Honbap: the Radical Magic of Eating Alone

In Korea, more and more young people are defying social pressure to go out and eat alone.

The idea that food should bring people together is a cliché so worn-out it seems self-obvious. The belief that eating should be social, communal, and shared is so pervasive that doing the opposite–eating alone and relishing it–is almost radical.

This is particularly true in Korea. Korean cuisine often features a communal main dish and a colorful array of banchan (small shared side dishes). Instead of the individual plates that float like isolated islands on an American dinner table, Korean meals typically feature a variety of different dishes that drift and mingle across the table. So much of Korean cuisine is based on sharing that it’s no surprise that solo-dining has traditionally been stigmatized by Korea’s collectivist society. In fact, some restaurants may refuse to serve solo diners.

However, in the past decade, more and more young people have defied this expectation of social eating in favor of honbap–eating out alone. The recent rise in honbap has shifted perceptions of solo dining from something sad, lonely, and vaguely embarrassing to a symbol of individualism, self-care, and freedom from social pressures. 

Honbap is one of many portmanteau words based on the Korean word for “alone” (honja). Honbap refers to eating out alone (bap is the Korean word for “meal”), honsul describes drinking alone, and honjok is a broader term that refers to people who embrace a philosophy of solo-living. 

There are several theories as to why honbap has surged in popularity in the past decade. Perhaps it’s tied to the rise in single-person households in Korea, which has dramatically increased over the last few decades. Maybe it's a rebellion against the acute familial and social pressure young Koreans face to secure a well-paying job in a tough job market. Or maybe, honbap simply allows people to savor time alone and forget about the judgment of others. 

 A honbap-friendly BBQ restaurant

Especially in Seoul, honbap-friendly restaurants have cropped up where diners can eat in their individual stalls. Even group-oriented meals like barbeque and hotpot have been adapted for solo diners.

A promotional poster for the K-Drama Drinking Solo 

Honbap has also appeared in media, such as the reality show I Live Alone, which showcases the lifestyle of single celebrities, and dramas such as Drinking Solo and Let’s Eat, which tells the story of four singles who are brought together out of their love of food and fear of eating alone. 

There is no one correct way to slurp down a steaming bowl of kalguksu or polish off some sizzling samgyeopsal. While there is truth in the old platitude that food brings people together, there can also be radical magic in eating alone. Honbap shows a different philosophy of food, where eating is personal, private, and entirely catered to you.