reference price
£17.69
Mid

Award-Winning Celebration of Culture, Etiquette and Feasting

This book is a labour of love, written by fashion designer and food lover Rejina Pyo and her husband, Irish chef Jordan Bourke, who fell for his wife and then her country's cuisine and culture. The book celebrates not only the brilliant recipes of Korea, but also the couple's relationship and how it can be told through food


It's the Irish author's perspective that perhaps makes this book so well-suited to UK readers, especially those sharing in his excitement at discovering a new cuisine. It even won Observer Food Monthly's best New Cookbook award in 2016

and continues to delight readers today!

No.8

Bill Kim with Chandra Ram
Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£16.26
Mid
Reference price
£16.26
Mid

Seven Sumptuous Sauces Adding a Dash of Korea to Your Barbie

Friends will be BBQ-ing up to taste your Korean style meat this summer! This to-the-point cooking guide cleverly lays out recipes that help make the most of your leftovers with simple and clear photographs.


This book posits that the knack to a good Korean barbecue is the right seasoning. Through this all-encompassing guide, you'll get to know the essential spices, herbs and flavours that give Korean cookery its bold, unique and memorable taste. Add to that the importance of texture, and you'll find your barbecue transformed into a party no guest will forget!

No.9

Jean Choi
Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes

Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£20.51
Mid
Reference price
£20.51
Mid

Tasty Dairy, Grain and Gluten Free Versions of Korean Classics

 Jean Choi is a nutritional therapist bringing the flavour and flair of Korean cookery to those following gluten-free and paleo diets. All the best bits of Korean cuisine are here, including bibimbap, bulgogi, kimchi and dumplings, just re-imagined without the dairy, grains and gluten. 


The recipes, which have all been developed from dishes Jean Choi ate during childhood, are clearly laid out and simple to follow. We especially love that every single recipe in this book is accompanied by a mouth-watering photograph!

No.10

Shin Kim
Vegetarian Dishes from My Korean Home

Vegetarian Dishes from My Korean Home 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£25.95
High
Reference price
£25.95
High

A Straightforward Guide to Veggie Feasting, Korean Style!

With a broad range of chapters that will allow you to cook up a storm from starter to pudding, and a few cheeky pickles and snacks on the side, this book will arm you with some classic recipes to impress family and friends with a taste of real Korea. 


Every recipe is meat-free and many of the options are accidentally vegan too. But the best bit about this book is the totally accessible and straight-talking recipe style. It's easy to follow and laid out with gorgeous photographs that make it inspiring and exciting to browse. 

Summary

Whether you've spent time in Korea and want to recreate some of your favourite feasts here in the UK, or are testing out Korean cuisine for the very first time, we hope you've worked up an appetite reading about our top-rated Korean cookbooks. Here's to a proper feast. Ready, steady, bul - GO - gi!


Author: Annie Hopkins

Top 5 Korean Cookbooks

No. 1: Maangchi With Martha Rose ShulmanMaangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking

No. 2: Robin HaCook Korean! A Comic Book with Recipes

No. 3: Hooni Kim and Aki KamozawaMy Korea: Tradition

No. 4: Naomi Imatome-YunSeoul Food Korean Cookbook: Korean Cooking from Kimchi and Bibimbap to Fried Chicken and Bingsoo

No. 5: Sohui KimKorean Home Cooking: Classic Modern Recipes

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