Quote:
Originally Posted by Ningyou
I like spicy food but not THAT spicy. And I don't really like sweet tasting things, I like more sour like stuff or salty.
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Ok, then here are a few tips for your restaurant visit. Bear in mind that if you are not with Asians, the waiter will tell the cook to tone down the spices. When I try new places I have to remember to ask them not to do this for me.
If the menu has English translations and describes a dish as spicy, avoid it. It should mean korean level heat that may have you in tears.
If you have a sizeable budget, start with kalbi. Its ribs you cook yourself, but the waitstaff should be plenty of help.
Bulgogi is marinated, grilled meat. Sometimes the marinade is a little sweeter than American expect, but most people enjoy it. It is often my first choice if I don't know the restaurant.
I am not fond of some of the other dishes which use sweet red pepper, because I too prefer sour and savory. If asked, you want kimchi that is aged, not fresh. It sours as it ages.
If you like soups, try the kimchi jiggae. It is stew made from cabbage-based kimchi. And order some rice on the side. It will be spicy, but if its too hot you can eat it with the rice to make it more comfortable.
For more options, check out the recipes on
Maangchi's Korean Cooking Recipes, Videos, Podcast, Cookbook, DVD, and Blog. These are write-up and videos for making a lot of the traditional Korean dishes, and they are pretty accurate.
Of course, if you are ever in Dallas, PM me and I will show you around the local k-town menus.
