When anyone is to be served with traditional Korean cuisine for the first time, there is always a sense of excitement and anticipation. A whole new world of cuisine is opened up, as well as simply spicy, savoury, and sweet food. A Korean restaurant is quite similar to travelling to Korea in terms of trying out the food. Like every country, there is a unique Korean cuisine. Read on to learn what you should expect when you first set foot in a Korean restaurant and how you can get the best experience.
Setting the Scene
The Korean Dining Experience
A Korean restaurant is quite different from what you expect when eating out. People are friendly and sociable and communicate a lot with friends, relatives and even with strangers when eating. At a time, people may dine at a table, and they may have plates to get food from the kitchen, making eating a social activity.
Traditional vs. Contemporary
Korean restaurants vary from that which involves having dined at a table which is surrounded by floor seats as the traditional Korean-style restaurants to more advanced restaurants that come with ordinary seated chairs and tables. Do not fret all Korean restaurants in today’s societies are established to accommodate foreigners and hence, less formal.
Exploring the Menu
Understanding the Layout
To the ordinary person, a Korean menu may look somewhat intimidating because most of the names and descriptions are in Korean. However, most menus are organized in a way that highlights the different types of dishes offered: interior and snacker foods and relishes, soups and savoury stews, barbecued and fried foods, rice and incorporated foods, and confectionery foods.
Appetizers
You can begin with starters.
Some popular ones to try include:
- Pajeon is a pancake that is made of seafood and scallions.
- Haemul Pajeon is yet another special dish prepared from various seafood and pancakes.
- Banchan (side dishes which accompany every dinner table),
Soups and Stews
The soups and stews in Korea are must-try meals.
Some of the popular ones are:
- Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew with vegetables and meat)
- Galbi-jjim (short ribs which have been braised using a spicy sauce)
- Samgyetang, which is ginseng chicken soup. This type of food entails a combination of chicken and ginseng soup, sometimes known as samgyetang.
Grilled and Fried Dishes
Korean food is well known for barbecue and deep fry.
You can indulge in these with:
- Gauntlet of protein dishes: Galbi (marinated short ribs)
- Dwaeji-gui or Korean-style grilled pork
- Fried chicken
Rice Dishes
A staple in every single Korean meal is rice.
Popular rice dishes include:
- Bibimbap (a rice bowl with vegetables and meat thrown together)
- Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles)
- Tteokbokki is known as a spicy stir-fried rice cake.
Desserts
It is always good to end with something that sweet.
Some popular Korean desserts include:
- Patbingsu (Korean cold wheat noodle soup)
- Tteokppang (sweet rice cake filled with sweet red beans)
- Types of food include – Bungeoppang (Fish shaped pastry with sweet red bean paste)
First-timer etiquette and dos and don’ts
Dealing with Spiciness
The spiciness is also part of Korean food a lot of the time. It shouldn’t come off as a shock if you’re not familiar with it; all you have to do is inform your server, and he or she will steer you in the right direction toward food that won’t burn your tongue.
Sharing Dishes
Many Koreans love to share food as a tradition of eating. When you are eating, do not be shocked if various rice bowls are swapped around the table and served to everyone, indicating togetherness.
Etiquette
Plus, as with any dining experience, there are a few basic rules for dining etiquette to follow. Firstly, do not rest the chopsticks in a bowl with the two ends placed over each other since it means death. Second, attempt to eat rice or noodles with both hands. Thirdly, after you have eaten, it is an excellent custom to say ‘Kamsahamnida’ ( thank you).
Paying the Bill
When dining in Korea, the opportunity to pay the bill is reserved for the oldest member of the Group or the most senior. Therefore, learn to let them pay the check and if it is a business meeting or a formal dinner, which usually all splits the check.
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