How to Read a Korean Restaurant Menu

Understanding the selections on a Korean restaurant menu can be a challenge, as the items are not always spelled consistently. You'll find standard dishes on most Korean restaurant menus. Here's how to know what you're ordering.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Select a main dish such as Bulgogi. Bulgogi is thinly sliced marinated beef cooked on a grill. In some Korean restaurants, the dish is prepared at your table. Another great main dish is Galbi, which is beef or pork ribs cooked over charcoal in the center of the table. Other favorites include Cheolpan gui (broiled beef, seafood and vegetables) and Dakgalbi (broiled spicy chicken and vegetables).
2. Savor a dish of Kimchi. This is the most recognized Korean dish. Some of the best Kimchi is made from Napa cabbage, although Kimchi can be made from radishes, green onion and several other vegetables. Kimchi is allowed to ferment for days or weeks depending on the strength desired. Ask for mild if you are not a fan of spicy foods, but do try this ubiquitous Korean favorite.
3. Order a soup or stew. Doenjang jjigae is a soy bean paste soup that can also be a main dish. This dish is a variety of vegetables, shellfish and tofu, and is often made using anchovies for the stock. Kimchi jjigae is a soup made of kimchi, pork and tofu.
4. Enjoy the top Korean rice dish in Bibimbap. This "mixed rice" is served with sautéed and seasoned vegetables, beef, a fried egg, and chile pepper paste (gochujang). A variety of vegetables are used in making this dish, and all the ingredients are stirred together just before eating.
5. Have a nice Korean stir fry with Jap chae. The sweet potato noodles in this are translucent when cooked properly. Jap chae is made with beef, carrots, green onion, green peppers, shiitake mushrooms and noodles.
6. Try Tteok for dessert. This Korean sweet cake is made with glutinous rice flour. There are many varieties of Tteok, such as mung bean, red bean sesame and dried fruits.