In the spirit of the Omnivore’s 100, Joe at ZenKimchi has put together the 100 Korean Foods You Gotta Try.
So, of course after two years here, I wanted to see how I would stack up. As with the original 100, the deal is that you copy the list to your blog, highlight or underline the foods that you’ve tried and put a link in the comments of the original post.
I’ve added my two cents on a few things, just for kicks. Here goes:
1. Myeolchi Bokkeum (Stir-fried Anchovies)
2. Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) - so delicious! But I can’t understand how people eat it when it’s boiling hot (and also on the hottest days of the year) I have to let it cool off to a gentle simmer first and by then everyone else has finished.
3. Bulgogi (Grilled Marinated Beef)
4. BulDalk (Burn-your-pants-off Spicy Grilled Chicken)
5. DalkBal (Spicy Chicken Feet)
6. Korean Fried Chicken - addictive, and I truly prefer this to the commercial fried chicken American style. The Korean version is very crispy and not very greasy. It’s magic!
7. Dalk Galbi (Stir-fried Marinated Chicken and Veggies) - Yum!! And the flavoring with honey and perilla (sesame) leaves gives it a very unique flavor compared to other Korean dishes.
8. San Nakji, chopped (Semi-live Baby Octopus) - only if I were starving.
9. San Nakji, whole (Live Octopus)
10. Sundubu Jjigae (Soft Tofu Stew) - one of my favorite Korean foods.
11. Juk (Rice Porridge) - I was surprised to find that I liked this the first time I tried it. I especially like the hobak (winter squash) juk.
12. Galbi (Grilled Short Ribs)
13. Galbitang (Short Rib Soup)
14. Shinseollo (Fancy Hot Pot)
15. Gobchang Gui (Grilled Beef Intestines)
16. Seng Gan (Raw Beef Liver)
17. Galbi Jjim (Stewed Ribs)
18. Bossam (Steamed Marinated Pork with Lettuce Wraps)
19. Japchae (Clear Noodles Stir-fried with Pork and Vegetables)
20. Jaeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Stir-fried Pork)
21. Kimchi Jjim (Stewed Kimchi with Tofu)
22. Ddong Jip (Chicken Gizzards)
23. Odeng/Eomuk (Street-side Fish Noodles)
24. Hoddeok (Stuffed Street-side Pastries)
25. GeiJang (Raw Fermented Crabs)
26. Hongeo (Fermented Skate)
27. Gochujang Samgyeopsal (Grilled Pork Belly Smothered in Red Pepper Paste)
28. Lotteria’s Shrimp Burger - meh. but I can’t think of anything else on the Lotteria menu that would be particularly Korean.
29. Sae-u Kang (Shrimp Flavored “Fries”)
30. Doenjang Jjigae (Fermented Bean Paste Stew)
31. Cheonggukjang (Stinky Fermented Bean Paste Stew)
32. Boshintang (Dog Soup)
33. Seonji Haejangguk (Hangover Stew with Clotted Cow Blood)
34. Ddeokbokki (Chewy Rice Cakes in Spicy Sauce)
35. YukHui (Raw Beef Salad)
36. MiyeokGuk (Seaweed Soup) - I did eat this for days after Susana was born, and it’s true that I found it very nourishing and easy to eat. Because I was fortunate enough to have a friend who made it with good beef and homemade soy sauce, it was also incredibly delicious.
37. Mae-eunTang (Spicy Fish Soup)
38. Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried Baby Octopus) - this is good. As long as the ‘nakji’ is no longer ’san’ I’m good.
39. Ojingeo (Dried Cuttlefish) - great drinking snack and surprisingly very tasty.
40. Beondaeggi (Silkworm Larvae)
41. Golbaenggi (Sea Snails)
42. Jangeo Gui (Grilled Eel)
43. Jaratang (Turtle Soup)
44. Bogeo (Blowfish)
45. Sae-u Sogeum Gui (Salt Grilled Shrimp)
46. Deodeok Root
47. BindaeDdeok (Mung Bean Pancake)
48. Pajeon (Green Onion Pancake)
49. Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables)
50. Boribap (Mixed Barley Rice and Vegetables)
51. Marinated Garlic
52. Patbingsu (Shaved Ice and Red Bean Treat)
53. Dotorimok (Acorn Jelly)
54. Naengmyeon (Chilled Noodles) - when we first moved here, I couldn’t stand this, especially mul naengmyeon. Now, I am addicted to it in the summer, although, of course, it’s traditionally a winter food.
55. Makkoli/Dongdongju (Rice Beer)
56. Bokbunja (Raspberry Wine)
57. Soju (Rice Whiskey)
58. Andong Soju (Strong Rice Whiskey from the Andong Region) - definitely the good stuff.
59. Jogae Gui (Grilled Shellfish)
60. Haepari (Jellyfish)
61. Gyeran Jjim (Steamed Egg) - long-time favorite. If you like an omelet you will like this.
62. Corn Ice Cream
63. Dolsot Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables in a Sizzling Stone Pot)
64. Mandu (Stuffed Dumplings)
65. Ddeokguk (Chewy Rice Cake Soup)
66. Songpyeon (Stuffed Chewy Rice Cakes)
67. Hot Bar (Fried Fish Batter Street Food)
68. Shikhye (Sweet Rice Punch)
69. Any product with Green Tea in it - this could be its own list, how many products have you tried with green tea in them. I can count about 10, I think.
70. Gujeolpan (Nine-section Dish)
71. Yogurt Soju Cocktail
72. Baechu Kimchi (Cabbage Kimchi)
73. Any Kimchi that’s over 3 years old
74. Baek Kimchi (White Cabbage Kimchi)
75. Shake-’em-up Dosirak
76. Mul Kimchi (Water Kimchi)
77. Oi Sobagi (Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi)
78. Ggakdugi (Cubed Radish Kimchi)
79. Sae-u Jeot (Salted Tiny Shrimp)
80. Myeongran Jeot (Salted Pollack Roe)
81. Changran Jeot (Salted Pollack Guts)
82. Ssamjang (Mixed Soybean and Pepper Paste)
83. Kalguksu (Hand-cut Noodle Soup)
84. Ramyeon (Ramen Noodles) in a Tin Pot
85. Entire Hui Meal (Korean style Sashimi)
86. Gimbap (Seaweed Rice Rolls)
87. Jokbal (Pigs Feet)
88. Sundae (Blood and Noodle Sausage)
89. Yeot (Traditional Korean Candy)
90. Naengi (Shepherd’s Purse)
91. Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)
92. Budae Jjigae (“Army Base” Stew, traditionally including hot dogs and Spam) - for me, this is the opposite of my experience with naengmyeon. I cannot for the life of me understand what people like about this. It just tastes like ramen with added hot dogs and spam to me.
93. Agu Jjim (Stewed Monkfish)
94. Haemultang (Seafood Soup) - the best way to have this is to eat it at a small seaside place on the southeast coast, preferably after a long day at the beach. The day we did this will probably end up being among the 10 best meals of my life, maybe in the top five. Amazing.
95. Nurungji (Hot Water Mixed with Rice Scrapings in a Stone Pot)
96. Sujebi (Rustic Dumpling Soup)
97. Janchi Guksu (Thin Noodles in a Seaweed Broth with Condiments)
98. BungeoBbang (Goldfish-shaped Stuffed Pastry)
99. Raw Ginseng or anything with Ginseng in it
100. MakHui (Chilled Sashimi Soup)
Hmm. My total is 66. Not bad. By the time we move, maybe I’ll have gotten around to most of these (minus the live octopus, dead cow intestines and that fermented skate, though).
