- 17
- Feb
We’re on a 2 week Chinese New Year break…
Life has been as noisy as you’d expect it to be during Chinese New Year… full of firecrackers and fireworks. I don’t know if I fully understood the difference in those 2 words until we lived here. Firecrackers = noisy little things that have no point other than making noise. Fireworks = noisy but pretty, the better of the two.
I came across this list today of 100 Korean Foods to Try Before You Die. Considering we don’t live in Korea, I think we’ve done pretty well so far!
This list is taken from an old post on ZenKimchi. Bold means we’ve tried it.
1. Myeolchi Bokkeum (Stir-fried Anchovies) 멸치볶음
2. Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) 삼계탕
3. Bulgogi (Grilled Marinated Beef) 불고기
4. BulDalk (Burn-your-pants-off Spicy Grilled Chicken) 불닭
5. DalkBal (Spicy Chicken Feet) 닭발
6. Korean Fried Chicken 치킨
7. Dalk Galbi (Stir-fried Marinated Chicken and Veggies) 닭갈비
8. San Nakji, chopped (Semi-live Baby Octopus) 산낙지
9. San Nakji, whole (Live Octopus)
10. Sundubu Jjigae (Soft Tofu Stew) 순두부 찌게
11. Juk (Rice Porridge) 죽
12. Galbi (Grilled Short Ribs) (소)갈비
13. Galbitang (Short Rib Soup) 갈비탕
14. Shinseollo (Fancy Hot Pot) 신선로
15. Gobchang Gui (Grilled Beef Intestines) 곱장구이
16. Seng Gan (Raw Beef Liver) 생간
17. Galbi Jjim (Stewed Ribs) 갈비찜
18. Bossam (Steamed Marinated Pork with Lettuce Wraps) 보쌈
19. Japchae (Clear Noodles Stir-fried with Pork and Vegetables) 찹재
20. Jaeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Stir-fried Pork) 재육볶음
21. Kimchi Jjim (Stewed Kimchi with Tofu)깁치찜
22. Ddong Jip (Chicken Gizzards)똥집
23. Odeng/Eomuk (Street-side Fish Noodles) 어댕/어묵
24. Hoddeok (Stuffed Street-side Pastries) 호떡
25. GeiJang (Raw Fermented Crabs) 게장
26. Hongeo (Fermented Skate) 홍어
27. Gochujang Samgyeopsal (Grilled Pork Belly Smothered in Red Pepper Paste) 고추장 삼겹살
28. Lotteria’s Shrimp Burger
29. Sae-u Kang (Shrimp Flavored “Fries”) 새우깡
30. Doenjang Jjigae (Fermented Bean Paste Stew) 됀장찌게
31. Cheonggukjang (Stinky Fermented Bean Paste Stew) 정국장 *Side Note: This smells horrifyingly bad!
32. Boshintang (Dog Soup) 보신탕
33. Seonji Haejangguk (Hangover Stew with Clotted Cow Blood) 선지 해장국
34. Ddeokbokki (Chewy Rice Cakes in Spicy Sauce) 떡볶이
35. YukHui (Raw Beef Salad) 육희
36. MiyeokGuk (Seaweed Soup) 미역국
37. Mae-eunTang (Spicy Fish Soup) 매운탕
38. Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried Baby Octopus) 낙지볶음
39. Ojingeo (Cuttlefish) (마른) 오징어
40. Beondaeggi (Silkworm Larvae) 번대기
41. Golbaenggi (Sea Snails) 골뱅이
42. Jangeo Gui (Grilled Eel) 장어구이 (I’ve had eel but not in a Korean restaurant so I can’t count this one!)
43. Jaratang (Turtle Soup) 자라탕
44. Bogeo (Blowfish) 복어
45. Sae-u Sogeum Gui (Salt Grilled Shrimp) 새우소금 구이
46. Deodeok Root 더덕
47. BindaeDdeok (Mung Bean Pancake) 빈대떡
48. Pajeon (Green Onion Pancake) 바전
49. Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables) 비빔밥
50. Boribap (Mixed Barley Rice and Vegetables) 보리밥
51. Marinated Garlic (마늘장아찌?)
52. Patbingsu (Shaved Ice and Red Bean Treat) 팥빙수
53. Dotorimok (Acorn Jelly) 도토리목
54. Naengmyeon (Chilled Noodles) 냉면
55. Makkoli/Dongdongju (Rice Beer) 막거리/ 동동주
56. Bokbunja (Raspberry Wine) 복분자
57. Soju (Rice Whiskey) 소주
58. Andong Soju (Strong Rice Whiskey from the Andong Region) 안동소주
59. Jogae Gui (Grilled Shellfish) 조개구이
60. Haepari (Jellyfish) 해바리
61. Gyeran Jjim (Steamed Egg) 계란찜
62. Corn Ice Cream
63. Dolsot Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables in a Sizzling Stone Pot) 돌솥비빔밥
64. Mandu (Stuffed Dumplings) 만두
65. Ddeokguk (Chewy Rice Cake Soup) 떡국
66. Songpyeon (Stuffed Chewy Rice Cakes) 송편
67. Hot Bar (Fried Fish Batter Street Food) 헛바
68. Shikhye (Sweet Rice Punch) 식혜 (our Korean neighbor brought this to us 2 days ago!)
69. Any product with Green Tea in it 녹차맛
70. Gujeolpan (Nine-section Dish) 구절반
71. Yogurt Soju Cocktail
72. Baechu Kimchi (Cabbage Kimchi) 배추김치
73. Any Kimchi that’s over 3 years old (I have no idea how old the kimchi I’ve eaten is! But I’ve had some that was flown over from Korea in someone’s grandma’s suitcase!)
