November 11 is just around the corner. Often referred to as Pepero Day, young Koreans give Pepero (like Pocky) packs to friends, families, boyfriends, and girlfriends.
All of the “1’s” in the date 11/11 are similar in shape to Pepero sticks, hence the connection between the snack and the date. The day is a lighter and less serious version of Valentine’s Day. Large displays of this snack can be seen in convenience stores and supermarkets.
Learn dating vocabulary here.
Korean convenience stores near the breaking point of proving to be too expensive for cheap meals. The average price of a lunchbox at all convenient stores is now between 6000 and 7000 Korean won. The average price of gimbap is also now 3,000Won.
How to say convenience store in Korean.
Food trucks, like the ones found in US cities, will become legal in Korea as early as May. As part of sweeping de-regulations intended to help create jobs, the Park Geun-Hye administration will soon allow commercial trucks to be converted into moving restaurants (with wild menus). As long as food safety and cleanliness are maintained, this is a huge win for the citizens of Seoul and other big cities.
참치 야채 죽 chamchi yachae juk – tuna vegetable porridge
Good food that’s easy on the stomach. I always ask for a little extra seaweed.
잡탕볶음밥 – japtang-bokkeum-bap Stir-fried seafood medley
잡탕볶음밥 means ‘medley’ or ‘mishmash’ of things.
A new trendy meal in Seoul is called 부대볶음. It’s basically 부대찌개, army soup, but without the soup. Bean sprouts line the bottom of the pan and only a little bit of broth is used. The broth is cooked until absorbed by the vegetables, making it a mostly soup-less meal.
부대 comes from the English word ‘army’ and 볶음 means ‘fried’ or ‘pan broiled.’
Restaurant Name: 민속콩탕 minsok-kong-tang. 민속 means ‘folk’ and 콩탕 means ‘soybean soup’. It’s a small quaint soybean restaurant located in Yongin City, Geihung district, about an hour south of Seoul. The Korean Folk Village (민속촌 minsok-chon) is located directly opposite of the shop.
We ordered the 30,000Won 3-person set. It included a larger selection of food and side dishes including chestnut pancakes, soybean porridge, stinky tofu soup. Definitely recommended if you’re out to see the Folk Village.
메밀묵 memil-muk -buckwheat jelly (jelly pic on left)
도토리묵 dotori-muk -acorn jelly (jelly pic on right)
감자떡 gamja-tteok -potato mixed with rice cake (white, bottom left)
콩탕 kongtang -soybean soup (right side, immediately below)
