Royal Court Tteokbokki (Gungjung Tteokbokki)

Today, I’m sharing a comforting and flavor-packed version of Royal Court Tteokbokki — a classic Korean rice cake dish made famous again by Chef Ryu Soo-young on Pyeonstorang.

Unlike the spicy red tteokbokki most people know, this one is made with a sweet and savory bulgogi-style soy sauce, giving it that deep “umami” flavor Koreans love. It’s glossy, perfectly balanced, and once you start eating… you won’t be able to stop!

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 500g rice cakes (tteokbokki tteok)

• 200g thinly sliced beef (bulgogi cut)

• 2 green onions

• 1 can (238ml) pear juice or grated pear drink

• 2 pinches of salt

• A drizzle of cooking oil

• 6 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp oyster sauce

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tbsp minced garlic

• 100ml water

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds

💡 Tip: If your rice cakes are hard or refrigerated, soak them in warm water for a few minutes before cooking.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make It

Step 1. Prep the Green Onions

Cut the green onions lengthwise, then into 5cm (2-inch) pieces. This will give you nice, long strips that caramelize beautifully when grilled.

Step 2. Rinse the Rice Cakes

Rinse the rice cakes under cold water and drain well. Set aside.

Step 3. Grill the Green Onions

Heat a large pan over high heat. Add the green onions and grill them for about 2 minutes without stirring — you want them slightly charred and smoky.

Step 4. Add the Beef

Drizzle a bit of cooking oil around the pan, then add the beef.
If the slices are large, cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and stir-fry until the meat loses its pink color.

Step 5. Add Garlic for Aroma

Lower the heat to medium and add minced garlic.
Stir-fry gently to infuse the oil and beef with that delicious garlic aroma.

Step 6. Add the Sauces

Add sugar and oyster sauce, and stir everything together until glossy.

Step 7. Add Rice Cakes and Liquid

Add the rice cakes, pear juice, and water.
Mix everything well and bring to a boil over high heat.

Step 8. Simmer and Reduce

Once it starts boiling, reduce to medium heat and simmer for 3 minutes.

Then lower to low heat and let it simmer gently until the sauce thickens and clings to the rice cakes.

Step 9. Finish and Serve

Turn off the heat, drizzle sesame oil, and toss everything together.
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top before serving.

🍽️ Serving Tips

This Royal Court Tteokbokki has that irresistible sweet-salty bulgogi flavor that pairs beautifully with a bowl of warm rice.
It’s not spicy, so everyone in the family can enjoy it — especially kids or those who prefer mild Korean dishes.

Once you start eating, trust me… you’ll keep reaching for more!