MUST TRY THIS FOOD IN SEOUL

GRC - While Korea has been known for kimchi and Korean BBQ, there’s a whole other delicious Korean food waiting to be discovered. That’s why when I finally came to visit Seoul, it was like a total blast; I kept getting surprised of ‘accidental food discovery’. Now I can say that South Korea is so much more than kimchi!

Here’s a list of Korean dishes that will bring pleasure to your taste buds.

1. Bibimbap

This dish is number one on my list because it’s my absolute favorite! Bibimbap is a large bowl of rice topped with an array of individually prepared vegetables and beef, and served with seasoned red chili pepper paste (gochujang). Everything should be mixed together before eating. This dish is normally served in a sizzling hot stone bowl (dolsot). The hot stone bowl gives the bottom layer of rice a nice golden crust, and the rest of the food sizzles while being mixed.

Cost: 4,000 – 7,000 won per person

2. Jeonbokjuk – Abalone porridge

Jeonbokjuk is a variety of juk, or Korean porridge, made with abalone and white rice. It is known not only a delicacy but also as a nutritional supplement and digestive aid, especially for ill patients or elderly people. I have never been much of an abalone lover but these were so good, I think I can never look at abalones the same way as I did before. In addition, abalones are also known as “ginseng” of the sea, which means its pack with nutritional value.

Cost: 9,500 won per serving

3. Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)

Samgyetang literally means “ginseng chicken soup”. It is made from a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice and boiled in a broth of Korean ginseng, dried seeded jujube fruits, garlic, ginger and various herbs and condiments. The broth is rich with the slight bitterness of ginseng and medicinal herbs. This soup is believed to prevent illness and said to replenish the lost internal heat in the body, giving an energy boost.

At restaurants, the whole chicken is served uncut as one serving, but it can easily be two servings. The soup is usually not seasoned while being cooked. It’s served with salt and pepper on the side, so each person can season the broth to taste and use the remainder to dip the meat in. If you’re trying it for the first time, samgyetang will be nothing like any other chicken soup you’ve had before.

Cost: 15,000 won per person