Most of the time when I hear about other foreigners’ experiences with “weird,” “strange” or “bizarre” Korean food” I sort of roll my eyes. Bibimbop, lettuce wrapped beef, and green onion pancakes (pajeon) are about as innocuous as it gets…plus…you can easily find those menu items in the States. It would be kind of like patting yourself on the back for going to Mexico and eating tamales or chicken molé.
On the other hand, if I saw a foreigner chowing down on some mulhoe (물회) – a local Sockcho specialty of cold and spicy seafood soup served with a side of cold noodles, I would probably raise my eyebrows with a bit of respect. I realize that for many people, eating Korean BBQ is probably going way outside their comfort zone, so baby steps, I guess. Mulhoe, on the other hand, falls way, WAY outside the Korean BBQ comfort zone, requiring a certain level of adventure (or maybe just plain ol’ curiosity). Even among Koreans it’s a dish that is either loved or hated. Continue Reading
