A Cup of Korea

  Image source:  Pexels If you’ve ever tried Korean fried chicken after growing up with American fried chicken, you probably had the same reaction I did: Wait… why does this feel so different? It looks familiar. It’s still chicken. It’s still fried. But from the first bite, something feels noticeably off—in a good way. Korean fried chicken has been showing up more and more in the U.S. You see it in K-dramas, on social media, and now in many cities through dedicated chicken spots and Korean restaurants. A lot of Americans recognize it, but many aren’t quite sure why it stands out. It’s not just a trend or better seasoning. The difference goes deeper than that. It’s Not Just Fried — It’s Double-Fried Image source:  Pexels One of the biggest differences is how it’s cooked. Korean fried chicken is usually double-fried . The first fry cooks the chicken through. The second fry removes excess moisture and creates an incredibly thin, crisp crust. That’s why Korean fried chic...

  Image source:  Pexels I don’t know if everyone notices this, but I’ve started paying more attention to ramen packages lately. Some look Korean. Some sound Korean. And some feel… almost Korean. It wasn’t something I planned to think about. It started after I watched a short news segment not long ago. The story itself wasn’t dramatic or alarming, but it stayed in my head longer than I expected. It mentioned how Korean ramen has become so popular that products designed to look Korean are starting to blur the lines for consumers. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this wasn’t really about ramen. It was about what happens when something becomes popular very quickly. When Popularity Grows, Similar Things Start to Appear This kind of thing doesn’t only happen with food. It happens whenever something gains attention fast. Once people start paying attention, similar versions naturally begin to show up. Some are inspired by the original. Some try to get close. And ...

Image source: Pixabay The first time Americans eat at a Korean restaurant, there’s usually a moment of hesitation. Food arrives, but instead of one plate per person, everything is placed in the middle of the table. A bubbling stew, several side dishes, maybe one main dish meant for everyone. Someone almost always asks, “So… do we all eat from this?” That reaction makes sense. In the U.S., food is very personal. You order your own dish, your plate is clearly yours, and sharing is optional. In Korea, meals often look different—but not always in the way people imagine. Sharing Is Common, but Not in One Single Way It’s true that Korean meals are often ordered for the table rather than for each person. Many dishes are designed to be shared, especially stews, grilled meats, and side dishes. The idea is that everyone eats together, from the same selection of food. But that doesn’t mean Koreans always eat directly from the same dish in every situation. How food is shared depends a lot on w...