Asia - Eating in South Korea - suggestion

Hello, I will be in Seoul and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about what to look for and what to be careful of while eating out????:)

I have had no problems eating in Seoul area, but then, my colleagues are always looking out for me.

You might check out this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683329&highlight=korea) thread.

Yuuuum - I am sooo jealous. Bulgogi beef (think yummy tender BBQ, cooked right at your table). OK, here's my one word of warning... South Koreans like their food Fresh, Fresh, Fresh (and that's a good thing). But beware the still wiggling squid dish. The little tentacles can grab onto your tongue and not let go until you stun them with a shot of shozju (think fire water). Personally, I'll stick to the bulgogi beef.

what about things to avoid?

what about things to avoid?

Depends on your personal dislikes and previous experiences. Korean cuisine is very much seasonal and still connected to the turf and surf so someone used to more processed food and standardized tastes might have a hard time.

Safest bet are the BBQed meats and stews & soups. The Korean sashimi dishes and some of the regional fish, raw meat and other eats are maybe more of an acquired taste. Special mention of course to the freshly cut but still moving octopus sashimi and steamed silk worms that you'd most likely encounter outside of Seoul.

You might check out this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683329&highlight=korea) thread.

:) ^


--

But beware the still wiggling squid dish. The little tentacles can grab onto your tongue and not let go until you stun them with a shot of shozju (think fire water). Personally, I'll stick to the bulgogi beef.

There are videos of super-fresh Korean seafood online. Here's one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lFjGv1hek

I thought sushi was about as fresh as seafood served in a restaurant could get. Boy was I wrong!

Korean food primer:

http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Korea#Eat

It's pretty different from the generic "Asian" fare in the West, but the only way you'll find the good stuff is to be daring and explore. Pretty much everybody loves bulgogi (Korean BBQ), bibimbap (rice with toppings) ja pajeon (savoury pancakes). Soups (tang) are fairly bland but tasty, stews (jjigae) can be fiery. Raw seafood can be a bit... scary even if you're already a hardcore sushi aficionado.

what about what to avoid, so as not to get sick!???

Rest assured, the Koreans take good care of their food. I ate a lot of raw fish and strange things without any problems or worries, and I traveled far away from the usual tourist and visitor area. This means I had no problems with the food despite sitting in very questionable places (restaurants..).
I don't think you get any sicker in Korea then in any other places.
Have fun

what about what to avoid, so as not to get sick!???I would not worry about this, but if you are still concerned, stick to hot (as in temperature) dishes. Koreans love their hot dishes to be blazingly hot. Soups and stews are served in dishes that seem as if they sat in a furnace for about 3 hours.

Many Korean dishes are also spicy, so if this is not your thing, then avoid them or ask the wait staff to adjust. Usually not a problem.