Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jondepoer]

Spring is upon us, and I'm trying to put together a nice place to grill on the weekend. Korean BBQ is fine, but I want something as close as possible to home. I was thinking about buying a grill like the one below:

http://item.gmarket.co.kr/detailview/Item.asp?goodscode=189990186&pos_shop_cd=EN&pos_class_cd=90000001&pos_class_kind=T&keyword_order=bbq

But what kind of charcoal, fuel, etc. should I use? Looks like the seller wants 27,000 for a bag which seems insane. And can I just use those bottles of fuel that they sell at the Family Mart?

A little insight from a seasoned expat-BBQer might save me a lot of wasted time and money. Any thoughts?

[warmachinenkorea]

Look around at any grocery stores and get the charcoal that is in the bricks or little pieces. The bags are small but cost 2-3,000 won.

Or Coscto and gmarket both sell the western style stuff.

[jondepoer]

Thanks! How do I light them? Lighter fluid? As you can probably tell I'm very new at this, haha.

[stuey11]

Use one of the gas canisters that are used in portable gas ranges, you can buy an attachment (sell them in most small supermarkets) to turn it into a blowtorch, use this to light your charcoal

[adzee1]

[jondepoer]

Actually, I've always lived in civilized countries where a simple auto-light BBQ doesn't cost $500.

[adzee1]

haha Yeh thats a bit pricey, I wasnt having a go at you by the way.

I just thought that most people dont really use auto light or gas BBQs, I have never seen one in action, although I have seen then on TV and in movies.


The idea of a gas BBQ kind of defeats the idea of barbecuing to me but maybe I am from an "uncivilised" country.

[jondepoer]

Haha true. And yeah, I'll be interested to see the difference that a "primitive" BBQ makes. (lol)

I was just using a verbal stick to stir up the apologists' nest. They should be by any minute...

[coralreefer_1]

I have seen small matchlight bags on gmarket for as low as 6,000 won.

That said, the natural charcoal with the torch attachment mentioned above is a much "cleaner" way to have a non-gas cook. I'd never used natural coals before coming to Korea, but now that I have I would never go back. They are a little more difficult to get an even spread of heat as opposed to the briquettes/fluid...but once they get hot they are good to go~

[CrikeyKorea]

In Australia we used to use fire starters (I think they were called), kind of white things that looked like foam and easily caught alight and burned really hot.

But I haven't seen them here, so I just use really tightly scrunched up newspaper and cardboard if I have any and that does the trick no worries.

(I use a weber btw).

[northway]

[adzee1]

[lonestarteacher]