Korean dramas are immensely popular because of the dramatic storylines, intriguing characters, and, of course, the scrumptious food. Without a doubt, if you watch a show, you’ll instantly get a craving for these dishes and may even order some for yourself. I know I have!
Along with the success of K-Pop drama and music, which has become the country’s hallmark around the world, food from that country has also become a culture. With that said, join us and let’s drool together as I write and you read this article.
Korean fried chicken
Fried chicken, in our opinion, is real soul food for any Korean. Fried chicken has monopolised every part of Korea, to the point where the Korean empire has a list of how many fried chicken businesses are permitted to operate in each block. Fried chicken is frequently shown in Korean dramas as a dish eaten to celebrate a special occasion with family and friends, or to mend a broken heart.
Everyone used to order KFC for a crispy and tasty fried chicken meal, but Korean Fried Chicken has now taken over. So, what distinguishes this fried chicken from the rest? Of course, whether it’s a mixture of soy sauce and garlic or a fiery and sweet red chilli paste, the components are the same.
You’ll become addicted to both! Oh, it’s much better if the fried chicken is smothered with melting, warm mozzarella cheese!
Bibimbap
We’re drooling just thinking about bibimbap. This nutritious and tasty bowl of mixed veggies, meat, chilli paste, sesame oil, and occasionally fried egg is ready for you to mix it up, making it a flexible dish. This Korean dish is well-known and popular, and it has long been a favourite of performers in Korean dramas.
Bingsu
Like Malaysia’s Ice Kacang, we can now enjoy bingsu (a grated ice dessert from Korea), which we often see in K-Drama, thanks to the abundance of outlets that sprout like mushrooms after the rain in KL. Fruit, syrup, red bean paste, and condensed milk are layered on top of this ice cream dish. Grated ice desserts, especially the popular ones that cost approximately rm30 a bowl, have become sweets in a high-priced setting.
Gimbap
Gimbap is a traditional Korean dish in which rice is wrapped in seaweed. Rice, meat, and veggies are the main components. Sesame oil and salt will be mixed with the rice.
Usually, it is often made out of a variety of components such as fish, eggs, beef, kimchi, tuna, cheese, and other ingredients. Cucumber, spinach, mustard greens, and pickled radish are among the veggies used.
After the rice is wrapped and rolled with sea rhubarb, it will be cut into 8 pieces or according to one mouthful.
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki, or Korean rice cakes, are seasoned with gochujang (fermented chile paste). The flavour of this delectable crimson dish is both hot and sweet. Rose tteokbokki, like the spicy tteokbokki seasoning in general, is made using gochujang and gochugaru (Korean chilli powder), as well as heavy cream and liquid milk. Because rose tteokbokki has a savoury and soft flavour, it pairs well with the chewy texture of rice cakes. Apart from tteokbokki, Koreans use rose sauce to prepare various foods such as spaghetti or donkatsu (deep-fried pork).
Corn dog
Do you recall the drama Start Up? If he appeared in one of the key situations between Nam Do-san and Han Ji-pyeong, he may have been the reason for the corn dog’s popularity.
When he witnessed the combination of sausage and cheese in a flour mixture before being lightly cooked, he swallowed his spit. Fortunately, several vendors in Malaysia are now offering corn dogs in a variety of flavours to cater to local preferences.
Kimchi
Did you notice that kimchi must feature at least once in Korean dramas? In the Korean drama industry, we dubbed this the Best Supporting Actor. Kimchi is produced with salt-marinated vegetables and ground vegetables, most often Napa cabbage or mu (Korean radish), combined with a variety of flavouring components such as gochugaru (Korean red chilli flakes), jeotgal (salted fish), garlic, and ginger. In Kuala Lumpur, you can buy pre-made kimchi at any supermarket.
Jjajangmyeon
Jjajangmyeon (or Jajangmyeon) are black bean sauce noodles with a Chinese provenance. A noodle dish containing minced beef and veggies, as well as chunjang (a thick soy sauce that gives it a black colour). After a long day at work, Korean actors frequently request meals to be delivered to their homes in K-Drama. Jjajangmyeon is traditionally eaten cross-legged on the floor with a newspaper instead of a mat. We don’t advocate ordering these noodles when you have an appointment since they can make you seem pretty!
Ramyeon
You’ve certainly tasted hot, tasty instant noodles, but the first ramyeon you eat should be the one that transforms your life! It is known that the ideal way to enjoy ramyeon is when it is made in a traditional gold-coloured pot used by many Koreans, on a side of kimchi, and a boiled egg on top.