Japchae
Side dishes
Glassy sweet-potato starch noodles tossed with stir-fried vegetables, meat, soy sauce and sesame oil — served as a side dish or on its own at celebrations.
Why this list cannot be complete
Many Korean restaurants are franchises whose recipes are not published, and shops create their own versions of the same dish. A menu name often does not tell you what is inside. This page covers the traditional recipe and the variations that have spread widely, not every shop.
When you are not sure what a shop puts in, show your card to say what you cannot eat, or show the list below and ask the staff to point to what is in theirs.
What usually goes in
이 음식에 아래 재료 중 들어가는 것이 있나요?
For the staff: does this dish contain any of the ingredients below?
Soy sauce is the main seasoning and is tossed through the noodles with everything else, so it coats every strand.
Sesame oil is the second of the two core seasonings next to soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds go on top as the finishing garnish.
Chopped garlic goes into the soy seasoning along with sugar, so it is mixed through the noodles rather than served on the side.
Thin strips of beef are the usual meat, stir-fried and tossed in with the noodles, though pork is used in some kitchens.
Pork is the other meat named for japchae, cut into the same thin strips, so the meat can be hard to tell apart once it is mixed in.
Onion is one of the vegetables stir-fried and mixed in with the noodles, alongside carrot, spinach and mushrooms.
Egg is named among the main ingredients of japchae, so ask about it even if you cannot see it on the plate.
The noodles are sweet-potato starch, so wheat would come only from the soy sauce — some bottles are brewed with roasted wheat and some from soybeans alone.
Seafood japchae tosses blanched shrimp with the glass noodles.
Seafood japchae also adds blanched squid to the noodles.
Fish cake japchae uses sliced fish cake in place of the meat.
Some recipes mix oyster sauce into the soy sauce seasoning, and oyster sauce is made from oysters.
Mushrooms such as shiitake, wood ear and oyster mushrooms are usually stir-fried and tossed with the noodles along with the other vegetables.
Some recipes toss the noodles in perilla oil instead of sesame oil.
- Usually in it
- Most kitchens put this in. Assume it is there unless the staff tell you otherwise.
- Sometimes in it
- It depends on the recipe and the brand of sauce, so it is worth asking.
- Rarely in it
- The usual recipe does not call for it, but some kitchens still use it.
Checked 14 of the 33 ingredients this site covers. An ingredient that is not listed here has simply not been checked yet — that is not the same as it not being in the dish.
This page describes how the dish is usually made in Korea. Every kitchen works differently, so always show your card and ask the staff before you order.
Going on your card
- Soybean (대두)
- Sesame (참깨)
- Garlic (마늘)
- Beef (쇠고기)
- Pork (돼지고기)
- Onion (양파)
- Eggs (알류)
- Wheat (밀)
- Shrimp (새우)
- Squid (오징어)
- Fish (생선)
- Shellfish (조개류 · 굴 · 전복)
- Mushrooms (버섯)
- Perilla seed (들깨 · 들기름)
Common variations
If you see one of these names on a menu, expect the ingredients below on top of the basic dish. Shops differ, so check with the staff.
- 해물잡채Seafood japchae
Adds: Shrimp (새우), Squid (오징어)
Blanched shrimp and squid replace the meat and are tossed with the glass noodles.
- 어묵잡채Fish cake japchae
Adds: Fish (생선), Wheat (밀)
Sliced fish cake replaces the meat, and fish cake is made from ground fish mixed with wheat flour and starch.
Diets
- VeganNot suitable
Beef or pork and egg are among the main ingredients.
- Lacto-ovo vegetarianNot suitable
The meat is stir-fried and tossed through the noodles, so it cannot be picked out afterwards.
- HalalAsk first
The meat may be beef or pork, so ask which one and where it comes from.
- No porkAsk first
Beef is usual but pork is also used — confirm which meat is in it.
Other dishes with the same ingredients
- BibimbapEggs (poultry) · Soybean · Sesame · Garlic — Usually in it / Wheat · Beef · Onion · Fish · Shellfish (incl. oyster, abalone, mussel) · Mushrooms · Perilla seed (incl. perilla oil and powder) — Sometimes in it
- BulgogiBeef · Soybean · Sesame · Garlic — Usually in it / Onion · Pork · Wheat · Squid · Mushrooms — Sometimes in it
- SamgyeopsalPork · Soybean · Sesame · Garlic — Usually in it / Onion · Wheat · Fish · Shrimp — Sometimes in it
Read more
- Soy in Korean foodWhere this ingredient hides across Korean food
- Sesame in Korean foodWhere this ingredient hides across Korean food
- Gluten-free travel in KoreaWhere wheat hides in sauces and broths
- Vegan dining in KoreaWhere meat and seafood hide in Korean cooking
- Emergency allergy help in KoreaWhat to do and say if a reaction starts
- Halal food in KoreaWhere pork, alcohol, and non-halal meat hide in Korean cooking
- Temple food and Buddhist vegetarian dining in KoreaWhere garlic, green onion, and other pungent vegetables hide
Sources we checked
Each finding on this page lists the recipes and references it is based on. Source titles appear in their original language and are not translated, and each link opens the other site in a new tab.
Show the 18 sources behind each finding
What usually goes in
Soybean · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Sesame · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Garlic · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Beef · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Pork · Sometimes in it
Onion · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Eggs · Sometimes in it
Wheat · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Soy sauce" — made from soybeans and roasted grain; most Japanese soy sauces include wheat; tamari contains little or no wheat (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia, "Ganjang" — hansik ganjang is made entirely of meju and brine; gaeryang ganjang ferments soybean, soybean meal or other grains (opens in a new tab)
Shrimp · Sometimes in it
Squid · Sometimes in it
Fish · Sometimes in it
Shellfish · Sometimes in it
Mushrooms · Usually in it
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「생생정보통 잡채 황금레시피」 — 목이버섯 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「잡채 만드는 법」 — 느타리버섯 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「잡채 황금레시피」 — 양념에 굴소스, 말린 목이버섯 · 생 표고버섯 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「잡채 간단 레시피」 — 목이버섯 (opens in a new tab)
Perilla seed · Sometimes in it
Common variations
해물잡채 · Seafood japchae
어묵잡채 · Fish cake japchae
Diets
Vegan · Not suitable
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Lacto-ovo vegetarian · Not suitable
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Halal · Ask first
No pork · Ask first
- Wikipedia, "Japchae" — dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles); beef or pork; mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, scallions; egg; soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar; toasted sesame seeds; eaten as banchan (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "잡채" — 고기 · 버섯 · 채소를 볶아 삶은 당면과 버무림; 채 썬 쇠고기, 당근 · 양파 · 버섯; 간장 · 참기름 · 설탕 · 마늘, 깨 (opens in a new tab)
Each dish is researched by hand from the sources we checked, and nothing here is generated automatically. Recipes vary from kitchen to kitchen, so always confirm with the staff before you order.