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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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shawner88
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:20 am Post subject: Korean food in America, why it hasn't caught on.... |
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I can remember going to Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and of course Chinese restaurants in the states but I never once tried a Korean restaurant until after I lived here. Why is this? Why has Korean food not caught on like food from other Asian cultures? While trying things like Kimchi chigae might be hard for some to swallow (pun!), there are certainly many Korean foods Americans would love such as Kalbi, sam gae tang, galbi tang, even mandu, etc...
I have a few reasons why Korean food hasn't caught on:
1. Americans in their infinite ignorance associate Koreans with eating dog. That means every food they eat must contain dog meat.
2. Korea is a poor 3rd world country, right? That means their food must be dirty and taste like crap? But what about Thailand and Vietnam?
Personally I think the translation of Korean food into English is one of the biggest hindrances. How can you explain Kimchi? "Fermented cabbage mixed in spicy red pepper sauce." Or dwen jang chigae: bean paste stew with tofu? bulgogi? "fire beef?" etc. Have you ever tried to explain to your friend back home what exactly you are eating...it's hard. Some - most of the foods just don't translate and it's a shame Americans are missing out on some of the best foods in the world.
Last edited by shawner88 on Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:00 am; edited 2 times in total |
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ryleeys
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:24 am Post subject: |
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I ate Korean food at least once a month in the US the last three years I was in college...
Korean restaurants are all over many parts of the DC area. |
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shawner88
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| ryleeys wrote: |
I ate Korean food at least once a month in the US the last three years I was in college...
Korean restaurants are all over many parts of the DC area. |
That could be a good point. Location. If I lived in an area popular with Koreans, maybe I would have tried their food. However, where I live In Syracuse New York, are predominantly white American folk. How is it then I loved other cultural food besides Korean? |
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ryleeys
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Korean food (at least what I had) in America hasn't been "bastardized" quite as much as Chinese food. It still seems to be pretty true to its roots
This is good as when I go back to America in 6 months, I will be eating Korean food on a regular basis.
Of course, if I resurrect "Pretty Woman" and find the perfect Korean hooker with the heart of gold, I can be Richard Gere and rescue her... then she can cook me all the jap chae I want.
(That's a joke by the way) |
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wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Americans are missing out on some of the best foods in the world. |
it would be the furthest from..
it is sticks, bugs, grass, tree leaves, etc.. all slopped together and spiced up to taste the same.. they also use the most sh1tty parts of things to add too the soups and what not... lets make a nice fish meal, just throw in a few whole fish and stir it up til it is just slop..
there is no quality to this food.. it is just take every part of everything there is NEVER WASTE EVEN A FROGS BALL OR CHICKEN D1CK and slop it all together
there are a few things i like but the side dishes and really traditional things are what starving people could make edible and also preserve.
| Quote: |
| That means their food must be dirty and taste like crap. |
it is & it does... take a look around the streets, all the seafood is gathering shit from the air and the passing cars.. might i just remind you of the temperature control too (or lack of it) and also around these kitchens... they leave stuff out on the bench to fester and then cook it. they throw handfuls of spice into it to overpower any moldy taste or smell...
the only reason korean food is still around is that they are running out of traditions and they are holding onto anything they can.
enjoy it bro.. its steak, chicken and fresh veges for me.. i forget what it like to get some steamed veges at a restaurant... just get spiced up dog nuts as a side dish
Last edited by wylde on Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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cacheSurfer
Joined: 07 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:43 am Post subject: |
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i only had korean food once before i came here. and that was because my friend from college was korean and he cooked some stuff for us.
i think a korean restaurants would do good in the states, but they would have to be slightly modified.
-better service
-more selection |
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little mixed girl
Joined: 11 Jun 2003
Location: shin hyesung's bed~
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:00 am Post subject: |
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.....
Last edited by little mixed girl on Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| cacheSurfer wrote: |
i think a korean restaurants would do good in the states, but they would have to be slightly modified.
-more selection |
Are you serious? I think that there is a wider selection of food here, than I have ever experienced anywhere else in the world. Maybe you mean that it is difficult to find one place that sells most of these dishes under one roof. Excuse me if you did!  |
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shawner88
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:13 am Post subject: |
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| wylde wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Americans are missing out on some of the best foods in the world. |
it would be the furthest from..
it is sticks, bugs, grass, tree leaves, etc.. all slopped together and spiced up to taste the same.. they also use the most sh1tty parts of things to add too the soups and what not... lets make a nice fish meal, just throw in a few whole fish and stir it up til it is just slop..
there is no quality to this food.. it is just take every part of everything there is NEVER WASTE EVEN A FROGS BALL OR CHICKEN D1CK and slop it all together
there are a few things i like but the side dishes and really traditional things are what starving people could make edible and also preserve.
| Quote: |
| That means their food must be dirty and taste like crap. |
it is & it does... take a look around the streets, all the seafood is gathering *beep* from the air and the passing cars.. might i just remind you of the temperature control too (or lack of it) and also around these kitchens... they leave stuff out on the bench to fester and then cook it. they throw handfuls of spice into it to overpower any moldy taste or smell...
the only reason korean food is still around is that they are running out of traditions and they are holding onto anything they can.
enjoy it bro.. its steak, chicken and fresh veges for me.. i forget what it like to get some steamed veges at a restaurant... just get spiced up dog nuts as a side dish |
This is pretty narrow minded. Not all the food is dirty here, and I wasn't referring to street food. Not every food uses every part of the animal. I'm talking the mainstream Korean foods. What are you talking about? I have never eaten the foods you are referring to. |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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