Have you Tried Korean Barbecue?

Try Some Korean Cuisine during your Visit in South Korea

What's Korean barbecue? What can we eat in Korea?

These days Korean cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of meat dishes along with vegetables. In Korea House and other Korean restaurants you often smell a special scent in the air – that’s sesame oil. Korean cuisine derives its flavors and tastes from combinations of sesame oil, soybean paste, soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger and, most importantly, fresh chili pepper.

Traditional Korean barbecue is very similar to the Thai barbecue in which you are provided with the raw meat, and in the center of the table there is a bowl in the table with hot coals, a chimney coming from the ceiling above and a convex shaped grill over the coals. They usually serve barbecue flavored kitchen cooked duck and given several bowls of what appears to be multiple types of lettuce leaves. Vegetables are widely used in the meat and fish dishes throughout Korean cuisine. In addition there are more bowls than you can count of various toppings such as bean paste, chili paste, roasted garlic, sesame and more.

Koreans love to have several side dishes, called “banchans”. Typical Korean meals are actually named for the number of side dishes that accompany the rice, soup, and as well as a supply of Kimchi, Actually Kimchi is good for your health, moreover, people cannot forget its memorable taste, and baked sweet and white potatoes.

Thus, to eat this meal, you take a lettuce leave, a different kind of lettuce leaf or some other leaf that is available, place a piece of cooked duck or meat in the middle and add whatever toppings you choose, wrap it and eat it in one bite, and repeat with different toppings and arrangements.

Here are some popular dishes from usual Korean barbecue menus:

Bulgogi (불고기): A very popular Korean meat dish. In Korea House it’s described as “thin sliced beef in sweet marinade”. Bulgogi is generally called Korean barbeque. It is marinated in a sauce made with soy sauce, garlic, sugar, sesame oil and other seasonings, and cooked over a fire in front of the table.

Galbi (갈비): Usually pork or beef ribs, cooked on a metal plate over charcoal in the center of the table. Sliced thicker than bulgogi, visitors often call galbi 'Korean BBQ.' Served seasoned or unseasoned. A variation using seasoned chicken is called “Dakgalbi”.

Samgyeopsal (삼겹살): Unseasoned pork bacon cut from the belly, served in the same fashion as galbi. Sometimes cooked on a grill with kimchee troughs at either side. Commonly grilled with garlic and onions, dipped in ssamjjang and wrapped in lettuce leaves.

One important thing is that Korean cuisine is overall healthy. Generally, the Korean diet uses alot grains and vegetables which add fiber and protein from both the vegetables and meats. Korean food is also moderate calories and low fat.

Hungry yet? Enjoy your food !!!