30 September 2026
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World Kitchen Journal
What are some good menu combinations to go with Korean pancakes (jeon)? Recommended combinations of staple food, main dish, side dish, and soup
The Kitchen
By Claire Beaumont, the Technique desk · Japón · 9 min ·

What are some good menu combinations to go with Korean pancakes (jeon)? Recommended combinations of staple food, main dish, side dish, and soup

With its crispy, fragrant exterior and chewy interior, "Jeon" (Korean pancake) is a popular dish that you'll want to include in your daily meals.

What menu items go well with Korean pancakes (jeon)? Recommended combinations of staple food, main dish, side dish, and soup.

Recommended main dish recipes to go with a Korean pancake (jeon) menu.

Korean-style pickled radish rice ball

Easy kimbap-style thick rolls using yakiniku sauce

Recommended main dish recipes to go with a Korean pancake (jeon)

Recommended side dish recipes to go with Korean pancakes (jeon)

Recommended soup recipes to accompany a Korean pancake (jeon) meal.

What side dishes go well with Korean pancakes (jeon)? Tips for planning a menu.

Here's an easy recipe for making Korean pancakes (jeon) at home.

Combine recipes to enjoy Korean pancakes (jeon)

First, let's introduce some main dish recipes that pair well with jeon (Korean pancake). When enjoying jeon as the main dish, pairing it with rice makes for a satisfying meal. We've gathered main dish recipes that go well with jeon, such as Korean-style rice balls and kimbap-style thick rolls. They're perfect for everyday meals as well as for entertaining guests.

Korean-style pickled radish rice ball

This Korean-style rice ball features the addictive crunchy texture of pickled radish. The rice is mixed with sesame oil and chicken stock powder, and a touch of chili pepper adds a spicy kick. Wrapping it in Korean seaweed at the end enhances the flavor.

Easy kimbap-style thick rolls using yakiniku sauce

These hearty Korean-style futomaki (thick sushi rolls) are a perfect match for jeon (Korean pancakes). Simply combine rice flavored with sesame oil, beef seasoned with yakiniku sauce and gochujang, vegetables, and mayonnaise, then roll it up. The vibrant colors will instantly brighten up your table. It's also a great dish when you want a satisfying meal.

Next, we'll introduce some main dish recipes that pair well with Korean pancakes (jeon). We've selected a variety of recipes, from steamed chicken that can be made in the microwave to hearty salads and comforting stews.

Easy! Steamed chicken with green onion and salt sauce

Here's an easy recipe for steamed chicken, cooked to perfection in the microwave. The garlic and lemon-infused scallion and salt sauce is incredibly appetizing and enhances the delicate flavor of the chicken breast. It's no cooking required, and cleanup is a breeze!

Pork shabu-shabu salad with plenty of bean sprouts and pea shoots

This recipe is for a hearty pork shabu-shabu salad using plenty of bean sprouts and pea shoots. The dressing, based on mentsuyu (noodle soup base) with a touch of sesame oil and vinegar, creates a rich yet refreshing flavor. The vegetables offer a delightful texture, making it an irresistibly delicious dish.

Hearty stew of daikon radish and beef

How about a comforting stew featuring daikon radish simmered slowly and tender beef scraps? The gentle flavor comes from a broth based on white dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. After cutting the ingredients, simply simmer them in order with the seasonings. Enjoy this comforting taste that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Now, let's introduce some side dish recipes that pair well with jeon (Korean pancake). Jeon is a dish enjoyed for its savory aroma, so pairing it with refreshing side dishes will create a well-balanced meal. We've gathered recipes for easy-to-make and colorful namul (Korean seasoned vegetables), pickles with a delightful texture, and classic chilled tofu. Please give them a try!

A quick and easy dish! Chikuwa and spinach namul

This is a quick and easy namul dish using chikuwa (fish cake) and spinach. The key is the exquisite refreshing taste, achieved by combining the richness of sesame oil and the aroma of garlic with the perfect amount of acidity from the vinegar. The savory flavor of the chikuwa and the texture of the spinach go together well, and it's a colorful dish too.

Refreshing and crisp yuzu radish

How about some yuzu daikon radish, a refreshing and elegant dish made with yuzu juice and zest? Its crisp texture and the subtle aroma of yuzu make it perfect as a palate cleanser. It's also conveniently easy to make—simply put it in a resealable bag and marinate it in the refrigerator for an hour.

