5 Facts About Bulgogi, the Representative Korean Meat Dish
1. Bulgogi Is A Korean Dish Where Thinly Sliced Meat Is Marinated In A Sauce And Then Grilled
Instead of the strong flavors typical of some cuisines, bulgogi’s savory, slightly sweet, and salty taste, combined with a charred flavor, makes it a popular choice worldwide. This has led it to be considered one of the most preferred Korean foods globally. In Korea, when people refer to “bulgogi” without any qualifiers, they are generally talking about beef bulgogi. However, pork bulgogi is also quite common.
2. The Three Main Types Of Bulgogi In Korea Are (1) Eonyang-style bulgogi, (2) Gwangyang-style bulgogi, and (3) Seoul-style bulgogi
(1) Eonyang-style bulgogi, originating from Eonyang-eup in Ulsan, involves grilling marinated beef on a griddle. The beef is finely chopped, mixed with soy sauce, garlic, and other ingredients, then aged before being grilled. It has a sweet and salty flavor and is quite thick.
(2) Gwangyang-style bulgogi, originating from Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province, features thinly sliced beef marinated with soy sauce and sugar, then grilled over charcoal. The beef is not marinated for long; it is seasoned just before grilling. The thin slices make it very tender.
(3) Seoul-style bulgogi originated from royal court cuisine enjoyed by Korean kings. It is characterized by a sweet, slightly soupy broth. Thinly sliced beef is marinated and cooked with green onions, mushrooms, onions, and broth in a hot pot style. This is the most commonly encountered style of bulgogi.
3. Bulgogi Burgers and Bulgogi Pizzas
It’s very interesting that almost all fast food chains in South Korea have bulgogi burgers and bulgogi pizzas as standard offerings. Many places are also developing menu items like bulgogi tacos and bulgogi salads.
4. For Beef Bulgogi, Sirloin or Tenderloin With A Bit Of Fat Is Primarily Used
The marinade typically includes chopped soy sauce, green onions, garlic, and may also contain ginger juice, pepper, and sesame seeds. The meat is massaged with the marinade and then left to marinate. After marinating, the meat is mixed with sesame oil and grilled slowly over medium heat.
5. Origins of Bulgogi
Looking into the origins of bulgogi, it initially meant “meat (gogi in Korean) grilled over fire (bul in Korean).” Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to thinly sliced meat marinated in a sauce and then grilled.
—
UoH offers a personal assistant program with two types of services. For traveling in Korea, we assist with any type of reservations, rentals, and personal assistance. For shopping, we purchase anything you need and ship it to your home. Feel free to email us at uofhorang@gmail.com for a quote and to find out how to proceed!
