Garlic-Free Dining in Korea Made Simple: Your Allium-Free Guide

Navigating Korean cuisine with an allium intolerance (no garlic, onions, or leeks) can feel impossible. Garlic is fundamental to Korean cooking—it's in sauces, marinades, broths, and even "hidden" in pre-made ingredients. But with the right strategies and tools, safe dining is achievable. Here’s how to enjoy Korea’s vibrant food scene worry-free.

Why Allium-Free Dining in Korea Is Challenging

Garlic (마늘) and onions (양파) form the namul flavor base in most savory Korean dishes. Even seemingly safe options often include:

• Broths & Soups: Used in kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae, and tteokguk.
• Sauces/Marinades: Essential in bulgogi, galbi, and jeon pancakes.
• Side Dishes: Often seasoned with garlic-infused oils or pastes.

Traditional Korean Dishes That Are Typically Allium-Free

※Always reconfirm, as recipes vary.

• Bibimbap (비빔밥): Request without gochujang (garlic-containing sauce); use salt/soy instead.
• Juk (죽): Plain rice porridge (e.g., pumpkin or red bean).
• Grilled Fish: Seasoned only with salt (e.g., samsaengi).
• Kongnamul Guk (콩나물국): Soybean sprout soup (specify no garlic).

Key Communication Phrases

Empower yourself with these:

• "마늘, 양파, 파 없이 해 주세요" (Ma-neul, yang-pa, pa eobsi hae juseyo) — No garlic, onions, or scallions.
• "알레르기 있어요" (A-lle-reu-gi it-seo-yo) — I have an allergy.
• "이 재료 들어가요?" (I jae-ryo deul-eo-ga-yo?) — Does this ingredient go in?

How the MM Food App Solves Allium Anxiety

1. Translate Menus Instantly: Scan any Korean menu to your language.
2. Set Custom Dietary Filters: Select "Allium-Free" or create a custom restriction like "no garlic, onions, leeks."
3. AI Ingredient Analysis: Our AI scans descriptions and flags risky items. Get safe recommendations (e.g., "Try salted grilled mackerel")!
4. Phrasebook: Access allergy phrases offline for seamless ordering.

Pro Tips

• Always double-check with staff—cross-reference using MM Food’s translation.
• Focus on Buddhist temple cuisine (사찰음식), often allium-free.
• Avoid anything labeled "양념" (seasoned) or "마늘" (garlic).

Embrace your Korean adventure confidently. With MM Food, delicious, allium-safe meals are one tap away!