Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yingwenlaoshi]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/02/17/201002170069.asp

They of course leave out London's BEST Korean restaurant, soho's 'Ran.' tutt, tutt....

Interesting that a Korean admits in the article that the dishes are tastier than in Korea as 'Foriegn meat is more flavorful and the vegetables are fresher and tastier...' (paraphrase)

But who's gonna pay 9.50 pounds for bibimbap? Get real. There's simply better options in London for that kind of price. Stuff like gimbap too, I found overpriced as English people aren't gonna pay a fiver for some rice rolled in seaweed with spam in it.... and most places don't even give free kimchi, it's artound 1.50 per serving - lol....

'Ran' is awesome though. when I was visiting my friend in Londond the food was amazing, like the best in Korea and the lunchtime specials good value for money.... I had Soondoobu chiggae, rice, kimchi for around 7.50 pounds, way more than it costs here, but decent price for the UK....

I found it absurd that she says 'English people are becoming more willing to try different food," says Paek.

Again a Korean shows their ignorance of non Korean people... English people have been eating foriegn foods for bloody centuries you fool....

A lot of the problem with Korean food in London and why it is not catching on (you'll notice all the restaurants in the photos are empty) is that they market the stuff wrong. English people aren't going to want to pay 10 pounds for bibimbap or 5 pounds for gimbap (essentially some rice rolled in seaweed with spam in it.) This kind of food seems too bland to an English person and the ingredients too simple and cheap to warrant such a price tag.

They'd be more interested in stuff like Sundooboo chiggae, kimchi chiggae, samguipsal, kamja tang, things with strong flavours and the big shared meals that give a new social dynamic to the eating experience.
Or really good noodle dishes that are different from Japanese or Chinese ones they're used to.

The problem is Koreans think English people don't / can't eat food with strong flavours / spicy food etc, which couldn't be further from the actual truth.... So they market the meals they see as a 'safe bet' like bibimbap or gimbap etc, remarking how they are vegetarian options and low in fat - and of course no-one is interested....

In my opinion and experience, Korean restaurant owners in London should be tryiing to show that Korean food has some strong, unusual, dynamic, exciting flavours to offer (look how crazy Brits go for Chinese food and Indian curries / Thai curries,) not that it is merely low in fat and bland like bibimbap or kimbap...

Sigh, Koreans..... They always seem to get it wrong don't they....?

If I opened up a Korean restaurant in London, I would have huge pictures in the windows of exotic stuff like pig spine soup, people sitting around laughing and chatting whilst eating samguipsal, maybe someone blowing out cartoon flames after eating kimchi chiggae....things like that to make Korean food look exotic and fun (which it really is, that's what kills me, thay they don't emphasise the right things...)