The Famous Chinese-Korean Food in Korea, Jjajangmyeon
Do you know about these black bean noodles from Korea? You might have seen them before, especially if you’re a fan of Korean drama, since this dish is often makes little appearances in some Korean dramas when the character is having lunch or dinner. The name of the dish that we’re going to talk about is Jjajangmyeon, or if we translate it to English, it’s called Black Bean Noodles.
Chinese cuisine is very popular among the Korean people. Jjajangmyeon is a Chinese-Korean food, which is why it’s so popular with many Koreans, and also one of the reasons it’s often being eaten by characters in dramas or reality shows. In addition to Jjajangmyeon, Jjampong and Tangsuyuk are becoming the other main dishes in Chinese-Korean cuisine that could be considered the stars of the Korean culinary world.
It all started in the 19th century. Since China’s geographical location is very close to Korea, Chinese citizens who moved to Korea brought with them dishes from their home country, combining them over time with the taste of Korea, creating a Chinese-Korean fusion.
Would you like to learn more about jjajangmyeon is? Have you ever wanted to taste them, even when you’ve never been to Korea? Well then, let’s take a look at the detailed information about jjajangmyeon down below!
Jjajangmyeon, Korean Black Bean Noodles
Since we’re talking about the tasty cuisine called Jjajangmyeon, why don’t we take a look at some pictures of the dish, first?
Looking at those pictures of Jjajangmyeon must be making you hungry.
Are you curious about what goes inside this Jjajangmyeon that make it looks black? Is it soy sauce? How does it taste? Does it contain pork or beef? Oh, all the questions about Jjajangmyeon only make us hungry again!
Jjajangmyeon is a noodle dish made with black beans, which is what gives the sauce its color. Instead of soy sauce, the sauce is a from sweet bean sauce, or chunjang. For additional protein and complimentary flavors, Jjajangmyeon can be eaten with sliced pork, beef, or seafood as you wish. It’s also usually eaten with vegetables like onion, carrot, cabbage, and cucumber. Before you start eating it, you need to mix all the elements together to get Jjajangmyeon’s authentic taste.
If you have ever watched scenes where the character in a drama or in reality show is eating Jjajangmyeon in a carry-out package, they usually shake it up first to mix it. You can also mix it up manually with chopsticks.
Aside from the delicious taste, Jjajangmyeon is also popular in Korea because it’s quite inexpensive compared to some other dishes. We talked about the carry-out package of Jjajangmyeon before, and how it often appears on some Korean dramas or reality shows. It’s because ordering Jjajangmyeon from Chinese restaurants is easy. To order it, you can just call in the order and the restaurants will deliver it to you right away, anywhere you want!
In Korea, there is also a tradition about eating Jjajangmyeon. The day is called Black Day, and it’s a day where singles celebrate their loneliness and eat Jjajangmyeon. Black Day is April 14th, following the tradition of Valentine’s Day, which is on February 14th, and White Day, which is on March 14th.
Not only do many singles eat Jjajangmyeon on Black Day, but many of them also wear black clothes. Some restaurants offer discounts, promotions, or various challenges around eating Jjajangmyeon. It may be all about marketing, but it’s a fun tradition, right?
