# Side dish for Korean-style short ribs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 12, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959 "2023-09-12T00:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/1 "2023-09-12T00:35:34Z")
**No rice!** If I eat rice, I gain two pounds overnight. Really. So I have some Korean-style short ribs. What should we have with them? I have an idea of something with bok choy, but I don’t know what. I’m thinking a nice vegetable side of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/2 "2023-09-12T00:44:44Z")
Something bright and acidic like a spicy cucumber salad. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/3 "2023-09-12T00:48:40Z")
If it’s not too labor-intensive, perhaps a spread of banchan might be in order? The Korean restaurants in my town usually serve their meals with a bunch of small plates of things like kimchi, beansprouts, marinated bamboo, and so on. > **[Banchan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banchan)** > > Soups & stews > Banchan > Tteok ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/4 "2023-09-12T00:50:06Z")
Kimchi or an Asian slaw Really though with Korean ribs there’s no need to keep the whole dish Asian. Any of your traditional BBQ sides will work. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/5 "2023-09-12T00:54:36Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Kimchi or an Asian slaw Kimchi literally goes (and in fact, went) without saying. I’ll have to look into the slaw. But if we have kimchi, then I don’t know if I’d want that too. Still leaning toward some sort of cooked vegetable dish. [NB: The Spousal Unit usually has trouble with bell peppers.] I was thinking of somehow cooking bok choy, cabbage, a little onion, and… [?] together. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/6 "2023-09-12T04:06:15Z")
Corn niblets! Bonus points if you put melted cheese and mayonnaise on top. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/7 "2023-09-12T13:42:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > spicy cucumber salad. Great minds think alike. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/8 "2023-09-12T14:15:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Kimchi literally goes (and in fact, went) without saying. > […] > Still leaning toward some sort of cooked vegetable dish. What about cooked kimchi - like kimchi-jeon (fritters) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/9 "2023-09-12T14:17:20Z")
> **[Spicy cucumber salad side dish](https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/oi-muchim)** > > I'm going to share a super simple recipe with you today that's one of my all time favorites. It's a spicy Korean cucumber salad side dish called oi-muchim. If you have a nice seedless English cucumber, you can make this delicious banchan in just a... ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/10 "2023-09-12T14:20:28Z")
Aren’t Korean style short ribs already spicy? Aren’t they cooked with hot gochujang sauce? I’d think a cooling cucumber, sour cream, and dill side dish would be a better fit. , Sauteed squash or zucchini would be good, still a lot of that around! ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/11 "2023-09-12T15:35:43Z")
How about traditional sides? I frequent a local Korean place for Bulgogi, Bibimbap, and Yukaejang etc. With every meal they serve side dishes of marinated bean sprouts, daikon salad, fried tofu and of course kimchi. These are all fantastic and delish and I often order extras. My google fu is weak but it is my understanding there is a whole range of these little appetizers. I have made the bean sprouts and daikon salad at home and I will also do the tofu but just raw with soy, sesame oil and chilli paste of choice. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/12 "2023-09-12T15:47:32Z")
It’s mentioned uptherad. Those appetizer thingies are called _banchan_. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/13 "2023-09-12T15:59:50Z")
Kimchi and rice is all you need. If you forgo rice, I’d recommend some fresh leafy greens with some spicy bean paste. > **[Ssamjang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ssamjang)** > > Soups & stews > Banchan > Tteok > Ssamjang (Korean: 쌈장) is a thick, spicy paste used with food wrapped in a leaf in Korean cuisine. The sauce is made of fermented soy beans (doenjang), red chili paste (gochujang), sesame oil, onion, garlic, green onions, and optionally brown sugar. I wouldn’t do cooked veggies with Korean food. Either fresh or pickled. > [@salinqmind1](#): > > Aren’t Korean style short ribs already spicy? No, they are usually not. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/14 "2023-09-12T16:15:41Z")
Some romaine or other leaf lettuce, an assortment of fresh herbs, especially perilla if you can find it and Ssamjang or some other spicy thick sauce. You Put some kimchi and meat in the lettuce, add some herbs on top and a dab of sauce, wrap it all up and eat it in a bite or two. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/15 "2023-09-12T16:19:48Z")
That sounds good. Might be a little finicky for my wife. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/16 "2023-09-12T18:23:34Z")
I’ve seen the thin cut short ribs on very rare occasions at a butcher shop, but, the only ones I ever had were from Trader Joe;s with the spicy Korean sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/17 "2023-09-12T18:30:59Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I’ve seen the thin cut short ribs on very rare occasions at a butcher shop, but, the only ones I ever had were from Trader Joe;s with the spicy Korean sauce.   That’s interesting. I searched the Trader Joe’s website, but couldn’t find that product. Do you have a link? Here’s the traditional Korean short rib: > **[Galbi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galbi)** > > Galbi (Korean: 갈비) or kalbi, galbi-gui (갈비구이), or grilled ribs, is a type of gui (grilled dish) in Korean cuisine. "Galbi" is the Korean word for "rib", and the dish is usually made with beef short ribs. When pork spare ribs or another meat is used instead, the dish is named accordingly. Galbi is served raw, then cooked on tabletop grills usually by the diners themselves. The dish may be marinated in a sweet and savory sauce usually containing soy sauce, garlic, and sugar. Both non-ma Traditional... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/18 "2023-09-12T19:28:49Z")
I went to Trader Joe’s to get my lunch, and opted to try these with the beef: [https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/asian-style-vegetables-with-stir-fry-sauce-044180/](https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/asian-style-vegetables-with-stir-fry-sauce-044180/) > [@Pleonast](#): > > That’s interesting. I searched the Trader Joe’s website, but couldn’t find that product. Do you have a link? I just looked too, and didn’t see them. I found this review from a couple of years ago. > **[Trader Joe's Korean Style Beef Short Ribs Review – Freezer Meal Frenzy](https://freezermealfrenzy.com/2021/04/trader-joes-korean-style-beef-short-ribs-review/)** > > The Trader Joe's Korean Style Beef Short Ribs are a pretty tasty way to enjoy Korean-style ribs, but they're certainly not perfect. Read the full review at Freezer Meal Frenzy. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/19 "2023-09-12T19:54:22Z")
I used to get short ribs from a Hawaiian restaurant (not in Hawaii, it served Hawaiian food like Kahlua pork), and they’d serve it with pasta salad on the side. (It wasn’t actual kalbi, but it was very similar.) I found the pairing to be extremely good. Of course, if _rice_ is too starchy for you, that’s definitely going to blow you up. I’d also consider something simple, like a basic salad of lettuce and an Asian-style sesame dressing. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959/20 "2023-09-12T20:50:45Z")
These were frozen in a package with spicy sauce, in the freezer case, that’s all I know. A few years ago, maybe they don’t sell them any more. Heat and serve. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-dish-for-korean-style-short-ribs/989959.md?page=2)