RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

Like what?  Intestinal cramping, diarrhea, explosive bowels, bloody stool? ;)

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

Ahh okay I forgot about shabu-shabu, thanks. And it's not really about picky eating, it's just most of what I've come across is spicy soup with mussel shells and no discernible flavor or noodles with sweet sauce or chicken parts in sweet sauce or or or. I'm just not very jazzed to eat most Korean foods.  Which is why the only thing I could get excited about on your list is Japanese...

I must be one of the few who likes that the meat is still on the bone (in stews or whatever).

Except for fish bones. Those are annoying. If it's grilled or fried (not in a soup) then I don't mind as much but fish bones in general are irksome.

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

Ahh okay I forgot about shabu-shabu, thanks. And it's not really about picky eating, it's just most of what I've come across is spicy soup with mussel shells and no discernible flavor or noodles with sweet sauce or chicken parts in sweet sauce or or or. I'm just not very jazzed to eat most Korean foods.  Which is why the only thing I could get excited about on your list is Japanese...

To be fair you admitted you dont eat out a lot because you aren't interested but because you aren't interested you might be missing out on some great dishes if that makes sense.
 

One thing you could do is ask your Korean friends, or Korean co workers for recommendations. Food and restaurants. Explain your preferences and I am sure they can come up with something or Just check naver blogs.

I've found some great things that way.

and not having a go at you, just mean this in general....I feel like so many GET/NETs here judge Korean food by the food they eat at school  Which is always going to be a bit crappy.

...they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

Like what?  Intestinal cramping, diarrhea, explosive bowels, bloody stool? ;)

    I've been here for a while, I eat at new places whenever I can, and have never experienced any of that, thankfully!!
   (And if you're getting explosive bowels and bloody stools after eating jeon, then you're doing something seriously wrong! )

Anyway, it might be that I was brought up on some seriously... lackluster continental fare, but while food here can certainly be hit or miss -- I definitely won't argue that it's grande cuisine -- but I do enjoy a lot of it.
    People can choose how they approach things, and often that mindset will determine what they get out of the experience. Food is definitely one of those things! 

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

I had shabu-shabu once and I looooove it

Gamjatang is one of my favorite foods ever. Shabu shabu, dalkgalbi, chapchae, pajeon etc. are also awesome.

Near my school is this awesome lil mom and pop place that does smoked pork bulgogi-ish (sans horrendous amount of sweet sauce). I can't recall the exact name of the dish but it's literally one of the best things I've eaten in Seoul.

It took a lot of experimenting but there are a ton of little restaurants that are amazing but it took me awhile to go through all the restaurants nearby and sort wheat from chaff.

Oh and bossam. Bossam is amazing.

I will agree with whoever said samgyetang is nasty. That is one that I can't stand. (Though I'm not a big fan of the 'clear' soups in general.)

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

Ahh okay I forgot about shabu-shabu, thanks. And it's not really about picky eating, it's just most of what I've come across is spicy soup with mussel shells and no discernible flavor or noodles with sweet sauce or chicken parts in sweet sauce or or or. I'm just not very jazzed to eat most Korean foods.  Which is why the only thing I could get excited about on your list is Japanese...

To be fair you admitted you dont eat out a lot because you aren't interested but because you aren't interested you might be missing out on some great dishes if that makes sense.
 

One thing you could do is ask your Korean friends, or Korean co workers for recommendations. Food and restaurants. Explain your preferences and I am sure they can come up with something or Just check naver blogs.

I've found some great things that way.

and not having a go at you, just mean this in general....I feel like so many GET/NETs here judge Korean food by the food they eat at school  Which is always going to be a bit crappy.

A very good point. Basic school lunches when I was a student were generally always quite subpar. But I still kinda miss those hexagonal fiesta pizzas even though I know they're probably only vaguely more nutritious than cardboard.

As for Korean school lunches... I think I've been lucky that mine have generally been decent if not good (it's never been slop), but gamjatang in a school cafeteria is a far cry from gamjatang at a proper restaurant.

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

yeh fussy people are the worst. big, overgrown children. The only people worse than them are fat, fussy people, who whine about the local food and so go to macdonalds. Awful slime

Yeah honestly I have some friends coming to visit in the next couple months and I don't even know what I'm going to show them. I so rarely eat out because it's crap which means I've got one BBQ experience and maybe a trip to the bulgogi tents and then it's like "So I make some great hummus..." after that. 

Jimddak, Gamjatang, pajeon/hobakjeon/haemuljeon, shabu-shabu etc...

There's plenty of stuff to try out, and a lot of it isn't so shocking to Western sensibilities.

Then again, most of the folk I know aren't super picky eaters. I always pity the folk who are: by telling themselves that everything is disgusting, they're missing out on so many awesome experiences! 

I had shabu-shabu once and I looooove it

Gamjatang is one of my favorite foods ever. Shabu shabu, dalkgalbi, chapchae, pajeon etc. are also awesome.

Near my school is this awesome lil mom and pop place that does smoked pork bulgogi-ish (sans horrendous amount of sweet sauce). I can't recall the exact name of the dish but it's literally one of the best things I've eaten in Seoul.

It took a lot of experimenting but there are a ton of little restaurants that are amazing but it took me awhile to go through all the restaurants nearby and sort wheat from chaff.

Oh and bossam. Bossam is amazing.

I will agree with whoever said samgyetang is nasty. That is one that I can't stand. (Though I'm not a big fan of the 'clear' soups in general.)

