Korea is famous for its cuisine, but did you know Korea’s take on traditional Chinese dishes is some of the most popular dishes among Koreans?
Of those, one dish, in particular, stands out as one of Korea’s most sought-after comfort foods.
Jajangmyeon is noodles in a black bean sauce, with quite a history. According to legend, the food was first introduced in 1905 at a Chinese restaurant named Gonghwachun. The dish was created by the owners of the restaurant, who were Chinese immigrants from the Shangdong province of China.
The dish was based on the Chinese dish zhájiàngmiàn, which is a ground pork and noodles dish originating from the Shangdong province. The owners of the restaurant created the dish due to being homesick but localized it to fit the taste of Koreans.
The biggest difference between the two dishes is that the Korean version is made of sweet black bean paste, whereas the Chinese version is prepared with fermented soybean paste.
The dish was a hit with Koreans, and the rest , as they say, is history. Today Koreans eat the noodles on moving day…
And On April 14, a sad holiday reserved for singles who couldn’t part take in the festivities of Valentine’s Day and White Day.
Here’s Davichi‘s Kang Min Kyung eating the noodles after attending fellow Davichi member Lee Haeri‘s wedding.
Most of all, the sweet, starchy, comforting, wonderful food is eaten whenever you are craving carbohydrates. Due to high level of carbs, it’s a well-known fact that those on a diet try to avoid this food at all costs.
The food is so beloved that Korea even has a museum dedicated to the dish!
Don’t believe how good the dish is? Don’t take our word for it, just watch decorated former White House Chef Andre Rush.
The Chef is one of America’s most accomplished Chefs. The celebrity Chef worked in the White House kitchen for four administrations. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump have all eaten the Chef’s food.
Recently he was featured on a Korean YouTuber’s channel. Korea Fitness HellchangTV is a fitness channel, where the Chef and the show’s host indulged in some vices most fitness fanatics don’t dare go near.
The accomplished Chef tried the noodle, and his reactions tell you everything you need to know.
One more for the road?
The Chef finally sends his compliments with an iteration of the Chef’s Kiss that we can all appreciate.
Have you ever tried Jajangmyeon? Check out the two fitness gurus dive into delicious foods in the link below!
