Korean Food 101
What Is Hanwoo Beef, and Is It Really Worth the Price?
There is a moment that happens on almost every beef tour I lead. Someone looks down at a beautifully marbled steak and says, “So… this is basically Korean Wagyu, right?” I get why they ask. Hanwoo and Wagyu occupy similar spots in their respective countries. Both command astonishing prices. Both get treated as national treasures.…
9 Best Korean Chicken Joints
My rule of thumb is this. To tell a good chicken place, look at the people inside. If it’s full of beautiful young women taking selfies, likely isn’t good chicken. If it’s full of middle-aged men who look like life has kicked them in the teeth–GREAT CHICKEN!
Why Your Galbi Experience Might Be a Lie (Unless You’re Doing it Like This)
Most people think they’ve eaten galbi because they sat at a grill, flipped something shiny, wrapped it in lettuce, and left smelling like smoke. That assumption is common, understandable, and usually wrong. Seoul has no shortage of BBQ restaurants that look convincing. Wood-paneled walls. Stainless exhaust pipes. A server with scissors moving quickly from table…
Samgyeopsal Day: The Most Delicious Marketing Ploy You Never Knew You Needed
Move over Valentine’s Day; there’s a new Hallmark holiday in town—only instead of candy hearts, we get sizzling strips of pork belly. March 3rd is Samgyeopsal Day in South Korea, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: an entire day dedicated to grilling fatty pork in all its glistening glory. If you’re surprised this…
3 Korean Diet Foods To Help You Lose Weight
Discover 3 healthy Korean diet foods—Tofu Steak, Acorn Jelly, and Barley Bibimbap—that are low in calories, nutrient-rich, and great for weight loss!
Korean Christmas Drinks: Beverages That Feel Like the Holidays
Korea’s Christmas traditions may not have the same historical weight as in the West, but they’ve come a long way since the late 19th century, when missionaries introduced the holiday, even installing a Christmas tree in the palace by request of the queen. I’m not sure if any Christmas drinks were included in these early…
Why You Need This Korean Sweet Potato Recipe in Your Life
If you’ve ever tasted a bam goguma 밤고구마 (Korean chestnut sweet potato), you know they’re not your average spuds. Creamy, nutty, and naturally sweet, they’re the MVP of Korean winter snacks, often enjoyed roasted and piping hot. But what if I told you there’s a way to turn those humble sweet potatoes into something even…
The Unspoken Rule of Korean Fried Chicken Joints
There’s an unspoken rule in the world of Korean fried chicken joints that many food enthusiasts have come to recognize. It’s a rule that may seem counterintuitive to some, but it’s one that has proven to be true time and time again. The rule is simple: the worse the cabbage slaw, the better the chicken.…
Recipe: Cilantro Kimchi
If you read most Korean food blogs, they will tell you that Koreans don’t eat coriander, aka cilantro. They’ll tell you straight to your face that cilantro and Korean cuisine have never crossed paths before. As the Ask the Korean blog reported a couple of years ago: “Korea has never grown cilantro, and cilantro is…
