What is Korean Food?
Korean cuisine boasts a 5,000-year history and emphasizes healthy eating. 
The five themes of Korean cuisine are Healthy, Harmony, Balance, Sharing and Self-directing
Korean food is both beautiful and delicious, with unique nutritional properties. The diet consists of cooked rice mixed with grains, vegetables, soup, kimchi, fermented bean products, fish, meat, and side dishes (반찬; banchan). 
Fermented foods (kimchi, gochujang, ganjang, doenjang) offer numerous health benefits and act as probiotics, being rich in good bacteria. 
This type of diet is considered superior in preventing arteriosclerosis related to obesity, high blood pressure, and cancer. 
The combination of flavors is balanced and harmonious in terms of taste and nutrition.

Banchan(Side Dishes)
Before your main Korean dish arrives, you’ll automatically receive tiny bowls of sides delivered to your table. This is called banchan. 
While banchan isn’t meant to be an appetizer, many people enjoy grazing on it before the rest of the food arrives. 
It’s a good idea to save some to enjoy with the rice. You can ask for more banchan if desired. 
Many who are unfamiliar with Korean food assume it is mostly spicy, but of banchan is quite mild.

How to eat Korean Food
Using a spoon for rice and soups is customary, while chopsticks are used for meats, vegetables, and side dishes. 
If don’t use metal chopsticks, feel free to ask for a fork or wooden chopsticks with chopstick helper. Scissors are commonly used at home and restaurants to cut food into more manageable pieces. After grilling the meat, use scissors to cut it into small pieces that are easy to eat. When you need extra scissors and spoons, feel free to ask your server for utensils.

Vegetarian or Vegan options?
Much of Korean food is vegetarian-friendly. Mostly it’s vegan-friendly.
But some of banchan contains seafood. In some cases, the addition of seafood isn’t nearly as obvious. Often it’ll be through ingredients such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, or soup base made from meats or dried fish. Please make sure with your server. Server will make sure with kitchen staff.
Vegan Items: Tofu Dolsot BiBimBap, Edamame, Veggie Tempura Plate, Sushi roll w/ vegetable

Gluten Free Items?
AA fair amount of Korean food is suitable for those following gluten-free diets, as wheat flour is not a major ingredient in most dishes. However, 
the three main seasonings (gochujang, ganjang, doenjang) contain small amounts of gluten. 
Dishes with these seasonings are not recommended for those with gluten allergies. 
Gluten-free options include Kimchi Soup, Gyeran-jjim, Edamame, unmarinated BBQ meat, and sushi without sauce.