Category: Food

Funny American Things in Korea

Published on by stefaniepaikLeave a comment

Korea is well-versed in deep history and culture. On the other hand, Korea has grown into a very diverse country that offers global companies that are localized to Korean society. So to commemorate all of the strange American things I have experienced, I created a list of my favorite places.

Costco

The wholesale company, based in Washington state, has various locations all around Korea. In the greater Seoul area 6 Costco’s. The layout of the Costco is the same as the ones in the US, the only big difference is that the Costco here are multi-storied. Korean Costco will have parking on the basement floors, and then there will be a 1 and 2 floor for merchandise. Merchandise is localized to Korean taste. The best part of Korean Costco’s experience is the food court. The most popular item is the bulgogi pizza. It was fairly good, but I found the cheese on the pizza to be a little strange.

Ikea

While Ikea is Swedish and not American, I enjoyed going to Ikea for fun back home. So Ikea here is generally the same. All the merchandise is the same, still a long labyrinth of furniture. At the Korean Ikea, the menu is similar to the US menu. One thing I noticed is the large amount of vegan options. It’s interesting because vegan options are not super extensive in Korea, but it is growing among the population. The food was pretty good; thought it was a little bland. Also, the garlic bread was sweet, so I didn’t like it.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s has locations all around Korea. Recently, Korea has been doing more localized menu options such as the Jindo green onion burger. In my personal opinion, I don’t like Korean McDonald’s. The fries don’t have that signature American saltiness. Also, McDonald’s does not allow customization so I don’t want to order any burger cause I hate tomatoes. It is a fun experience to try but don’t expect it to taste the same as America.

Great Eats & Better Drinks

Published on by jillianec516Leave a comment

I will admit I was a little scared of what I thought would be a majority of the local food at restaurants, but the food selection in stores and restaurants is honestly super diverse. The desserts and coffee have been my personal favorites to try out. All different region’s cuisines are available around the city, some more authentic than others. The Mexican food I’ve found here is probably the furthest from actual Mexican food, but the Asian, Mediterranean, and Indian food has been the most genuine in taste. Some of the more local Czech food I’ve tried has included dumplings and fried cheese, both very much bringing a comfort food feeling. KFC, Mcdonald’s, Subway, and Starbucks can all be found in the city center, with a slight change in taste and menu items. The sit-down meals I’ve had here in Brno have all been delicious, with fresher ingredients, and better than a lot of the fusion food in the U.S. The amount of Kebab I’ve consumed since being in Europe has been immense. There’s Kebab on every street and most are open late to feed the club and pubgoers.

The Czech Republic is the country that drinks the most beer in the world per capita and is quite literally cheaper than water. The country has a history of brewing beer going back to the 6th century, and the pouring style for the optimal amount of foam has been perfected by many here. Eye contact while toasting “Na Zdravi” or taking shots is done by everyone, if not that means bad luck, or some people claim it’s bad sex for 7 years. Burčák is a “young” fermented fruit wine, which is popular to buy in liter bottles at different stands in the city center. I’ve learned that when you buy a bottle it has to be finished within a day or two or it will go bad quickly, so it is perfect for sharing. Each week there is karaoke and parties to attend at some of the clubs within Brno hosted by the Erasmus Student Network. I’ve gone a couple times but they feel somewhat redundant. Instead, I’ve ventured to other spots with some friends which has helped with exploring Brno after dark. These nights usually end with a nice walk around beautiful architecture, a Kebab from Turkey Kebab, and the N95 Bus back to the dorms.

food n drink collage
Food & Drink Collage from various restaurants and cafes in Brno, Czech Republic. Including a picture of the burčák bottle.

Back in the dorms, every couple of days my roommate and I have our friends come over and we all take turns cooking dishes that belong to each of our countries and watch a movie. It’s interesting that none of us are from the same country so we all have different meals that we can contribute that make us feel closer to home while sharing with others. I enjoy how wholesome it is that we all actually want to cook for each other even though our kitchens are tiny. Food is truly a way we can express how grateful we are for each other while teaching each other about the traditions we have at home.