Korean bibimbap mixed up rice dish.jpg — popular.

Korean BIBIMBAP aka Mixed Up Rice.

Why is Korean food so popular?

Layers of savoury flavours, sweetness and (gentle or deadly!) heat add up to an addicting combination for most people. It’s said that Korean cuisine can offer spicy, bitter, sour, sweet and salty flavours to delight the taste buds. Variations in texture can be quite pleasing as well.

Although these kinds of Best Of lists are a far cry from a typical daily diet for most Koreans, it strengthens the impression that Korean foods are wildly delicious. Undoubtedly, the current massive popularity of Korean culture (TV shows, movies, namely the pop group BTS) has much to do with the trend sweeping the world as well.

Why is Korean food so good?

Soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper powder, garlic. One or all of those listed attribute to the taste profile in many popular dishes. If you enjoy any of those, you will find Korean food to be oh-so-good. Also, fermented foods. If you enjoy the fizzy, funky depth of flavours from fermented products, you will most likely also enjoy the more authentic Korean dishes (like DOENJANG soup, perhaps even CHUNG-GUK-JANG stew).

Why is Korean food so bad?

Soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper powder, garlic. If you don’t like any or the combination of the previous, you will likely not be a fan of Korean food. Different strokes for different folks. You can probably find a dish that doesn’t offend your particular palate. But honestly, if you have to try so hard, it’s probably not worth the effort.

It’s okay not to like something! Be yourself.

Is Korean food healthy?

It can be! But can a meal at a Korean restaurant compete with a health-conscious meal cooked at home? Probably not. Restaurants are in the business of pleasing your taste buds, not looking after the health of your body. Many dishes will be overly salted, oiled and/or sweetened to make it irresistible.

Traditionally, food would be prepared and assembled gently with care. Making sure that vegetables maintained their colour and shape with herbs being utilized at their peak of freshness. Meats are more commonly boiled or simmered- rather than cooked on high heat with lots of oil.

This is true of any cuisine though, it can be as healthy as you make it. It just takes more effort and will most likely not be as aggressively tasty.

Is Korean food unhealthy?

It certainly can be. Many restaurants specializing in the Korean phenomenon of fried chicken are very unhealthy. But that’s just common sense- how healthy can deep fried chicken smothered in sweet sauce be? There may also be hidden health traps like how much sugar, oil and chemical soy sauce restaurants use.

But most large chain restaurants will find ways to cut costs by using sub-par ingredients and gaining fans with added oils and sugars. I’m looking at you Cheesecake Factory (I hate how much I love you).

This goes for any cuisine. If you cook it at home, with fresh ingredients and unprocessed seasonings, it can be quite healthy. Keep in mind, you will be sacrificing some of the addictive qualities in taste. As my doctor likes to remind me, anything that is really, really tasty is probably not healthy.

Is it easy to cook Korean food at home?

Yes! Familiarize yourself with some basic recipes and you’ll find that with just a few Korean pantry items, it’s a breeze to make a meal with any meats and vegetables you have on hand.

And as you can see from my cooking videos, it’s certainly possible to whip up a quick Korean meal for dinner. My family is usually hangry from the moment I start cooking and that is some intense pressure to work under, but totally doable. I do it almost every day! (Thank goodness for #takeoutfridays)

What is the most popular Korean food in America?

Bulgogi: Sweet soy sauce marinated (thinly sliced) beef.
Korean BBQ: Table-top grilled meats wrapped in lettuce leaves, eaten with rice, side dishes and dip (SSAMJANG). Pairs well with Korean vodka (SOJU).
Japchae: Stir-fried glass noodles and colourful vegetables. Tossed in a soy sauce dressing.
Bibimbap: Hot rice with different meat and/or vegetables topped with a fried egg.
Galbi: Grilled Korean-style ribs in soy sauce marinade.
Tteokbokki: Rice cakes smothered in red pepper paste sauce.
Haemul Pajeon: Seafood pancake.
Chicken: Korean fried chicken. Often referred to as CHIMEK due to its excellent pairing with a cold beer.
Gimbap: Korean rice burrito.

Take your pick!

As you can see there are many reasons to love Korean food. It’s become so mainstream now that many people will know just what you mean when you say TTEOKBOKKI or GOCHUJANG. So next time you’re at a Korean restaurant, expand your horizons by trying something new. Take time to explore the Korean market as well, you never know when you’ll find your next favourite snack!