I haven’t mentioned much about the food in Korea. The truth is: I LOVE Korea, but I struggle with the food. It isn’t Korea’s fault. They dig lots of spicy grub, chili paste, and fish (often raw plain sliced fish.)
and I am just a girl who doesn’t dig that stuff. I’ve also never been a big meat eater which has proven to be a bit of an issue living in Korea.
When I eat something spicy my mouth feels on fire. It hurts. The smell of raw fish makes my stomach turn…and chili paste is a staple ingredient in cooking here. Oh, and the garlic. It melts off the skin of those who eat, and love it in Korea. If you have lived here awhile- you know exactly what I mean.
I so desperately wish I could love the food like my husband does. He craves Korean food. I can’t even imagine what that feels like. I’m over here like #PassTheCheesePlease and #WhereMySaladBeAt?
I love Greek food, I CRAVE Italian food, I enjoy some delicious Mexican food, and yup. I’ll admit it. I love me some classic American food. Indian food? You bet! I can’t get enough. Why, oh why, can’t I just love Korean food?
Here’s what a typical school lunch looks like in Korea. As a matter of fact this was my lunch today:
I’d like to add that there was a spicy fish soup that came on the side that I couldn’t squeeze into this picture. So there was that.
…it isn’t all bad. I have found some things in Korea that I do like, and I should also add most foreigners that I have met really love Korean food. I’ll first explain the Hodok that is pictured above, and then I will show you 5 foods that I do like in Korea!
A new discovery! It’s sorta like a flat pancake with honey/brown sugar inside.
1. Mandu:
If I had to explain… I would say it’s a cousin to the American “pot sticker.” Or maybe you call it a dumpling? Basically it’s a dough outside with meat/veggies inside. You can get all sorts of variety, but I stick to plain jane meat/veggie kind.
2. Waffles:
It’s usually sold as a “street food” or sometimes in a coffee shop. I love them.
3. Samgyetang:
It’s fresh chicken soup. With an entire mini chicken in it. It’s not spicy, and it doesn’t have garlic! The inside is stuffed with a little rice, green onions, and topped with just a bit of egg.
4. Japchae
This doesn’t have seafood, chili paste, or a lot of garlic!!! Think stir fry. It has noodles made from sweet potatoes, sliced veggies, a pinch of mushrooms, and sometimes has slices of beef. They often times season it with soy sauce and/or sugar!
5. Pajeon:
Also a pancake like texture. It is made mostly from flour, egg, and green onions. I like the one with sweet potato mixed in.
Who knows, maybe by the time we leave Korea I will be a kimchi (fermented cabbage with chili paste) loving, spicy food craving, American kinda girl?
Dang. Odds are that I probably will never love that kind of food.
– I’ll just keep trying it with a smile on my face. (While my eyeballs feel like they are popping out of their sockets, and my tongue feels on fire.)
Do you enjoy spicy food?! I am still trying to understand what it is about spicy food that people love/crave. I want to taste my food…not taste fire!!!
I’ll keep it cool over here :p
-elicia
