B b b busan

Agreed, it’s top tier. Although I don’t recall other cuisines having side dishes. Pho has bean sprouts and mint if I’m mistaken. But like noodles (or ramen) is also up there

My Korean friend wants me to try out Sigeumchi Namul and I am dying to try it.

No pickled quail eggs? no wood grubs?

not here, but I actually went to the store to get some pickled quail eggs yesterday!

I don't think i've had wood grubs before, where did you have those?

ooh nice, Pretty sure I've been enjoying that every day at the AYCE buffet here I like. that I'm heading to in a few minutes, actually! woo! I think you can see it a couple posts back.

You're right about pho, I ate that almost every day bikepacking through Vietnam. can't get tired of pho.

lots of cuisines have side dishes, but they don't pop for me like Korean side dishes do every time, in diversity and flavor, and are rarely as pleasing to the eye.

In Donghae. They have a nutty flavor, kind of like walnuts, and are usually served coated in honey, as a small side dish just like the others you have there.

Just took a look. I'm jealous.

Are there any others you can really recommend over the others (wiithout meat)?

afaik, Korea is pretty careful about separating cooking oils by meat/veg, and they are very enthusiastic about balancing meat dishes with a ton of vegetables, so most of the dishes are where it's at. The gochujang shiso leaf is fantastic, pickled soybean sprouts, kimchi is always a winner. That's what's so great about korean side dishes, they're largely highly flavorful fermented vegetables that compliment anything.

boy if you are veg only, look for taiwanese buddhist buffes. Holy cow, they have created a new branch of cuisine with making mushrooms taste phenomenal, the texture and flavor of all their dishes are insane. anytime i'm in taiwan, i exclusively eat at taiwanese buddhist buffets.

oh dang interesting. I'm only here a couple days, but i eat grubs and insects in thailand/china and like them, so i'll keep the korean grubs in mind for next time. I'll definitely be back. A grocery store worker gave me free nori, which i've been buying the last few days, so i'm going to town on nori today.

I've had kimchi but I prefer my local sauerkraut over it. The gochujang shiso leaf seems awesome though. I buy imported gochujang and love it.

And I haven't had any buddhist food afaik.

I've never had anything like the Buddhist Taiwanese food except in Taiwan, it is absolutely unique in Asia, afaik. But dang, does it ring a different bell.

Yea, this is the first shiso leaf I've had as a main dish, also very unique, I did not expect it at all. Very tasty as a main dish rather than accoutrement.

I went to Vietnamese restaurant and chickened out of eating pho. I was slightly intimidated by the amount of broth. I keep thinking that I have to finish the entire bowl I’m served. I was gonna bike back home and don’t like the feeling of liquid juggling about in my belly.

I know what you mean. I always ate pho at the local spot with all the ol' grammas and grampas and a lot them left there bowls half finished, which is when I realized you just eat what you like. That soup will be comforting on your bike ride home, it was every day for me for three months, anyway.