Came here to say, Gamjatang <3 
One of the few things I genuinely miss since I left Korea

yeh fussy people are the worst. big, overgrown children. The only people worse than them are fat, fussy people, who whine about the local food and so go to macdonalds. Awful slime

Well, I have always been a picky eater, so it's not like I am being unduly harsh with regards to Korean food.

That said, it's hard to believe that anyone would care about what another person chooses to eat or not eat.

I mean, it's not like it effects you in any way, shape, or form.  Why care?

As far as food here goes, I have mentioned this before, but the major issues with Korean "cuisine" served in restaurants is the lack of cleanliness/food sanitation, the lack of education and awareness with regards to food handling, and the lack of government oversight, i.e. food handling permits, inspections, etc.

I'm very surprised that it doesn't concern anyone when they use the same contaminated scissors that cut the raw meat (chicken, pork) to cut the cooked meat?

That's dangerous and dumb.

It would be nice if more places had tables and chairs, so one wouldn't have to sit on the ground, although I appreciate the "ambiance" it can create for visitors to Korea.

Hopefully, most are already very aware of the practice of recycling food in restaurants.  Some don't have a problem with it, like they don't mind 5 people sharing 1 bowl of soup.

Sorry, but that is more than a little disgusting.

If they would do away with the "free" side dishes, the practice of recycling food would greatly diminish.

As others have mentioned, Korea's "culinary" history is truly quite short.  Give them a couple hundred more years, and they will have all the kinks worked out.

I'm British and even I think the food here is shit, that must be saying something.

Just how dare you Jack.  The cheek of the Roxby.  Us Brits are all over the good food.  Cornish pasties and fish and chips, and pies.  Oh, the pies.  Did you eat all the pies Jack?  Is that it?

I've become sooooo defensive about British food since living here. I will sing the praises of every single British dish to any Korean that dare tell me our food is bad. Even if, and sometimes especially if, I think that food is bad myself.

  This reminds me...

I met a Korean guy who lived abroad in England for most of his uni experience. He came back hating the food, but then went on to say that England had achieved nothing in any area of history or culture.

According to him, the UK had done nothing of note in the world of music, art, education, literature, pop culture... nothing. He told me the UK has excelled at nothing.

I wanted to ask him if that's the case, why are your parents spending their life savings to send you there for education?

Oh and another bit of cultural wisdom from him, Busan deserves the title of "City of Light" more than any other country in the world.

Korea's favourite passtimes:

Watch Tv - Invented by a UK man John Logie Baird.
 
Use a computer - has its origins in the "Difference Engine" developed by Charles Babbage, a man from the UK, and the mpdern computer was fathered by Alan Turing anothe UK man.

Surf the internet - Tim Berners-Lee, guess where he comes from?

Watching girls in mini skirts - Made popular (and named) by Mary Quant (UK lass) in the 1960s

Basically, The UK invented the Korean idea of relaxation (minus the soju).  What more does the guy want?

Eat recycled food. It's good for the environment, and ok for you.


Seriously though, the way it works for people who don't know, If you don't eat all your side dishes, then they just take them away and top them up, and use them for the next person.

No, I haven't lost my mind.  At least, I don't think so ;)

IT is one of the major reasons why we don't really dine out here.

It used to be blatant, but these days they are very discrete.

Same thing happens with unfinished cocktails, which get dumped into a bucket, later to be mixed with other stuff and given out as "special" drinks.

It's DANGEROUS!

...... you're telling me it's okay for me? Have you lost your mind?

I'm not saying it's ok for you or any person at all, but as most of us know, what is ok and acceptable in the civilized world may be different in Korea.

If you don't get the "eat recycled food it's good for the environment and ok for you" joke, check it out:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNw95c75g7o

What the ****, so it's common practice for them to re-use food served to other customers?

I never really ate out very much to begin with, but now...

Getting harder and harder to hide my disbelief when an 8th grader - presumably with at least five years of English education (or exposure if you prefer) - can't produce ANY answer for "What do you do in your free time?"

 

I'm generalizing, but most of my friends here are from the UK; hardly ANY of them actually like Korean food. On the contrary, the few Americans I know here (myself included) rather enjoy Korean food (it's becoming trendy in the US; I'm not sure if it is as well in the UK).

I've also noticed a good number of my UK friends cannot handle very spicy food, and a lot of Korean food is a bit spicy.

I wonder if folks from the UK are less likely to get on with Korean food given that UK cuisine is a bit milder in nature (which, personally, I find to be quite delicious). Granted, a couple of my UK friends just kept eating 김치 until it finally started tasting good to them, and now they quite like Korean food.

But yeah. Just some thoughts.

Getting harder and harder to hide my disbelief when an 8th grader - presumably with at least five years of English education (or exposure if you prefer) - can't produce ANY answer for "What do you do in your free time?"

 

Ugh. I have the same problem with some of my high schoolers. I get that English isn't the best program here and some kids literally could not care less about it, but that they can't even put a couple words together? Can't understand even "Where's your notebook?" or even easier things without having it translated blows my mind.

I've got third grade middle schoolers who still don't know how to answer, "How are you?"

A few of them don't even know the alphabet.

I wish the seasons would hurry up and finish transitioning.  This whole jumping back and forth between freezing cold and sweater weather every day is wrecking my sinuses, and it'd be nice to go one f*cking day without a headache.