A Korean restaurant is one of the best places to visit if you want to be full and satisfied. There, you not only get to enjoy the main dish, hefty side dishes also come your way. As such, you need to bring your biggest appetite because you’d have a full day’s worth of meals.
Such an establishment has become a favorite food destination of many. But, Korean dining has intricacies that not too many know about. In this article, we uncover those. So next time, you know the Dos and Don’t. This way, you get to enjoy your dishes without feeling awkward or out of place.
The Dos
Here are some of the accepted practices when dining at an authentic Korean-themed restaurant.
Do feel free to ask for wooden chopsticks
One thing to know about these dining places is that they serve steel chopsticks. It is both for traditional and practical purposes. Koreans eat this way from an early age. Now, steel/metal chopsticks can be a little bit challenging. Food tends to slip and slide even with the best grip.
If you want to enjoy the dishes using chopsticks, ask for a wooden one. The bamboo chopsticks have a better grip so food does not slide. It’s fine. The owners and servers won’t hold it against you. After all, it’s about enjoying your food, right? So, if wooden chopsticks would give you that, don’t feel awkward asking for it.
Do eat wraps in one bite
This needs a lot of practice and getting used to. It is a practice in Korea to eat the wrap in one bite. Also, consuming it bit by bit would make the fillings drip, making a big mess! So you don’t choke on your food, you may start with smaller portions, of course.
Get the smallest lettuce (or whatever wrapping leaves are available), and don’t fill it too much. Have a feel of it to see the size fits in your mouth without any problems. When you get used to eating this way, you’d soon have bigger bites.
Do order/ask for more banchan
What is banchan anyway? These are portions of side dishes served at an authentic Korean dining place. The number of side dishes may vary. Some restaurants may give 5, while some are generous at 10. You may get served sweet potatoes, spicy anchovies, kimchi, and the list go on.
If you want to have more, ask for it. They will be happy to replenish it for you but, do remember that some restaurants may already charge you extra for it. So don’t feel weird asking for more free of charge.
Do order rice
An Asian meal will never be complete without rice. Here, you may order fried rice or the traditional steamed or white. So, don’t leave the rice out to have an authentic and traditional feel of eating. In fact, order as much as you want. Everyone is sure to appreciate your appetite for it.
Do cook your meat well
Koreans love grilled food. If you haven’t had the Samgyupsal experience, you are missing out. There, you order different pieces of meat. Then, you grill/cook them yourself. What’s nice is that it dictates the doneness of your meat. To be sure, cook it all the way through. If you are unsure, ask for help from the servers. They’d be happy to show you how the meat gets cooked the right way.
The Don’ts
Of course, the Dos won’t be complete without the Donts. Knowing these reminders prevents awkwardness and even offends Korean culture. It’s fine; there’s nothing to worry about. Keep these in mind, and you’re all set to have that memorable Korean dining experience.
Don’t pour your own drink
Alright, so this may only be applicable when you are with Koreans. For them, it is customary to let someone else pour the drink for you. This is even the case for elders or those with higher ranks in the workplace. Now, if you are with family and friends, you may skip this part.
But, it’s a good idea to imbibe the practice. It’s fun and enriching to immerse yourself in the culture. The next time you visit a K-restaurant, do what the Koreans do. Fill the drink of the person across from you and this person should return the favor. It’s interesting to do it that way.
Don’t forget to change the grill between meat dishes
This is sanitary. Also, you get to enjoy the flavor of each batch of meat dishes. Remember, the pieces have their marinade components. If you don’t change the grill, you won’t get to enjoy the food in its entirety. It will get mixed with other spices and flavorings, which mask the taste altogether.
Don’t over-flip the bbq
Some pieces get sliced thin. If you flip them too much, they might break apart and fall into the open flame. The best way to grill is to leave the meat pieces alone grilling for about two minutes. Only then can you flip them to take care of the other side. Keep an eye on them as you cook. So you don’t risk burning them, turn the heat to medium. This ensures that the meat gets cooked without burning them.
In conclusion
Dining at a Korean restaurant offers both fun and educational experience. As they say, the best way to know a culture is through its food. Since there are a lot of these food places, it gives us a chance to get to know Korea. It’s amazing how spending time in a restaurant gives us a good glimpse of what things are like. It lets us soak up a valuable experience without even leaving home.
If you want to have an awesome Korean experience, you can visit shopping centers in the area, like Cannon Hill Shopping Centre. These establishments give us different dining options, including Korean. This means you are only a few minutes away from a delectable Korean treat.
