Meme Dictionary

Chojang (Vinegared chili sauce)

초장

Chojang is a tangy, sweet-and-spicy dipping sauce made by mixing gochujang with vinegar, sugar, and often garlic and ses

Makjang (Quick-fermented soybean paste)

막장

As a food, makjang is a type of quickly-made, coarse soybean paste, a rougher,more casual cousin of doenjang, traditiona

Bapdoduk (Rice thief — food so good you overeat rice)

밥도둑

"Bapdoduk" literally means "rice thief." It's an affectionate term for a dish so delicious, usually savory, salty, or s

Gisa-sikdang (Taxi-driver diner)

기사식당

A gisa-sikdang is a type of Korean diner originally catering to taxi and truck drivers ("gisa" means driver). They're k

Jeyuk-bokkeum (Spicy stir-fried pork)

제육볶음

Jeyuk-bokkeum is thinly sliced pork stir-fried in a spicy gochujang- and gochugaru-based sauce with onions, garlic, and

Bulgogi (Marinated grilled beef)

불고기

Bulgogi, literally "fire meat," is thinly sliced beef marinated in a sweet-savory sauce of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil,

Samgyeopsal (Grilled pork belly)

삼겹살

Samgyeopsal is thick slices of pork belly grilled at the table, one of Korea's most popular and social dishes. The meat

Sikhye (Sweet rice punch)

식혜

Sikhye is a traditional sweet Korean rice beverage made by fermenting cooked rice with malt water, then sweetening it, r

Meju (Fermented soybean block)

메주

Meju is a block of dried, fermented soybeans that serves as the foundation for Korea's essential fermented pastes and sa

Nurungji (Scorched rice)

누룽지

Nurungji is the thin, crispy layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pot when cooking rice, lightly scorched and g

Sungnyung (Scorched-rice tea)

숭늉

Sungnyung is a traditional Korean beverage made by adding water to the layer of rice scorched at the bottom of the pot a

Jeotgal (Salted fermented seafood)

젓갈

Jeotgal is salted, fermented seafood, such as shrimp, anchovies, oysters, or fish roe, preserved with lots of salt and a