Set Menu Filled with the Charm of Steamed Rice,
The Essence of Korean Flavors
Home-style Dining Favorites among Koreans
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Baekban, literally translates to “white rice,” refers to a style of set menus in restaurants featuring steamed rice, soup, and several side dishes. This combination of steamed rice, soup, and side dishes forms the backbone of the Korean meal traditions, making the “Set Menu (Baekban)” a familiar and routine dining choice for Koreans. These set menus take on different names according to the main dishes they accompany. For instance, a Pork Bulgogi Set Menu features Pork Bulgogi, while a Grilled Fish Set Menu comes with Grilled Fish. Here are some of the Set Menu, a dish that captures the essence of Korean cuisine and is perhaps the most quintessential representation of a Korean meal.
A Filling Meal for the People
Pork Bulgogi Set Menu
Dwaejibulgogi, as known as “Dwaejibulbaek,” refers to the Pork Bulgogi Set Menu, which includes steamed rice and side dishes served with Pork Bulgogi as the main dish. Unlike traditional Bulgogi that uses beef, Pork Bulgogi is made with pork forelegs or hind legs. Being more affordable than beef, Pork Bulgogi naturally became a staple among the people. Pork Bulgogi Set Menu in particular is associated with “Gisa Sikdang” in Korean, or “driver’s restaurants” - restaurants catering to public transportation drivers, serving hearty portions quickly at affordable prices. This tradition originated in Seongbuk-dong area of Seoul, where restaurants began offering charcoal-grilled Pork Bulgogi as a filling meal that comes together quickly for drivers who don’t really have the time for a sit-down grilling experience. Thinly sliced pork marinated in a soy sauce blend with onions and garlic, and grilled to perfection over a briquette fire, offers a wonderful combination of the smoky flavor and chewy texture. Placing a slice of Pork Bulgogi on a spoonful of Steamed Rice or by wrapping it in lettuce with perilla leaves, Mixed Paste, garlic, and other ingredients, creates a wrap that is both rich and tender in flavor.