Taste & Appetite

Highlights from this collection

• 밥도둑 (bap-do-duk) — The highest honor bestowed upon a Korean side dish (e.g., Marinated Raw Crab).
• 감칠맛(이 돌다) (gam-chil-mat-i-dol-da) — The magical feeling when the flavor stays in your mouth long after swallowing.
• 군침(이 돌다) (gun-chim-i-dol-da) — The physical reaction to seeing a boiling pot of Ramyeon at midnight.
• 허겁지겁(먹다) (heo-geop-ji-geop) — Describes a complete loss of dining etiquette due to extreme hunger.
• 입맛(이 돌다) (im-mat-i-dol-da) — The feeling of finally wanting to eat again after a period of exhaustion.
• 입짧다 (ip-jjal-da) — A very common phrase for people who can't eat large portions or dislike many ingredients.
• 꿀맛(이다) (kkul-mat) — Even plain water is 'kkulmat' after a long, exhausting hike.
• 폭풍흡입(하다) (pok-pung-heu-bip-ha-da) — A slightly comical term for destroying a buffet or a large pizza.
• 풍미(가 깊다) (pung-mi-ga-gip-da) — Used to describe high-end dishes, aged cheeses, or very well-crafted sauces.
• 싹쓸이(하다) (ssak-sseul-i-ha-da) — The greatest compliment to the chef: leaving absolutely nothing on the plates.
• 비리다 (bi-ri-da) — A strong negative word for seafood that isn't fresh, or an unwashed seaweed smell.
• 잡내(를 잡다) (jap-nae) — The most important fundamental skill in Korean meat and stew cooking.
• 질기다 (jil-gi-da) — A frustrating texture that wears out your jaw.
• 꼬들꼬들하다 (kko-deul-kko-deul-ha-da) — The ideal state for Korean instant ramen noodles (Ramyun). Never mushy.
• 누린내(가 나다) (nu-rin-nae) — The ultimate ruin of a meat dish. If a restaurant has this, it fails.
• 푸석푸석하다 (pu-seok-pu-seok-ha-da) — Can also describe unhealthy, unwashed hair or dry skin.
• 살살 녹다 (sal-sal-nok-da) — Used when the texture is so tender you don't even need to chew.
• 싱싱하다 (sing-sing-ha-da) — Implies the ingredient was literally alive just moments ago.
• 야들야들하다 (ya-deul-ya-deul-ha-da) — A highly positive texture word for fat and meat that melt in the mouth.
• 육즙(이 터지다) (yuk-jeup-i-teo-ji-da) — The highest form of praise you can give to a Korean BBQ chef.
• 달짝지근하다 (dal-jjak-ji-geun-ha-da) — The secret sweetness in Korean marinades (like Bulgogi) that balances the soy sauce.
• 달큼하다 (dal-keum-ha-da) — Not artificial sugar sweetness, but the deep, natural sweetness of quality vegetables.
• 짭짜름하다 (jjap-jja-reum-ha-da) — The good kind of salty that perfectly complements plain rice or alcohol.
• 새콤달콤하다 (sae-kom-dal-kom-ha-da) — The classic flavor of Korean cold noodles (Naengmyeon) or fruit candies.

+ 30 more in this collection — browse the gallery above.