Korean Job Discussion Forums

cgroch · Joined: 22 Jun 2006

So I'll be moving to Korea in a few weeks, and one thing I was really looking forward to was being able to grab my meals from handy street vendors for dirt cheap. Heck, people do it in New York all the time, and the stuff's delicious. At the same time, I don't want to get sick from it either!

I've read that some people won't touch the stuff, but I'm not exactly down with spending the money and taking the time at a sit down place every meal. I'm not planning on spending much time at the Western style restaurants either; I really want to embrace the whole culture of Korea, food vendors included, sans the trots.

So what's the real deal with street vendor food? Is it safe? Is it good? Am I going to spend my life on the toilet?

Thanks!

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

I ate it 2 or 3 times a week for 10 months or so and never got sick. Go for it!

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

Eating a roll of kimbap or a chicken skewer from a steet vendor here is no different than eating a hotdog or a gyro from a vendor in North America.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

In Korea I never really worry about getting food poisoning or diarrhea or any of that. I just worry about a slow cancerous death from all the pollution. So eat up! Very Happy

Peter Jackson · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

The street food is ok. Some of it may give you stomach problems, especially at first, but not after you've been here a few months. Now street food in Cambodia is another story.... Confused

Take care,

seoulsucker · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject:

The stalls seem to be kept relatively clean, and I've never gotten sick from eating vendor food in 2.5 years here. There's a pretty decent variety and it's really cheap, but it's not always the healthiest choice.

poker player · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Location: On the river

cgroch · Joined: 22 Jun 2006

Very helpful; thanks! It's amazing how a few posts from paranoid people can make you question adventure. Any specific vendor food that's a favorite?

kiwigirl :O) · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Bundang

i love eating the fried chicken nuggety things from our chicken man...they are yummy and are good when you have had a few to drink...i have these chicken nibble things two or three times a week and am still alive to tell the story Laughing

they are cheap and its good to try the local stuff Cool

Bill Brasky · Joined: 13 Feb 2006

only time i ever got sick in 3 yrs in korea was from bbq. raw meat on the same grill as cooked. one night of stomach cramps, then an iron stomach. it toughens ya up.

milf · Joined: 29 Mar 2006

General rule about street food.... make sure they have traffic to keep the food refreshed, otherwise risk eating something hours/days old.

seoulsucker · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:18 am Post subject:

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

On a slightly different note, a friend of mine was told by his Korean adult student that the 'Chicken on a skewer' that some vendors serve is not actually chicken but..err...pigeon Shocked

Can anyone confirm?

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004