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How can I gain cooking experience in Korea?

Home › Forums › Korean food discussion › How can I gain cooking experience in Korea?

  • This topic has 10 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by Anonymous.
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    • January 5, 2020 at 10:48 pm #84939
      traviseatsalot
      Participant

      I’ve been cooking Korean food with Korean and Korean-American friends for about seven years now. I’ve made about thirty of Maangchi’s recipes as well. But I want to take my cooking to the next level by going to Korea for the months of February and March.

      Of course there are many cooking courses offered throughout the country, but they seem to be geared towards those who have no experience with Korean food. I need something that’s a bit more advanced, but the only thing I could find was a two-year program to become a chef.

      I’ve thought about trying to meet people out and about and cooking with them. I’ve thought about doing an unpaid internship in a restaurant but I think the authorities would see that as illegal work.

      What are other ways I learn more about Korean cooking in two months?

    • January 6, 2020 at 3:44 am #84943
      sanne
      Participant

      There are many small restaurants in Korea. Look for the ones crowded around noon and go there when all the employees from the companies around have left. Tell the owner(s) about your interest in authentic Korean food and wait what will happen.
      Of course, it helps if you speak Korean. A little bit is all it needs.
      And at all the 포장마차 (snack/food carts) you can watch the preparation anyways.

    • January 6, 2020 at 12:24 pm #84945
      traviseatsalot
      Participant

      Okay! These are good ideas. I’m trying to learn a little Korean now and take classes when I arrive. I’m staying in Yongsan-Gu for a month. I’ve read there are some good restaurants around. Thanks, @sanne!

    • January 6, 2020 at 1:08 pm #84946
      sanne
      Participant

      You’re welcome. Be prepared to be a bit hung over when (not if) you become friends with some of the restaurant owners…
      Happened to us in 2016 – intimate farewell party with the owners of our favorite tiny restaurant in Seoul.

    • January 7, 2020 at 12:42 am #84949
      traviseatsalot
      Participant

      Haha I’ve heard of that. I need to buy some of those hangover pills.

    • January 7, 2020 at 2:18 am #84950
      sanne
      Participant

      Try rice gruel with egg and radish cube kimchi – or any of the many hangover-guks… ;-)

    • January 7, 2020 at 9:48 am #84951
      traviseatsalot
      Participant

      Good tip! Did you have any favorite street food markets by the way?

    • January 16, 2020 at 11:13 pm #84954
      sanne
      Participant

      One of the first carts entering Insadong (Seoul) – they had japchae-hotteok aka https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/yachae-hotteok (see my comments there).

      We loved fish cakes anywhere. And anything filled with red bean paste.

      Whole markets – well, since we ate at small restaurants mostly…
      Avoid “famous” places mostly.

      If you happen to come to Andong, visit the Old Market. We happened to have visited it before it was rebuilt and ate Andong jjimdak in a small restaurant in 2003.
      They became famous, and all of a sudden several restaurants offering Andong jjimdak opened in the immediate neighborhood…
      We’ve tested both the original one and several others over the years. All pretty good, including the garlic chicken…

      Avoid the Food street in Andong; that’s more of a tourist trap nowadays – but fun during the Autumn Mask Dance Festival. Speaking of which, the food at the festival is outrageous!

      Follow your nose and the locals…

      If you love raw fish: Seongdo Haepyeon in Busan. I don’t know where the small restaurants are now (they move a lot), but if the ones at the small harbor WSW are still there, go there.
      They are closed every Wednesday? Thursday?

    • January 16, 2020 at 11:14 pm #84965
      Helen0705
      Participant

      Hello if u need any help when u come to Korea, i can help you if u wanna learn simple Korean language, and also sone korean cooking tips. As an authentic Korean, i think i can help u as far as I Know.

      I live in Seoul, where is the capital of Korea.

      Email me
      helen.park0705@gmail.com

    • January 16, 2020 at 11:14 pm #84969
      sanne
      Participant

      My answer is still stuck in moderation…
      Search for my name on maangchi.com – I’ve already written some of it here.

    • March 29, 2022 at 3:04 am #96075
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      You can gain cooking experience in Korea by working in food stalls or in restaurants for a better experience.

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