# What Korean dishes should I try? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927 "2013-06-26T00:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/1 "2013-06-26T00:02:42Z")
Somehow I managed to (unintentionally) avoid much exposure to Korean food until I moved to the DC area a few years ago. Now, with more than a dozen great Korean restaurants nearby in Annandale, I can’t get enough. I’ve still only tried a few dishes, though- Bulgogi beef is great, spicy pork is my favorite so far, and the seafood pancake my favorite starter. What else should I try that most Korean restaurants will have? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/2 "2013-06-26T00:05:56Z")
My two faves after pork bulgogi are: Kalbi (+20million if they’ve cut the short rib into cross section slices, mmmm) Jap chae My husband’s fave is Ok Dol Bibimbab - the stone bowl is very important ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/3 "2013-06-26T00:06:03Z")
Kimchi. Good kimchi is transcendent. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/4 "2013-06-26T00:19:24Z")
Just one: summer kimchi cabbage to go with your beer. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/5 "2013-06-26T00:54:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Kimchi. Good kimchi is transcendent. And kimchi fried rice is amazing. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/6 "2013-06-26T01:10:09Z")
I don’t go to restaurants but I do go to a local Korean market around here. I like the spicy garlic stems and those spicy sesame seed leaves. I’ve eaten a bunch of other stuff that I liked to but I have no idea what it as as the guy behind the counter doesn’t speak English. I just have to point at what ever it is I want and say “Gimme that!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/7 "2013-06-26T02:04:46Z")
I love soon dobu, or soft tofu soup. It’s a spicy soup laden with soft clumps of silky tofu, bits of meat and veg. It’s served in a red-hot stone pot, still actively boiling and simmering as it’s set down. You crack an egg into the soup and let it poach, and maybe spoon some rice into it as well. On a cold day or if you have a head cold, there’s nothing better. And with every meal, there are those awesome “side dishes”, or ban chan. Assorted pickles and salads and tidbits, all you can eat. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/8 "2013-06-26T02:10:44Z")
Bi Bim Bap ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/9 "2013-06-26T02:12:18Z")
ANything with [gochujang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gochujang) It’s so good. [This recipe](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Korean-Spicy-Chicken-and-Potato-Tak-Toritang/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=korean%20chicken&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page) is criminally easy if you feel like cooking at home. I really like [Bibimbap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap). Our nearby Korean place serves everything with a variety of kimchi and pickle. So good. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/10 "2013-06-26T02:13:42Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > And kimchi fried rice is amazing. Kimchi jjigae is one of my most favorite soups/stews in the world. If you like hot & sour types of soup, this is for you. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/11 "2013-06-26T02:19:25Z")
I really like the bean sprouts in white soy sauce appetizer. And a little ball of rice with a smear of black bean paste and a thin slice of garlic wrapped in a napa leaf. With short rib right off the grill. Sunny side up egg on a fresh bowl of ramin. With fresh cut scallions. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/12 "2013-06-26T02:21:20Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > Bi Bim Bap Dolsot Bibimbap. So good. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/13 "2013-06-26T12:53:06Z")
I usually go for bibimbap, bulgogi, galbi or some kind of non-spicy soup (with dumplings or [rice cake slices](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tteok)). Of course, [Korean barbecue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_barbecue) is fun and tasty, too. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/14 "2013-06-26T13:09:24Z")
Just to throw out something different [bibim naengmyeon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naengmyeon) is awesome especially if you can convince them to serve it Korean spicy. Two other things that I miss are [dried cuttle fish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_shredded_squid) and [Chapssaltteok](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapssaltteok). But those are more home snack foods and not restaurant things. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/15 "2013-06-26T21:21:02Z")
I’m not a Korean food expert by any means, but I used to live in Annandale and I miss the range of restaurants! I would second the stone bowl (dolsot) bibimbap, or the mul naengmyeon (noodles in cold soup, which is very refreshing). Go to [Honey Pig](http://www.eathoneypig.com/), if you haven’t been already, and get any of their pork belly-- ask for sesame oil and salt to dip into. Omnomnom. Or just order a bunch of meat and side dishes; it’s hard to go wrong there. [Yechon](http://www.yelp.com/biz/yechon-annandale) is good too, and open 24 hours, in case you are craving anything at 3 AM. Also, if you can find a market selling [hotteok](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotteok)in the winter, go for it-- just make sure you don’t remove several layers of skin with the lava-like filling, although some would claim that’s an essential part of the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/16 "2013-06-26T22:25:30Z")
[Sam Gyup Sal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samgyupsal) [Dak Kalbi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dak_galbi) Man I miss the food in Seoul… ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/17 "2013-06-29T02:23:42Z")
Bulgogi and Kalbi were my favorites the only time I tried Korean Barbecue, but the pickled aloe was surprisingly good too, even though it looked like alien food. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/18 "2013-06-29T03:52:39Z")
Miyeok guk, which is basically a seaweed soup, is great. However, don’t buy instant or cheap stuff; it’s terrible. Find a recipe, get the seaweed and make it yourself. [Miyeok Guk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyeok_guk) ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/19 "2013-06-29T09:26:25Z")
I’ve learned to always ask what’s in the kimchi. I’m allergic to seafood, but can tolerate a small amount. Some kimchi have none while another had octopus as an ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927/20 "2013-06-29T12:30:48Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I usually go for bibimbap, bulgogi, galbi or some kind of non-spicy soup (with dumplings or [rice cake slices](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tteok)). > > Of course, [Korean barbecue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_barbecue) is fun and tasty, too. For those that don’t know, bulgogi and galbi are end results of Korean barbecue. I assume you’re referring to Korean barbecue as the experience in a restaurant rather than the actual barbecued meat which is included in other dishes like bibimbap. For anyone wanting a good bibimbap in DC, I suggest [Seoul Food](http://seoulfooddc.com/). Yes, it’s a food truck but it’s very good. Some of their food is more like Korean fusion. I’ve had their Korean chili dogs and some other non-standard offerings, but I think the bibimbap is their best. The superbowl is also good. They just opened a brick-and-mortar take-out near Wheaton Metro, so I’m not sure if the food truck will still be operating as normal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-korean-dishes-should-i-try/661927.md?page=2)