bossam

Are you always excited to try on some new food and especially korean? You must already know that korean dishes is diverse and there is so many dishes to try. If you think, that you already tried everything, this is 5 fresh “real” infamous k-foods. If you know all of them then you are already a korean foodie expert!

JJIMDAK, A delicacy of Korean chicken dishes

찜닭, Jjimdak is a dish composed of braised chicken and vegetables. Dak (닭) stands for chicken and jjim (찜) is a cooking word for “braise”.

The most famous version of Jjimdak is the one from the city of Andong. If you ever visit Andong you can find in its local market the “Jjimdak street” where lots of restaurant are proposing the most typical braised chicken.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT: Premium Jjimdak, 9 Gangnam-daero 96-gil

SUNDUBU JJIGAE, The softest tofu stew

순두부 찌개, Sundubu Jjigae is a typical korean stew made with the softest tofu on earth. Korea has 3 main “stew/jjigae” with the same base but the main ingredient is different, kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae and sundubu. Sundubu is often forgotten in most guide as you will easily get served doenjang or kimchi stew with the famous samgyeopsal. If you never try this stew, it’s time ! Why you should not miss on this stew ? The tofu texture ! It is silky soft !

Also it can be a good option for vegetarian or pesco vegetarian as most  restaurant can have this option without seafood.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT: Jaedong Sundubu, 6 Buckhon-ro 2-gil

BOSSAM, Samgyeopsal in another way

보쌈, Bossam is typical korean pork food mainly served as anju (dish accompanying alcoholic beverage). The plate will come composed of boiled pork belly/samgyeopsal thinly sliced with different side dishes like radish kimchi, garlic, ssamjang (sauce), kimchi, and vegetables to do “ssam” such as lettuce and kkaennip (sesame leaves).

As you might have guess the best way to enjoy Bossam is to do ssam, means to wrap the meat in lettuce with your favorite side dish and some ssamjang. If you love samgyeopsal, you might also really enjoy Bossam !

RECOMMEND RESTAURANT: Samhaejib, 16-15 Supyo-ro 20-gil

NAENGMYEON, Cold noodle paradise

Are you planning on visiting Korea during Summer or to stay here untill summer ? Then you have to try 냉면, Naengmyeon, who stands for “cold noodles”. This sarasin based noodles are topped with pickled and fermented vegetables and sometimes with some slice of cold meat. You can usually add to your taste some mustard or vinegar.

It might be a little bit scary to try cold noodle for the first time but it’s really refreshing!

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT: Donga Cold Noodles, 46 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu Seoul

HWEH, Korean dishes style sashimi

회, spelled “hweh” but you might also find it as “hoe” or “hui” in romanization is basically what you can call korean sashimi. The main difference with japanese sashimi is that instead of soy sauce, you will dip the raw fish in spicy sauce (korean style!). Like Bossam it is a famous anju often enjoyed during 회식 (hweshik), work dinners but instead of pork, it is raw fish, often with a chewy texture. It is also best enjoyed as ssam.

If you love fish, it is the best way to enjoy it fresh as most of the time the fish you will eat is waiting for you in front of the restaurant.

RECOMMENDED PLACE: Noryangjin Fish Market

What did you think of those 5 “real” infamous k-foods? I guess you are already craving for some of them! Please tell me which one you tried already or want to. If you have nice restaurant recommendation, share it on the comment section. We all love testing good food !