The festive season is a time when people slow down, gather with loved ones, and enjoy comforting food that brings warmth to the table. And while many families choose classic roasts or familiar winter dishes, more people today are looking for something memorable, flavourful, and truly different for their celebrations. That is where Korean dishes to enjoy this Christmas and New Year come in. Korean food has a way of filling you up, warming your soul, and creating a joyful, shared experience. They’re perfect for Christmas dinners, New Year gatherings, or those relaxed evenings in between.
Whether you’re planning a big family meal or a cosy dinner with friends, Korean cuisine adds excitement to the festive table. Think hearty stews bubbling away, sizzling barbecue, comforting noodles, and the ever-popular crispy Korean fried chicken, which instantly lifts the mood. Even simple touches like traditional Korean side dishes can make every meal feel special.
This festive season, Madang is the place to enjoy flavours that bring people together. The menu offers a wide range of Korean dishes created for sharing, celebrating, and savouring slowly. To help you choose, here are the top Korean dishes to enjoy this Christmas and New Year, each one ideal for creating delicious memories at the table.
A festive meal should begin with something warm, comforting, and perfect for sharing. Seafood Pancake brings exactly that. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, it is filled with prawns, squid, and spring onions, creating a flavour that is gentle yet rich. It arrives sizzling at the table, inviting everyone to reach in for a piece. During Christmas and New Year, it is among the most-ordered traditional Korean side dishes.
No winter celebration is complete without something warm and comforting, and Tteokbokki is exactly that. The chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet-spicy sauce deliver heat, richness, and the kind of satisfaction that suits cold weather perfectly. Its festive red sauce and bold flavour make it one of the most popular Korean dishes to enjoy this Christmas and New Year.
Whether you’re celebrating with family or enjoying a festive night out with friends, fried chicken is always a winning choice. At Madang, the fried chicken is crisp, flavourful, juicy, and served in generous portions that make it ideal for sharing. You can enjoy it plain, coated in sweet and spicy sauce, or glazed with soy and garlic. It is festive, fun to eat, and pairs wonderfully with the rest of the spread. Adding fried chicken to your Christmas or New Year dinner is a simple way to make the meal feel lively and irresistible.
For any festive gathering, you need a dish that feels like the highlight of the table, and LA Galbi is exactly that. Marinated beef short ribs grilled to perfection bring rich, tender flavour that melts in your mouth. Grilling the meat at the table adds a social touch to your celebration. It slows everyone down, sparks conversation, and makes the meal unforgettable. If you want a centrepiece dish for Christmas or New Year, Korean BBQ is a must.
Christmas and New Year often call for hearty meals that warm you from within, and Kimchi Jjigae does that beautifully. The stew uses aged kimchi, tofu, vegetables, and optional meat to create a rich, comforting bowl that suits cold evenings. Its bold flavour, warmth, and depth make it the ideal winter dish to gather around. When shared with loved ones, it feels like the heart of a Korean home brought to the table.
Bibimbap is vibrant, nourishing, and satisfying—everything a festive meal should be. With its colourful vegetables, seasoned meat, fried egg, and gochujang sauce, it brings balance to your spread. Mixing all the ingredients together is almost like a little ritual that adds fun to the experience. For those who want something wholesome yet flavourful, Bibimbap adds freshness to the list of Korean dishes to enjoy.
To finish your savoury feast, Jajangmyeon offers a comforting, velvety option that appeals to both children and adults. The thick noodles coated in deep, savoury black bean sauce are filling without feeling too heavy. During the festive season, when you want meals that feel like a warm hug, Jajangmyeon is the perfect choice. It is the kind of dish that makes cosy winter evenings even better.
If you prefer a refreshing dessert to balance your rich Korean meal, Bingsoo is a beautiful way to end the evening. With flavours like mango, strawberry, or chocolate, it adds a light and sweet finish to your Christmas or New Year dining experience. Even during cooler weather, its gentle sweetness and airy texture make it enjoyable and memorable.
Korean cuisine has always been about togetherness, and Madang reflects that tradition through dishes crafted for sharing. The variety on the menu, the warmth in each recipe, and the inviting atmosphere make it the ideal place for holiday celebrations. Whether you want a dinner full of bold flavours or a simple meal that brings comfort, Madang offers something for everyone.
Madang Korean Restaurant is one of the top-rated Korean restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Boasting of its traditional Korean interior design and style seating giving customers unique and realistic experience of Korea and its vast number of authentic Korean Cuisine.