As I have mentioned in a previous post, you will most likely attend a 2 week Orientation. During this time, you will be served Korean food 3 times a day. For those of us who have never experienced this diet, it can be a bit of a shock.
Added to this, the food served is not fantastic-more like school cafeteria fare and therefore is not an indication of the food available at restaurants around the country. So do not be disheartened. The food in Korea is actually for the most part fantastic.
When eating at lunch at school, or dinner out your main meal is always accompanied by a variety of side-dishes or Banchan ( 반찬) and is included in the cost of your meal.
If you are not a fan of spicy food, you will find eating Korean Food quite difficult in the beginning. However, your taste buds and heat threshold soon adapt.
Lastly, in Korea unlike in the West, tipping is not required. Generally, eating out is pretty reasonable in terms of cost. Most of these dishes range on average from 5,000 -15,000 won.
Here are some of the main dishes and beverages you can expect to eat and drink once you are here (some with photo examples):
1. 불고기 (Bulgogi)-Beef Barbecue
2.김치 (Kimchi)- Fermented Cabbage
3.갈비 (Galbi)-Pork
4.삼겹살 (Samgyeopsal)-Grilled side of Pork
5.삼계탕 (Samgyetang) –Ginseng Chicken dish
6.냉면 (Naengmyeon)-Cold noodles in soup
7.칼국수 (kalguksu)-Handmade noodles
8.잡채 (japchae)-Mixed Vegetables with Noodles
9.비빔밥 (Bibimbap)-Mixed vegetables on rice
10. 김밥 (Gimbap) –rice wrapped in seaweed
11. 김치찌개 (kimchi-jjiggae)-Kimchi stew
12. 만두 (Mandu)-Dumpling
13. 돈까스 (donkkaseu)- Pork Cutlet
14. 자장면 (jajangmyeon)-stir-fried noodles with Chinese bean sauce
15. 탕수육 (tangsuyuk) –Sweet and Sour Chicken
16. 샤브샤브 (Shabu – Shabu)-Meat and Veg Fondue
17. 장어구이 (jangeo-gui)-broiled eel
18. 파전 (pajeon)-pancake
19. 소주 (Soju)-Distilled liquor
20. 맥주 (maekju)-Beer AND 막걸리 (makkoli) –Rice Wine