You can eat the whole thing in one go! Lettuce rolls with dashi broth.

This lettuce roll dish is visually appealing, using a whole head of lettuce. Simply blanch the lettuce, wrap it around ground black sesame seeds, and drizzle with a sauce made from mentsuyu (noodle soup base) and sesame oil. The crisp, light texture combined with the fragrant aroma of sesame seeds makes it so delicious you could eat it endlessly.

Unstoppable! Infinite Mushrooms

Introducing "Endless Mushrooms," a flavorful dish featuring five types of mushrooms, plus bacon and tuna. Simply put all the ingredients in a bowl and heat it in the microwave. It's quick and easy to make without using a stove, making it a great side dish for busy days.

Easy Okra and Bonito Flake Cold Tofu

This simple chilled tofu dish features smooth, silky tofu topped with sticky okra and flavorful bonito flakes. Pre-boiling the okra by rubbing it with salt beforehand ensures a pleasant texture and vibrant color. Its refreshing taste, highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients, makes it a perfect side dish.

Finally, here are some soup recipes that are perfect to accompany your Korean pancake (jeon). We'll introduce easy-to-make recipes ranging from a light Japanese-style egg drop soup to a hearty kimchi soup, and a wakame seaweed soup that pairs perfectly with jeon.

Egg drop soup with plenty of green onions

This egg drop soup has a gentle flavor, with the creaminess of beaten eggs and the sweetness of green onions. The simple seasoning using granulated Japanese-style dashi and soy sauce makes it a comforting dish that pairs well with a variety of meals. It's also great that it can be made quickly in a short amount of time.

Spicy and delicious kimchi glass noodle soup

How about a hearty glass noodle soup with the savory flavor of pork belly and the spicy kick of kimchi? Using the broth from rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms adds depth to the flavor and pairs perfectly with the smooth glass noodles. Adding a beaten egg will give it a creamier texture.

Chinese soup with bean sprouts and komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach)

Here's a recipe for a thick, Chinese-style soup made with crisp bean sprouts and komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach). Based on chicken stock powder, the soup is mellowed by the addition of beaten egg. A hint of grated ginger adds a subtle aroma, resulting in a light and gentle flavor.

Authentic Korean-style seaweed soup

This is a recipe for a Korean-style soup made by stir-frying wakame seaweed and beef short ribs in sesame oil and then simmering them slowly. The seasoning is simple, using only salt and light soy sauce, but stir-frying the ingredients with garlic and sesame oil before simmering them slowly results in a rich and flavorful soup.

Now that we've looked at recipes for side dishes that go well with jeon (Korean pancake), let's take another look at how to put together a menu for a day when jeon is the main dish!

Decide whether to make the jeon (Korean pancake) a "staple food" or a "main dish."

When thinking about side dishes that go well with jeon (Korean pancake), the first thing to consider is whether you want to treat the jeon as a "staple food" or a "main dish."

If you're having jeon (Korean pancake) as your main dish, pairing it with a meat or fish main course will greatly increase your satisfaction with the meal. On the other hand, if you're having jeon as your main dish, it's recommended to pair it with a staple food like rice.

Be mindful of the cooking method.

In both cases, side dishes and soups made with vegetables, mushrooms, and seaweed have a light flavor and pair well with the dish. Since jeon (Korean pancake) is fried in oil, incorporating cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, or mixing will add variety to the taste and texture, creating a nice contrast in the menu.

Also, if you adjust the combinations based on your mood that day and the ingredients you have at home, meal planning will become much easier.

Jeon (Korean pancake) is a dish whose impression changes depending on the ingredients and seasoning, so one way to enjoy it is to adapt it to your menu. Here are some easy jeon recipes that you can make at home.

Seafood pancake with seafood mix

How about a classic seafood pancake (jeon)? Using frozen seafood mix, you can easily make a delicious seafood pancake. The batter, made with a mixture of all-purpose flour and potato starch, has a crispy exterior and a chewy interior. Combined with a special sweet and sour sauce made with chili powder, it has an irresistible flavor.

Combine recipes to enjoy Korean pancakes (jeon)

This time, we've introduced recipes for main dishes, side dishes, and soups that pair well with Korean pancakes (jeon), categorized by type. One of the joys of jeon is changing the dishes you pair it with depending on the ingredients and seasonings. Please use the recipes we've introduced as a reference and try putting together your jeon menu!

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