According to old records and findings made in the area, the number of dishes peculiar to Hamgyong province reaches several tens.

Typical of them are potato dishes, steamed spring chicken, myongthae soup and sechine soup.

People of the area are fond of potato starch noodles out of which the Hamhung starch noodle is most famous.

The steamed spring chicken is taken in the hottest period of the summer. It is made by the method of steaming young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, various garnishes and spices.

With myongthae (Walleye Pollack) they cook soup, fermented dish, sausage, salted tripe and salted roes.

Delicate is sechine soup, dish of a freshwater fish.

There were sechine restaurants in Pukchong and various other areas.

Besides, there are leaf-mustard kimchi and wild edible herb dishes including fried fern.

The dishes of Hamgyong province are characterized by the application of much garlic, red pepper and other seasoning materials and big shapes.