While many people have become familiar with popular South Korean dishes like tteokbokki, kimbap, and bibimbap, there are many other traditional Korean dishes that are equally delicious but not as well-known. If you're planning a trip to Korea or just looking to expand your culinary horizons, here are seven traditional Korean dishes that you simply have to try!

1. Sikhye: Often served at Korean saunas with some hard-boiled eggs, sikhye is a traditional sweet Korean drink made of fermented malt and rice! It makes for a cooling and refreshing drink!

2. Goongjung Tteokbokki: Also known as royal court rice cake, whereas many know tteokbokki to be red and spicy, this one is salty, and sweet as it's soy sauce based with beef and is stir-fried together with a great mix of veggies!

3. Yakgwa: Deep-fried cookie that is made of honey and sesame oil; you get a burst of sweetness and a chewy texture. It's the perfect sweet treat!

4. Gangjeong: Sweet rice puffs that are created with glutinous rice flour; it's light and airy with all the crunch!

5. Songpyeon: When it comes to rice cakes, South Korea has a lot more to offer than just tteokbokki, which is well-known to many. In fact, some of the country's most delicious rice cakes are sweet treats, like the beloved songpyeon. Songpyeon is a sweet, chewy, and nutty rice cake that's often filled with red bean paste. But what makes it truly special is how it's prepared - the cake is steamed on a bed of pine needles, giving it a unique and delightful aroma. Not only is it delicious, but it also has cultural significance as a traditional food served during the Chuseok holiday. So, be sure to add it to your list of must-try Korean treats!

6. Gyeongdan: Similar to dango, but instead of being coated with soy sauce, these glutinous rice balls are covered in different flavored powders such as sweet potato, green tea, and black sesame with a burst of red bean paste right in the center!

7. Yaksik: It seems like many Koreans in the past loved anything chewy, for yaksik is also made of glutinous rice, but this time you get a mix of honey, nuts, and dried fruit. Known to have health benefits because of the honey and dried fruit, and nuts, yaksik is great if you're looking for something that'll satisfy your sweet tooth but you do not want to go overboard on the sugar!

What's so great about many traditional Korean dishes is that they're not too overpowering, with just enough flavor to get your taste buds wanting more! So, make sure to add these must-try dishes to your foodie bucket list for your next visit to Korea!