What’s a culture without its food? It’s not a secret that Filipinos are very proud of their cuisine and this fact holds for Koreans as well. As the Hallyu wave continues, we’ve gotten a good glance at Korean culture through K-Dramas, K-Pop, and other cultural phenomena. Korean restaurants and grocers have also increasingly popped up over the years, making it easier, now more than ever, to get a taste of Korean dishes–and how better to enjoy it than by sampling something from fan-favorite shows?
1. Samgyupsal from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
We’ve all seen how Kim Bok-joo and her friends eat Korean BBQ, and it’s probably something you’ve tried doing at your local samgyupsal joint too. Conveniently, it’s also an experience you can recreate at home. There are plenty of lists and videos online that will help you curate your own samgyupsal selection, as well as online shopping sites to get your equipment from. If you’re feeling lazy, you can also always have it delivered as a full set from staple restaurants.
2. Korean Fried Chicken from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Crash Landing On You, and Goblin
No, you don’t understand—Korean fried chicken just hits different. Juicy, flavorful, and crispy, the simple dish is the subject of much adoration. You’ll find it in almost any K-Drama paired with beer, a thing known as chimaek. Plenty of Korean restaurants offer the famous dish, but you can also just as easily cook it at home:
3. Ramdon from Parasite
One of the most popular Korean dishes is this infamous meal from the Academy Award-winning film, which has been noted as an apt representation of the film’s themes. Combining cheap instant noodle packs Chapagetti and Neoguri with premium Hanu beef is almost an obscenity, but it perfectly sums up what Director Bong Joon-ho was trying to convey. Luckily for us, you can easily find Chapagetti and Neoguri packs at any Korean grocery or the Asian aisle of your local supermarket. Cook it as instructed, and combine it with the meat of your choice.
4. Ramyeon from What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?
The humble Ramyeon has always been a staple of Korean cuisine and is considered a go-to K-Drama food. It’s reminiscent of cold, rainy days and late nights, providing you all the comfort you need. There’s a reason why you’ll find it in almost any K-Drama: this pack of noodles is super quick and easy to cook. It stores for a long time, and it’s also very versatile in terms of what you can add to it for that extra special touch. Ramyeon is available in Korean groceries and most local groceries.
5. Patbingsu from Pinocchio
Oh, to eat bingsu with Lee Jong-suk. While we can’t offer you that kind of experience, you can bring yourself a step closer with your own patbingsu, the sort-of-distant cousin of the halo-halo. Difficult as it may look, it can be made at home, which also makes it fully customizable according to your taste.
6. Miyeok Guk (Seaweed Soup) from Goblin
While darkly used on Goblin, “birthday soup”, as this Korean dish is also known, is often a happy mainstay at many tables to celebrate a special occasion. It’s light and nutritious, not to mention pretty easy to prepare. It gets its name for being a “healing soup,” often served to women who just gave birth, hence why people also have it on their birthday. Try it with meat, banchan, and rice, or make it vegan. This dish is very easily customizable in addition to being a healthy meal.
7. Bibimbap from Full House
One of the most heavily symbolic Korean dishes is bibimbap. To us, it may just look like a variety of vegetables, but each ingredient represents harmony and balance. That being said, this dish, like most, is also highly customizable as long as you don’t forget the rice and gochujang. You can also just throw your leftovers into a metal bowl and call it a day, much like Ji-eun, and, eventually, Rain.
8. Kimbap from Cheese in the Trap
You, too, can learn to unfold a kimbap like Yoo-jung. Kimbap comes in several varieties, Cheese in the Trap’s triangle version included, but the more common (and easier) version is the round, sushi-like one we normally see here. While it may seem time-consuming, it’s undoubtedly worthwhile. It’s filling, healthy-ish, and can be eaten any time of day, whether as a meal or a comforting snack.
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Header Image by changupn from Pixabay.