An article from the Korea Herald about Korean foods that the foreign staffers don't like, along with comments from myself concerning my opinion of these foods. Pictures are at the bottom of the page. If you visit me here, just ask and we can try any of these you would like. If you dare!!!!!!
Top seven gross Korean dishes selected by foreign staff at the Korea Herald
2010-10-03 18:49
Fermented skate
Fermented skate is considered a main dish for big parties in Jeolla Province, southern in Korea. But, its tangy flavor doesn’t attract many to try. Some at the Korea Herald claim they have suffered from nausea just by breathing a scent of it.
( have had this and it has an ammonia like smell. Takes a bit of getting used to and many Koreans don't even like it. I will have some, but a little goes a long way.)
Silkworm larva
Silkworm larva, a popular Korean snack called “bundegi,” is one street snack our foreign staff thinks is disgusting. The cooked caterpillar is served in a paper cup and sold cheaply on streets.
(These are not too bad, just the idea of what it is gets in the way. It tastes like a teryaki cotton ball with a crunchy center. Yumm!)
Chicken feet
Chicken feet are the popular side dish sold at street pubs in Korea which goes well with soju. They are marinated with red peppers, garlic, and served while barbequed. Our foreign staff does not favor chicken feet because they believe eating the hands or feet of animals is just plain weird.
(Never had the opportunity to try these, but here they are good.)
Live octopus
The squirming tentacles of live octopus, called “sannakji” in Korean, scare those who trying it for the first time. For our foreign staff, it is the “vilest food they have ever had,” with one describing it as a suction cup. “I suffered badly from the stickiness of sannakji. It has the same effect of adhesive. I will never try it again,” said one foreigner staff member who is not to be named.
(Saw these one time and thought they were hilarious. The dish is served with a smoky sesame oil and hot peppers. Looks delicious, but squirmy!)
Soondae
Soondae is a sausage-like dish favored by many in Korea. But, it is a culture shock to many foreigners. The pig intestine stuffed with blood from the animal, noodles, vegetables and spices makes foreigners hesitant to try. “Pig intestine. What more can I say?” said one unadventurous staffer.
(I love Soondae!!! It is just a Korean Sausage. Our hot dogs, sausages and etc were all originally made from intestines of some animal for the casing. Today, the best sausages are still made from them. Evidently the staffer who was asked this question had no idea what they were eating back home.)
Bosintang
Bosintang is a soup which features dog meat as its primary ingredient. It is traditionally considered a healthy dish in Korea, but has become the subject of controversy with many inside and outside of Korea because of concerns over animal rights. Dog meat is also consumed by some Asian countries such as the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
(Never had this one. Might try it, but just to know what it is like. Kinda like trying horse meat, not something I would do, but would try it for the experience.)
Gopchang
Gopchang refers to grilled intestines of pig or cattle mixed with vegetables, red peppers and other spices. It is not a much favored dish among foreigners. “I had it once. It tasted even worse on the way back up,” said one disgusted staffer. However, Koreans like its chewy texture and juicy taste.
(We would call this chitterlings, or chittlins. While I have never had these anywhere, I don't think I would be repulsed by them, but I do understand the smell will get to you, even from a few kilometers away, haha!)
By Ryu Jeong-hyun
Intern Reporter
2010-10-03 18:49
Fermented skate
Fermented skate is considered a main dish for big parties in Jeolla Province, southern in Korea. But, its tangy flavor doesn’t attract many to try. Some at the Korea Herald claim they have suffered from nausea just by breathing a scent of it.
( have had this and it has an ammonia like smell. Takes a bit of getting used to and many Koreans don't even like it. I will have some, but a little goes a long way.)
Silkworm larva
Silkworm larva, a popular Korean snack called “bundegi,” is one street snack our foreign staff thinks is disgusting. The cooked caterpillar is served in a paper cup and sold cheaply on streets.
(These are not too bad, just the idea of what it is gets in the way. It tastes like a teryaki cotton ball with a crunchy center. Yumm!)
Chicken feet
Chicken feet are the popular side dish sold at street pubs in Korea which goes well with soju. They are marinated with red peppers, garlic, and served while barbequed. Our foreign staff does not favor chicken feet because they believe eating the hands or feet of animals is just plain weird.
(Never had the opportunity to try these, but here they are good.)
Live octopus
The squirming tentacles of live octopus, called “sannakji” in Korean, scare those who trying it for the first time. For our foreign staff, it is the “vilest food they have ever had,” with one describing it as a suction cup. “I suffered badly from the stickiness of sannakji. It has the same effect of adhesive. I will never try it again,” said one foreigner staff member who is not to be named.
(Saw these one time and thought they were hilarious. The dish is served with a smoky sesame oil and hot peppers. Looks delicious, but squirmy!)
Soondae
Soondae is a sausage-like dish favored by many in Korea. But, it is a culture shock to many foreigners. The pig intestine stuffed with blood from the animal, noodles, vegetables and spices makes foreigners hesitant to try. “Pig intestine. What more can I say?” said one unadventurous staffer.
(I love Soondae!!! It is just a Korean Sausage. Our hot dogs, sausages and etc were all originally made from intestines of some animal for the casing. Today, the best sausages are still made from them. Evidently the staffer who was asked this question had no idea what they were eating back home.)
Bosintang
Bosintang is a soup which features dog meat as its primary ingredient. It is traditionally considered a healthy dish in Korea, but has become the subject of controversy with many inside and outside of Korea because of concerns over animal rights. Dog meat is also consumed by some Asian countries such as the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
(Never had this one. Might try it, but just to know what it is like. Kinda like trying horse meat, not something I would do, but would try it for the experience.)
Gopchang
Gopchang refers to grilled intestines of pig or cattle mixed with vegetables, red peppers and other spices. It is not a much favored dish among foreigners. “I had it once. It tasted even worse on the way back up,” said one disgusted staffer. However, Koreans like its chewy texture and juicy taste.
(We would call this chitterlings, or chittlins. While I have never had these anywhere, I don't think I would be repulsed by them, but I do understand the smell will get to you, even from a few kilometers away, haha!)
By Ryu Jeong-hyun
Intern Reporter
