Gui
(구이, Guee, Korean Grilling Technique, Korean BBQ, Korean Barbecue)
Gui is a name which refers to all grilled dishes found in Korean cuisine. Grilling is one of the key components and cooking methods in Korea, and unlike traditional western styles, it employs a set of rules and customs which should be followed.
Traditionally, every table in an authentic Korean restaurant has a hole in the middle of the table where a grill is placed over charcoal or gas. Initially, all the ingredients come to the tables raw, but sliced and prepared. The customers then assemble and cook the dish according to personal preferences.
Beef, chicken, and pork are three of the most famous meat varieties used for grilling. The meat can already be marinated, like the famous bulgogi and galbi beef, or plain and unseasoned like sliced pork belly, popularly known as samgyeopsal. Read more
Fish and other seafood ingredients are also occasionally grilled, as well as mushrooms and vegetables such as onions or peppers. Besides the main components, standard additions to any gui are a set of side dishes such as kimchi, scallions, pickled vegetables, and fresh whole lettuce leaves which are used as wrappers for other ingredients.
Simple soy-based sauces or spicier varieties prepared with chili peppers are usually served with pork dishes, while the famous brown sauce (created with bean paste and chili) pairs perfectly with beef. Traditionally, grilled ingredients are dipped in the sauce, wrapped in lettuce leaves with side dishes, then consumed.
Korean gui represents a communal and festive occasion, a cultural concept, and an established tradition that has been popularized around the world.
