Swiggy Sees 50% Spike In Korean Cuisine Orders, Thanks To Gen Z

Korean culture’s footprint in India is widening beyond music and entertainment, with food becoming a major attraction. Swiggy reports a 50% year-on-year rise in Korean dish orders in July 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. While metro hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad led the demand, non-metro cities saw even faster growth at 59% year-on-year. Places such as Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Vadodara, Mysuru, and Mangaluru are emerging as hotspots for Korean flavours, showing the trend’s reach beyond traditional urban centres.

Swiggy Reports 50% YoY Increase In Korean Food Orders; Korean Bun & Ramen Among Most Searched Dishes – https://t.co/FkwIRa2s7j
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Gen Z, known for quickly adopting global trends, has played a major role in driving the Korean food craze in India, accounting for 27% of all Korean food orders on Swiggy over the past year. The platform says this demographic has been central to boosting the cuisine’s popularity across the country.

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Search trends further confirm the surge in interest, with keywords like “Korean bun,” “Korean cheese bun,” “Korean ramen,” and “Korean chicken” among the most searched in the past year. Popular menu picks included the Korean McAloo Tikki Burger, Korean Corn & Jalapeno Garlic Bread, Korean Tangy Chicken Roll, and Korean Spicy Chicken Burger. Even beverages such as the Korean Yuzu-Pop Sprite have captured attention.

Swiggy says the trend reflects a wider shift in Indian dining preferences, as consumers are increasingly open to exploring international flavours. Restaurants and brands are tapping into this by localising global dishes, making them more accessible and appealing to the Indian palate.

According to Swiggy, “Indians are increasingly embracing Korean culture—not just through music and entertainment, but also through food. What began as a fascination with K-dramas and K-pop has gradually made its way into everyday choices. The trend seems to be more pronounced amongst the Millennials and Gen Z.”

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