Todamgol 토담골 Lynnwood, WA

The banchan at Todamgol were interesting. Clockwise for top left: cabbage kimchi, radish, beans in sweet soy glaze, mung bean sprouts, potatoes in soy sauce glaze, seaweed with sauce, Korean zucchini and eggplant. I didn't have a favorite but it was all gone by the time I left.

The main dish was stir fried squid with veggies over rice. This was a version of bibimbap. One is supposed to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together with the hot rice underneath. I didn't get a picture of the "after" as I forgot and was too busy eating.

I think this will be the last Korean meal before leaving for Seoul next month. I'll probably have bibimbap on the Asiana flight.

BCD Tofu House in Lynnwood, WA

 

I dropped someone off at Seatac airport this morning. I stopped at the BCD Tofu located in the food court at HMart in Lynnwood. I ordered seafood tofu stew. As you can tell from the picture the soup arrives at your table still boiling. I love the fried whole fish. It's fun to tear it apart with chopsticks

 

Clockwise from the top: cabbage kimchi, fernbracken, radish in soy sauce and shredded potato.

The radish in soy sauce, mu jjangajji, is spicy because green peppers are put in with the radish to pickle. I make it at home but it's certainly not a pretty as this version.

Hanjeongsik - 한정식

 

Hangjeongsik is a complete Korean meal. So many banchan are served that the dishes can fill up the table. I was treated to this lunch in Chuncheon, Gangwondo

Banchan at Sura in Lynnwood

 

Clockwise from the top left: potato in soy sauce, cabbage kimchi, cucumber pickle, fernbracken, cubed radish kimchi, fried green peppers and anchovies, potato salad and fried tofu in sauce HINT: Click on the image to enlarge.

Hunger Is the Best Banchan

According to An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture, "Banchan refers to all the side dishes which are served at a Korean meal along with the basic dish, rice." The Korean saying "Hunger is the Best Banchan" means you will enjoy your meal no matter how meager it is if you are hungry.