Joanna James
Korean food has become a popular staple all across the globe, because of its delicious taste and healthiness. So it must stand to reason that the food from the place of origin is leagues above any found elsewhere in the world! From the streets of Seoul to the restaurants of the same, here's your chance to discover the palate of Korea through its fine cuisine.
You might have heard of this dish before - and no wonder, as it is over 2000 years old. Dating back to Korea's Shilla Dynasty, the kimchi dish consists of various greens - Korean cabbage, radish, pumpkin, onion and salted seafood, which is left to ferment. The dish is popular enough in its home country to have over 200 variations and is considered a base for many compounded dishes, such as Kimchi stew.
This filling, nutritious, and altogether healthy dish is another widely popular item that is available almost everywhere, from markets to food courts and even in a Myeongdong hotel in Seoul. Made of warm rice topped with mixed veggies, and your choice of beef or chicken, the dish itself varies depending on the region you decide to eat it in. There is also a variant of this called hoedoepbap, which replaces the meat within with fresh seafood ingredients instead.
This absolutely mouthwatering dish is one of Korea's undefeated favourites. A portion of street food made of boiled rice cake, seafood, salt, sugar and other assorted veggies, the ingredients are stirred and sauced with a bright-red chilli paste and powder, giving it an irresistible shade of colour. The snack itself can be found in many independent street vendors or bars that are found in many places in the city.
Consisting of deliciously thin slices of marinated beef, the bulgogi dish is cooked alongside sliced onion and green peppers, resulting in a smoky and savoury flavour like no other. Before the actual grilling, the meat itself is marinated in a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, and various herbs and seasonings. The final dish is topped off with a few leafy greens as well as a spicy paste, and kimchi for a splash of variety to the actual dish.
This dish is popular enough that it's got a multitude of varieties in Seoul city itself. Jjigae is a Korean stew containing meat, seafood, and veggies in a hot pepper broth with fermented soybean paste, and salted fermented shrimp. Usually served as a palate cleanser in between courses, this dish also has a variant that incorporates bacon and sausages for a slightly heavier stew than normal, and can be found in any hotel such as the Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro.
Jajangmyeon noodles are a Korean-Chinese fusion dish, made from thick, handmade wheat noodles, topped with fresh cucumber and sauced with deep black soybean paste. This meal is quite hearty and filling, and when paired with a protein like diced pork and veggies, it can be quite an affordable way to quash your hunger.
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