u/Huge_Blackberry5330

A Week of Fresh Flavor for Just $2

The Lakeside Cafe near the Railway

육전과 파 겉절이 +@

Yukjeon (Korean Egg-Battered Beef)

& Fresh Green Onion Kimchi

+Something Beyond the Frame

An alley in Insadong

These days, more and more people around the world are discovering Korean food.

When you think of Korean cuisine, what comes to mind? Kimchi, Korean BBQ, bibimbap, bulgogi, kimbap, or maybe even Buldak ramen?

They're all delicious, and I enjoy them too. But as a Korean, the first thing that comes to my mind isn't any of those dishes.

It's **baekban (백반).**

Baekban is a simple everyday meal made up of steamed rice, soup or stew, and a variety of side dishes. It isn't a special occasion meal or something people travel across the city to eat. It's simply the kind of meal many Koreans grow up eating almost every day.

There's an interesting reason why baekban means so much to us.

When Koreans travel abroad, we're usually excited to try local food. But after a week or two, many of us begin craving something different. We don't usually search for bibimbap or bulgogi. Instead, we find ourselves looking for a small Korean restaurant that serves kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae, or a simple baekban with rice and homemade side dishes.

That's the taste of home.

In Korea, the idea of **baekban** is closely connected to **jipbap (집밥)**, which literally means "home-cooked meal." Both represent comfort, balance, seasonal ingredients, and the everyday food that has been part of Korean life for generations.

I was even surprised to see a **gisa sikdang (기사식당)** in the middle of New York. Originally, these restaurants were created for taxi drivers and other workers who needed affordable, filling meals. Today, they're loved by everyone because they serve exactly what baekban is all about: a satisfying meal with rice, soup, and a variety of side dishes.

That's why I'd like to focus many of my posts on baekban rather than only the famous Korean dishes.

I want to introduce the food that ordinary Koreans actually eat—the humble but incredibly diverse meals that change with the seasons, reflect regional ingredients, and tell the story of everyday life in Korea.

To me, that's the real heart of Korean cuisine.

Thank you for spending part of your weekend evening reading my long post. I really appreciate it. 😊

Hope this helps

냉 메밀 국수& 비빔국수 - Chilled Buckwheat Noodles & Bibim Noodles

Come visit!

A rainy-day assorted Korean pancakes made from whatever I had in the fridge.

닭갈비와 오이 냉국 - Dakgalbi with chilled cucumber soup

A Light Summer Lunch for a Hot Day

Grilled meat with homegrown lettuce from my balcony garden.

This image was generated using AI. Please double-check transportation information, as there may be minor inaccuracies.

Summer Dongchimi and Yeolmu kimchi with barley rice.

One of Korea's ultimate summer meals. ☀️