Food & Phrases

peppers Okay, I think this is where I give you some useful info that you probably didn't think you needed. First is food, because it's tough to concentrate on an empty stomach. Further down you will see a list of some handy phrases, or you can simply click the link for either.

Ahhhhh, Korean food. This could very well be part of the "Why go" section of the site. One could easily argue that it's worth a trip to the east just to spend several days eating in Korea. THE FOOD IN KOREA IS FABULOUS. I enjoy asian cuisine of all kinds but Korean food truly sets itself apart. Korea has one of, if not the most distict menus in all of Asia.

Unfortunately, when you arrive in Korea there's a good chance EVERYTHING will be hard for you to understand. This is definitely the case with food. Although I had tried korean food in my hometown, I really had no idea what it was called in Korean. Unless you are in a foreigner friendly place (hotel, major chain, etc.), there won't be any English on the menu.

Don't plan on learning to read Korean before going? 99% of teachers don't either. You'll be fine. However, wouldn't it be nice to know a few things to order instead of going to McDonald's for the first month you are there?

Provided below is a very brief description of some traditional dishes widely available in the land of KIA, Hyundai, and Samsung.

Food

Once again I must state that this is by no means an all-inclusive list. These are simply a few suggestions to get you started.

	Bibimbap - pronounced "bee-bim-bop" is a healthy dose of veggies, seaweed, a hot pepper paste on rice. You mix the ingredints and enjoy. Tasty and cheap.
Dwenjan Jigae - "dwen-jahn-jee-gay" delicious stew made from bean paste. Served on a boiling "hot-pot." Jigae is korean for stew, so you can bet they have more than one flavor of it.
	Samgyup sal - "Sam-gyup-sall" very tasty but not the most heart healthy choice on the menu. It's pretty much thick slabs of bacon that you grill yourself and eat. Best with soju and beer.
Galbi - Korean BBQ at it's best. Beef or pork rib meat marinated and cooked to perfection (hopefully) by you. As with many Korean meals, you cook the food at your table.

Wrap it up - when eating galbi or samgyup sal, it is common to make little bite-size wraps. Tricky at first, wonderful once perfected.
Shabu Shabu - "shah-boo-shah-boo" is actually a Japanese meal, the Koreans have perfected it. korean style shabu shabu starts with a sort of meat fondue, and finishes with a hearty stew. You cook it all at your table of course.


Dong Dong Ju - This wonderfully concocted milky bevarage was dubbed the "porrige of joy" by someone I know. It's traditionally made by monks and although it's cheap, it packs a punch.