Korean cuisine continues to grow more and more popular. Complex, and unique, there is simply nothing like it anywhere in the world. If you plan to visit its capital city of Seoul, or simply learn about the culture through its cuisine, here are five dishes to get you started.
Samgyeopsal - this is pork belly that you'll grill on the table. Usually served with vegetables, rice, ssamjang (spicy Korean paste), or perilla leaves lettuce (which you'll use to wrap the meat.
Gogigui (Korean barbecue) - composed of meat (like pork, beef, or chicken), this dish is something that you cook on a gas or charcoal grill. It's served with side dishes (banchan) like kimchi, cucumber, and other vegetables, and ssamjang.
Samgyetang - if you're looking for something healthy, this one's for you. Samgyetang is Korean ginseng chicken, a hot soup stuffed with ingredients like ginseng, jujube, and garlic that is usually consumed during summer-Koreans consume this hot dish on scorching days, as it energizes them.
Bibimbap - this is a hot rice bowl that has toppings like beef, seasoned vegetables, egg and gochujang (another staple paste in Korean food). Everything is mixed together before consumption.
Chimaek - also known as "chicken and beer" (chicken and maekju/beer) this is a Korean food trend that's getting a lot of attention worldwide. This is basically Korean chicken (fried, roasted, boneless, grilled) served with cold beer-a perfect pair for dinner or a nightcap.
Bingsu - this is one of the most popular desserts in the country, and is slowly making its way to restaurants all over the world. Patbingsu, or bingsu, is shaved ice topped with fruit, azuki beans, syrup, and condensed milk. This sweet dish is continually evolving with restaurants adding more toppings, and having variations like green tea or coffee.
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