Page 64 - Grasp English B2 (Student Book)

5 Cuisines And Dishes

When I first arrived in Seoul, I was amazed at how many stalls selling food
could be found on any street. Offering a whole variety of Korean dishes,
the people who work in them are there from the early hours of the morning
serving breakfast, right through to the small hours of the morning when
Korean business people and tourists spill out of the bars, starving after singing
karaoke.

Whatever your appetite - whether you’re after a quick snack after a visit
to the fabulous Trick Eye Museum or need an energy boost in between
shopping - Seoul has something for everybody. Sweet potato fritters with
energy boosting dipping sauce, deep-fried vegetables with a delicious soy
dressing or Korean barbecue...it can all be found on the streets of Seoul’s
busy central district.

One thing I will say: if you’re a vegan, Seoul street food is probably off the
cards, and even for vegetarians, it can be difficult to find things you can eat.
A lot of the seasoning tends to come from fish sauce, and even dishes which
look vegetarian will often include it. For example, in most places, you’ll be
able to order a side of kimchi, Korea’s cabbage dish, which is traditionally
made with fish sauce.

Whatever you decide to eat, remember to buy drinks as well, especially if
the food you’re used to isn’t particularly salty. With the fish sauce, soy sauce
and MSG-filled seasonings, you’ll be eating a lot of salt, and it’s important
to stay hydrated. Most street stalls will also sell cold beverages, and there
are also stalls selling sweet snacks if you’ve had enough salt. Mochi is a local
favourite: a small rice cake with a strawberry filling.

While there are some areas, particularly in the Myeongdong Market, where
you can sit down to eat, a lot of the food is take-away. So, if you’re after a
relaxing dining experience and looking for somewhere to eat in, you may
find the busy streets a little too noisy and overwhelming. However, there are
plenty of restaurants to be found, too, offering everything from a cheap
lunchtime buffet to Michelin-starred meals.

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