A korean culinary treat

Hello, today's blog post will be focused on Korean Barbeque and show you just what to expect!

Korean barbeque is becoming increasingly more popular in Australia. As more and more Korean bbq restaurants open, there is no better way to dine out as a group than to gather some friends and spend your night eating from a selection of different meats with a whole lot of side dishes!


What to expect

The Korean bbq experience is very different from other types of Barbeque (like the ones that go on in your backyard on a Saturday afternoon!). The main dishes that are served are solely meat. There are so many different types to choose from - marinated, spicy, thin, thick, different cuts. You can choose from different types of chicken, beef, pork,brisket, ox tongue etc. These dishes are often prepared and served at the charcoal grill that is built into the table itself.

These meats are often accompanied with a wide range of side dishes, called Banchan! Some of the most common Banchan are - Kimchi, potato salad, seaweed salad, an assortment of leafs, bean sprouts, radish, tofu, pickled vegetables, green beans, fish cake and many, many more!!

And let's not forget about the dipping sauces! The most common sauces are - gochujang (red pepper paste), ssamjang (mix of soybean paste, oil, onion, garlic, pepper paste) or a mix of sesame oil and sea salt.

People regularly eat their meat by itself or with rice! Or if you want to eat like a Korean, you can make your own "korean taco" by grabbing a lettuce leaf and putting your choice of meat in there and adding some red papper paste! You can personalise each taco you make by adding different meats and sauces!

Most people who go to Korean bbq also enjoy drinking Soju, which tastes like a sweet, mild vodka, however it is quite weak and good for casual drinking. It comes in different flavours such as Rice, raspberry and blueberry. A fun fact about soju - When pouring soju, pour with both hands and always fill the glass to the top. This shows respect. Soju usually costs around $13 for a 600ml sized bottle in Sydney Kbbq restaurants.

Where to eat Korean Barbeque

Some places in Sydney that have the most popular Korean bbq restaurants are Strathfield, Campsie and Eastwood! Most of them are buffets, or A la Carte restaurants. If it is a buffet, it will cost $35 for all you can eat! If A la Carte, depending on how much meat you get will decide how much it costs.

We hope you enjoyed this post, and hopefully you get to visit a Korean bbq restaurant one day! Note, wear clothes that you don't mind smelling of smoke afterwards as the smoke blows onto you while you are cooking. :)

Thank you for reading!

- Jenny

References
Bon Appétit. 2016. How to Eat Korean Barbecue at Restaurants - Bon Appétit. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/article/korean-bbq. [Accessed 3 May 2016].