What do people eat during Chuseok? Songpyeon, the filled rice cakes associated with the holiday, is a useful starting point. Taro soup also has a documented place in Chuseok food traditions. Jeon, galbijjim and japchae belong to the wider group of dishes served at festive meals and special gatherings. Together, these foods provide an introduction to the holiday, with room for regional recipes and family preferences.
This guide explains how to recognise the dishes and what to ask before ordering. It also looks at one dated survey about simplifying holiday preparations. Treat the list as a guide to foods you may encounter, rather than a menu that every household follows.
Sources checked: September 18, 2026. Leer en español.
Songpyeon: rice cakes closely associated with Chuseok
Songpyeon starts with rice flour mixed with hot water. A filling goes inside, and the dough is sealed before steaming over pine needles. The Korea Tourism Organization explains that shapes and fillings vary by region. That variation is part of the tradition, so a single photograph cannot represent every version. Source: Korea Tourism Organization, August 29, 2022.
When choosing a box, ask what each variety contains. If you are sharing, a small assortment can make the differences easier to understand. Check the seller’s storage instructions, especially if you plan to carry it around while sightseeing. A label or a short conversation with the seller is more useful than identifying the filling from its colour.
Taro soup: a seasonal dish with different versions
Taro soup, or toranguk, is another food linked to Chuseok. The Korean Food Promotion Institute describes it as a seasonal holiday dish but says its exact starting point is unknown. Its account includes older preparations with meat, radish and kelp, as well as different broth and soybean-paste versions. Source: Korean Food Promotion Institute, September 1, 2021.
For a visitor, the practical question is which version is being served. Ask about the broth and accompanying ingredients. “Taro soup” alone does not tell you everything in the bowl.
Jeon, galbijjim and japchae: dishes for festive meals
Jeon: check the ingredient inside
Jeon can use meat, fish or vegetables coated with flour and egg, then cooked in oil. The Korean Cultural Center New York describes it as food for celebrations and other occasions. Source: Korean Cultural Center New York.
On a mixed platter, ask which pieces contain which ingredients. The word jeon describes a broad category, so it helps to read the full dish name when ordering.
Galbijjim: braised ribs for a shared meal
The Korea Tourism Organization describes beef galbijjim as seasoned ribs cooked slowly with ingredients such as radish, carrots, chestnuts and jujubes. It places the dish among foods for holidays and celebrations. Source: Korea Tourism Organization, September 15, 2025.
Before ordering, confirm the serving size and whether rice comes separately. This is especially useful when several people are choosing dishes together and trying to judge the total amount of food.
Japchae: glass noodles with other ingredients
The Korean Cultural Centre Canada presents japchae as starch noodles with beef, mushrooms and vegetables, associated with large gatherings and special occasions. Source: Korean Cultural Centre Canada, September 21, 2020.
Check the ingredients in the version on offer if you have dietary requirements. A dish that looks mostly like noodles and vegetables still needs an ingredient check.
How to read a Chuseok menu
A useful distinction is the strength of each dish’s connection to the holiday. Songpyeon and taro soup have specific Chuseok associations in the sources above. Jeon, galbijjim and japchae have broader festive roles.
Use this distinction when reading a restaurant menu or asking a host about a meal. It leaves space for regional variations and family choices without presenting one arrangement as the required Chuseok table. For an invitation to someone’s home, ask what would be helpful to bring before buying food.
Changing customs: what a 2025 survey shows
In a 2025 survey of 1,000 consumer-panel members in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon, 92% of respondents who observed ancestral rites planned to simplify them compared with before. The report also described plans to use partially prepared and ready-made foods. These were intentions within that metropolitan sample, not nationwide results or evidence of 2026 behaviour. Source: Rural Development Administration, September 29, 2025.
Planning a food stop during Chuseok
Before making a special trip, confirm the shop or restaurant’s holiday hours and whether the dish you want will be available. Keep food plans flexible enough to fit around your sightseeing. For the rest of your itinerary, see our guide to Seoul attractions and Chuseok 2026 opening hours.
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