Dining Out
I love dining out in Korea! The food is cheap, loaded with flavor, and fresh. It will always be served with a variety of side dishes, and will be shared by the entire table. Be sure to be fast with your chopsticks to make sure you get your moneys worth because the bill will be evenly divided amongst the table.
Not only does the food taste GREAT, it is exceptional value. If we go out for an excellent dinner with friends, it will cost less than $15 for each person. That includes all of our beer, and soju. A budget dinner can easily between $5 and $10 including drinks. A lunch out will range from $2 to $7. Also, there is no tipping, and no taxes added to the cost. This would be 30% extra in my home city of Winnipeg, Canada. The food is packed with flavor, but it can also be spicy.
The best site I can recommend about Korean food is www.trifood.com.
Korean style resaurant
The overall experience of dining out in Korea is vastly different from that in Canada. For starters the service is simply amazing. As soon as you sit down, your server will take your drink and menu order. Most restaurants specialize in a few menu items, so this is usually decided pretty easily. As you are just getting comfortable; your server will return with water or green tea, warm moist towels to clean your hands, your beverage order and a selection of free side dishes. These side dishes will be unlike anything you have likely ever tried before. They usually consist of vegetables prepared or marinated in various ways or a spicy soup. [Link – see Trifood.com for details on the various side dishes] You do not choose what side dishes you will receive, but if you happen to finish any of the small dishes, it will be promptly refilled – at no charge of course. I would say I like about half of the side dishes. Don’t be shy, and try as many as you can!
After sampling some of the free sides, and some makchu(beer) or soju (Korean alcohol), your food will already be on your table. Depending on your meal, it may require additional cooking at your table on a propane burner, or a charcoal BBQ. Watching your delicious meal bubbling in front of you is a great way to get your mouth watering. During your meal you may also get some more “service” (complimentary food to say thanks for dining here) such as a free bottle of cola, a nice soup, or even a small menu item to try. I promise you will love the service!
Once the food is ready to eat, the entire table will share the main dish(es). You will even order beer or soft drinks by the bottle, and then drink them from your own small glasses.
Cultural Tip - Always remember to pour your neighbors drink for them, using your right hand and showing the appropriate level of respect depending on the age difference..
If you are concerned about germs, I think you will quickly get over it, or you will have a hard time enjoying one of the best aspects about Korea. If this is a huge issue for you, you can always go to Western, Japanese or certain Korean restaurants that allow you to order a specific menu item. Of all the foreigners I know, this is not a concern with any of them.
Koreans use chopsticks for the main dish, but thankfully they use spoons for the rice. I have heard forks are available at many places, but I think learning how to use chopsticks will just help you feel more comfortable.
At most restaurants you will have the option to sit on small matts on the heated floor, or to use western style chairs. I strongly suggest sitting on the floor as it will help with the overall experience.
Dan’s suggestions before you come
- Practice using chopsticks a few times if you have only used them sparingly before
- Practice sitting cross-legged on the floor a few times to help your legs get used to the position. This will help you enjoy your first few meals out with friends that much more.
When the meal is done, the entire table will split the bill evenly. Yes, this means you should get your moneys worth of the main dish(es) as well as the drinks. Try and not let this system of paying get to you. If you mention that you did not have any cola, or that you had only two glasses of beer, it will likely appear picky even to foreigners who have been using the system for awhile. The difference will only be $1 or $2. Mentioning it to Koreans would be considered very impolite. Please note that Koreans tend to eat the food very quickly, and will order more, sometimes without consulting the table.
Enjoy!!!
Western Options
I promise you will feel an urge for a KFC burger, or an Outback steak after you have been here awhile. The urges will slowly subside after awhile, but these options are still nice as a treat. One thing I do not really like about Gwangju, compared to Seoul, is that there seems to only be higher end steakhouses, or generic fast food chains. I really wish there were more cultural options such as some Thai or Indian food. This is all readily available in Seoul, and to a smaller degree in Busan, but in Gwangju it is not. Considering a normal dinner out at a Korean style restaurant costs $10 for your meal and all drinks, it is easy to see how you can save money by avoiding the Western options.
I will not go into details of the menu items at Western style restaurants because they are chain restaurants. The menus will be slightly different, but basically the same. The main options in Gwangju are Outback Steakhouse, TGIFridays, VIPS, McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut.
