Korean BBQ's

I want to tell you all how god damn nice Korean BBQ’s are. Not only is all the food that you’re provided with delicious but the experience is a fantastic one. I have never had so much enjoyment within a single dinner time. OK, so let me start from the beginning, as that makes best sense.

It’s only about 15 seconds from the moment you sit down that you’re presented with an entourage of side dishes. Most of them are unknown in substance, but I will hazard at some guesses rather than actually researching.

There’s always a watery soup with a few rogue leaves floating on or just below the oily surface. It’s ok – it has a subtle fragrance that makes you leave it alone. Then there are a plethora of vegetables evenly spread over a number of roundly shaped china bowls. Cabbage, spring onion, red cabbage, more types of unknown cabbage, whole gloves of garlic, cucumber sticks, bean sprouts, etc etc etc…. AND then there’s the signature dish, Kimchi: Vegetables (standard mix of cabbage, white radish, and/or cucumber) commonly fermented in a cauldron of ginger, garlic, green onion and chilli pepper. All I can say is take a big mouthful to get the full effect.

Then comes the choice of meat.

Most places only have one or two types. I’m yet to find beef. So far chicken and pork have been served up!! I can’t describe the joy one gets from seeing your food ‘cook’ in front of you. The chicken comes ready marinated in a tasty, spicy, finger licking good sauce. When this hybrid is evolving before you eyes and nose your taste buds begin to salivate. Then you begin. You take a crisp lettuce leaf, fill it with all the above dishes, top up with some extra spicy sauce and then a chunky piece of chicken and then load it all into your mouth in one go! And wash down with a mouthful of professionally chilled beer.

Furthermore it all costs (including x2 beers) 9,000 won. Which is approximately £4.50.