74. Baek Kimchi (White Cabbage Kimchi) 백김치
75. Shake-’em-up Dosirak
76. Mul Kimchi (Water Kimchi) 물김치
77. Oi Sobagi (Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi) 오이소바기
78. Ggakdugi (Cubed Radish Kimchi) 깍두기
79. Sae-u Jeot (Salted Tiny Shrimp) 새우젓
80. Myeongran Jeot (Salted Pollack Roe) 명란젓
81. Changran Jeot (Salted Pollack Guts)장란젓
82. Ssamjang (Mixed Soybean and Pepper Paste) 쌈장
83. Kalguksu (Hand-cut Noodle Soup) 갈국수
84. Ramyeon (Ramen Noodles) in a Tin Pot 라면
85. Entire Hui Meal (Korean style Sashimi) 회
86. Gimbap (Seaweed Rice Rolls) 김밥
87. Jokbal (Pigs Feet) 족발
88. Sundae (Blood and Noodle Sausage) 순대
89. Yeot (Traditional Korean Candy) 엿
90. Naengi (Shepherd’s Purse) 냉이
91. Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew) 김치찌게
92. Budae Jjigae (“Army Base” Stew, traditionally including hot dogs and Spam) 부대지게
93. Agu Jjim (Stewed Monkfish) 아구찜
94. Haemultang (Seafood Soup) 해물탕
95. Nurungji (Hot Water Mixed with Rice Scrapings in a Stone Pot) 누릉지
96. Sujebi (Rustic Dumpling Soup) 수재비
97. Janchi Guksu (Thin Noodles in a Seaweed Broth with Condiments) 잔치국수
98. BungeoBbang (Goldfish-shaped Stuffed Pastry) 봉어빵
99. Raw Ginseng or anything with Ginseng in it 인삼
100. MakHui (Chilled Sashimi Soup) 막희
Not too shabby! 50 even!! Keith has 1 less than me (49)… he hasn’t had fancy Korean hot pot. I guess I know where to take him for our next date ;).
Side Note Again: We have had chicken feet, just not Korean spicy chicken feet. Actually, in Hong Kong over Christmas, Keith was getting some dim sum for us and was walking around pointing at dishes he wanted to try (completely appropriate at dim sum). He was expecting something other than chicken feet- I don’t know what. They were not the tastiest or easiest to eat neatly. But not horrible. I’m game to try some spicy Korean ones now. I’m not sure about the raw beef liver though.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
You’ve never had dduk guk? Oooh. Must recitfy that as soon as possible.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:17 am
My comments are not in judgment, but merely curiosity. Dog Soup was a bit of a shock to see, but then again, I’m a vegetarian, so Clotted Cow Blood Stew and Live Octopus aren’t any more appetizing. I have heard people say that dogs are eaten in Korea, but it was always in the context of a put-down by an ignorant person, so I assumed it wasn’t true. Needless to say, I know next to nothing about Korea. Anyway….Are the “food” dogs farmed like cows and pigs? Can you buy dog meat in the grocery? Do they know that eating dog in the West is considered taboo? For example, it is so common in the West to eat beef that when I first learned that cows are not eaten in India, it was a complete shock. I do not think Indians are weird because they don’t eat beef, I just see it as an interesting cultural difference. I would love to know how my revulsion about dog eating is viewed over there. Also, do Korean families keep pets? If so, are dogs included?
February 18th, 2010 at 7:40 am
There is this wonderful little hole in the wall place up in East Lansing across from the Michigan State campus that has been there for years and years that has my fav-bimimbab vegetarian. I get it served in a hot stone bowl so the rice gets all crispy on the bottom. Half the menu is vegetarian, so I have lots of choices but I always get the same thing these days. I also love their kimchee. 4 different flavors, and we top it off with potstickers dipped in sesame oil. Okay, now I am hungry.
Funny looking at the above comment, when my hubby was in Korea, he always went to Amercan style eateries. He isnt vegetarian but I serve no animal flesh at home, so he knows he has to get his beef elsewhere. He would probably eat anything served at Wendy’s or McDonalds but at the Korean place we visit, he always gets fried rice- with no spice.
Now I have some marinated garlic in my pantry. What to eat with it as I am home alone and no one will yell at me for being stinky!
Happy New Year!