Korean people have some of the most interesting ways to eat meat, people here in the USA probably have not thought of as something that could be a common dish. Most of the time American people eat chicken probably grilled or as chicken nuggets. In South Korea, people eat chicken in the common ways American people do but also in other ways. But did you know in Korea they have something called “Chicken Steak”? It is kind of a fusion food with some American qualities mixed with Korean to form an Asian fusion food. When thinking of Korean food most people think of Korean Barbeque probably. But do you know what Korean Barbeque is referred to in Korean? In this article I will be telling you the real names of delicious Korean food involving meat or “goki” in Korean to order and find if you are ever yourself in South Korea or at your local Korean market.
- 고기 (Korean BBQ)
Most people in Korea do not say they want “BBQ”. This is an American term we use for any meat that we “grill”. Korean people would refer to “Korean BBQ” as just 고기 pronounced “goki” which literally translates to “meat” in Korean. When going out for Korean BBQ, many different kinds of meats are prepared for you to grill yourself. In the picture below there is pork, shrimp, and beef are being grilled.
The most common meat people have when going out to a goki place is pork called samgyubsal.
- 닭 한마리(Dak Hanmari) developed from 백숙(Baek Suk)
This dish is similar to the chicken noodle soup we commonly have in the USA when we are sick. This is boiled chicken less salt than what would be in a normal American chicken noodle soup. Unlike the chicken noodle soup we have in the United States which has boneless chicken, this soup is boiled with the bone still with the chicken. In Korea, it is said that chicken is best when cooked with the bone. Soy sauce and wasabi is always served as a side to this dish. After eating the meat in the soup, noodles are added to the remaining broth and eaten after softened. After eating the noodles rice is then added to the broth to make porridge which is 죽 or “Juk” in Korean. This is commonly eaten before summer begins to gain strength for the upcoming heat summer brings.
- 제육볶음 (JeYuk BokkEum/ spicy pork BokkEum)
Korean people have many ways to cook pork and this is one of my favorites. I would consider this a sautéed dish with spicy seasoning. It is usually serviced with a variety of traditional Korean side dishes like “Kimchi” a fermented spicy cabbage and rice. You can order a dish like this at a restaurant near a college for as cheap as about $5 USD.
- 찜닭(Jjimdak/ Korean Braised Chicken)
This dish is most similar to a stew because it has many different vegetables and the broth is very thick. As you can see in the picture below, it is served in a big bowl. The price is about $15 USD and it is made to share among 2 to 3 people. Everyone would pick the pieces they want with their chopsticks and eat it directly along with their own bowl of rice.
- Yeah, looks like 치킨 스테이크 (Chicken Steak)
Chicken Steak is basically a piece of chicken breast covered in a sauce similar in taste and texture to barbeque sauce. This particular chicken steak is $5 USD.
- 햄버그 스테이크 or 함박 스테이크 (Hamburger Steak)
Most people may be thinking what this is and it’s simple! It is basically a hamburger patty serviced without the bun and covered in sauce. This is a common dish at college student cafeterias. This one was served at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea. The price was about $2 USD.
- 닭꼬치(Dak-kkochi/ Korean chicken skewers)
This is a popular Korean street food with chicken on a stick.