Food in Korea -- Naengmyeon

Nangmyeon (냉면) is another one of the many traditional Korean dishes that is preferred especially in the summer months among Koreans. The literal translation of naengmyeon is "cold noodles" and also fits the description of the dish itself.

There are two types of naengmyeon. First is mul naengmyeon (물냉면), which is more of a soupy consistency. Its noodles are served with a usually beef broth, boiled egg and other various vegetables. The other type is bibim naengmyeon (비빔냉면) and not a soup, but served with a chili paste sauce. (Beware...this variety is typically VERY spicy!)The main component of naengmyeon is the buckwheat noodles that are generally served in a metal bowl to preserve its chilly nature. Pear and other julienned vegetables accompany the noodles. It is not uncommon, especially in a restaurant, to receive packages/bottles of spicy mustard and/or vinegar to add to the dish before eating. Additionally, in restaurants, if you ask the waiter or waitress for some scissors, he or she will most often times be happy to oblige and may even offer to cut them for you!


Sources :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naengmyeon

Gimbap Cheonguk (김밥천국)...

Gimbap Cheonguk = Gimbap heaven!!! These little restaurants can be spotted all over Korea. They are a great place to find some cheap Korean food. As mentioned in the restaurant's name, gimbap is one of the major things that are offered. However, there's a wide variety of other dishes available. For example (but not limited to), different kinds of bokkeumbap (볶음밥)--fried rice, jiggae (찌개)--stew, dapbap (닾밥)--spicy fried rice, and much more! *See the pictures below that correspond to each type of dish respectively!These restaurants are generally a bit small and often crowded during typical lunch and dinner times, so seating can be somewhat limited. It might be a good idea to ask for take out and eat it in a park if it's nice or indoors. However, generally earlier or later than rush hours are an ideal time to hit up these Korean restaurants.

One downside to Gimbap Cheonguk is the options for those who love Korean food, but are limited in their abilities of reading the Korean language. The menus consist of small pieces of paper with all of the dishes listed in Korean. If you're not the adventurous type, you may want to go there prior to your first eating experience there and ask for a menu. Then, take it to a Korean to ask him/her for the translations of each thing. For the more daring, you may be interested in the "point and select" method! (A grab bag if you prefer!)

Gimbap Cheonguk is a place frequented by many and offers a good variety Korean cuisine for those who are looking for a good, hearty meal on a budget!

Food in Korea -- Galbi

Also known as Korean barbeque, galbi is a very popular Korean dish. Galbi (갈비) literally means "rib" which does not necessarily signify that the meat is cooked. It is generally made of beef ribs, but can also be found in chicken and pork varieties. You may find the typical beef galbi listed on a menu as "so(e)galbi" (소갈비). In establishments where more than one variety of galbi is served, you may see pork galbi as dwaejigalbi (돼지살비) and chicken galbi as dakgalbi (닦갈비) on the menu in order to differentiate between the different types offered.

Galbi is traditionally marinated in soy sauce, garlic and sugar. Don't be fooled by its Korean BBQ moniker, it is not your typical Memphis dry rub BBQ with cornbread and coleslaw. Its typical accmpaniements are lettuce and other leafy vegetables. A red bean sauce is also typically served with galbi for dipping.

Like BBQ, Galbi is a popular picnic dish. Portable stoves and grills are used to cook the meat outdoors.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galbi