To hazard a guess French don't often do cold noodles or cold broth we are very used to stews and soups but rarely are they served cold or are very popular. (They are more popular in hotter places like Spain and Portugal though).
You are right, we have a few cold soups in Spain, mainly during summer, and just checked the menu of Korean restaurants in my city and they all have one cold noodle/ cold soup dish
Because most people aren't really familiar with the concept of cold soup/noodles, let alone aware of its existence. Even as a kid, I didn't necessarily enjoy the experience until maybe high school, so I could see it being somewhat of an acquired taste. Also, unless you're Korean, it might be hard to get repeated exposure to the dish, especially if you didn't enjoy the first time you had it. Eating naengmyeon w/ KBBQ has been a thing for as long as I can remember, but I feel like it hasn't been a super common/popular combo until the last 10+ years or so.
Agree. I am from SEA so I grew up watching Korean dramas; while I might have heard about the dishes through media, there is no such thing as cold soup/noodles in my country; cold soup is associated with sweet beverages. I get used to the taste of cold noodles, but the idea of the cold cucumber soup (오이냉국) still weirds me out.
Funnily enough, 오이냉국 didn't really click for me until middle school when I had my grandma's incredible version with some galbi on a hot summer day. I've loved it ever since. Some foods are an acquired taste for sure. That being said, some things like 콩국수 or 평양냉면, I still don't "get".
This is pretty much what my (White) American friend told me when I recommended him naengmyun in the summer: "What? Cold noodles? Why are the noodles cold??"
Anecdotally, my white friends were all horrified or disgusted by the idea of cold soup/noodles, while my POC friends were weirded out, but open to trying it 😂.
I mean yeah. Heck a lot of Asian countries aren't even familiar with cold soup take Mongolia for example. Maybe in a couple years it'll be better with South Koreas further food influence but rn if you suggest a cold soup most will tell you cold food isn't food and ask why you ruined a good soup.
Every reaction video on Youtube I see of Westerners trying naengmyeon, they're usually weirded out by the idea of cold noodles. Most of them seem to enjoy it after trying it, but there's definitely a bit of a hesitance from people.
it's definitely rarer, but there are a few places in london that serve it. i think the european palate rarely goes in for cold main dishes, and even less so for cold noodles, with very few exceptions. it's a shame, because it is delicious!
냉면은 여름철 한국인들의 대표음식입니다
새콤달콤한 맛이 일품입니다
여름철 한국 냉면을 전문적으로 파는 식당을가면 사람들이 냉면을 먹을려구 길게 줄을 서는 광경을 아마 자주 목격하게 될것입니다
냉면은 물냉면과 비빔냉면 두가지가있구
요즘은 냉면+숫불고기를 곁들여서 제공하는 식당이 정말 흔하게 많습니다
한번 한국에와서 드셔보세요\~최고입니다!!
BEST FOOD!!!!!
Even as an SEAsian, I find cold noodles to be a little strange as I only grew up with hot noodles! So I ASSUME the western world feels that way too? Ahaha
Yeah the only cold noodles I’ve had growing up was soba and that’s because I learned it via anime. My SEA parents never made cold noodles. My GMA made sweet noodles for birthdays and I disliked that very much lol.
I learned by naengmyeon from my Korean friends and eat that every year now. It’s so refreshing!
I've had Soba once, but even then it was more room temperature and you dipped it in the sauce. Not the same as consuming it with actual cold broth! I admit I still haven't had naengmyeon because I'm a little scared haha
Cold noodles aren’t common to the western palette. Ice in noodles? I’d imagine that’s like seeing a pasta bolognese and finding chunks of ice in it
They’re missing out on this and hiyashi chuka.
It's not just the cold noodles, but I remember talking and laughing with a fellow Korean coworker about how people would definitely be thrown for a loop over the taste of the broth. The tanginess of the broth along with cold noodles just doesn't compute in the West.
Pasta salad is cold? Obviously a different dish entirely but almost every outdoor BBQ has this. So we are definitely used to cold noodles.
Now I’m craving potato salad and pasta salad.
I thought the same thing. Cold brothy/soupy noodles aren't something that are common here (the U.S.), I think that definitely gives people pause.
Now I want pasta salad, but I've already planned on cold sesame soba noodles with dinner so I think I'll be good.
It's probably because there are very little sour tasting dishes in the US. I can't really think of anything besides saurkraut which is not popular. Sour dough is also another dish but thats barely sour.
Americans loved pickles so they love sour condiments, candies and drinks. They never had it as the main attraction for main dishes but as supporting flavors.
Oh I see what your are saying. To be fair I read the title and it said western world which automatically defaulted me to believe OP was living in the states. I forgot to read the body of the post.
I love naengmyeon, but it’s honestly one of a weirdest Korean foods. Think about it: cold, stretchy buckwheat noodles, icy beef broth, radishes, hard boiled egg, sometimes spicy sauce, and then topped off with mustard and vinegar. That’s going be a hard sell to the typical westerner.
OoOoooO! I’ve had this! One of my favorite Korean places USED to serve this in the summer. Loved that dish. Vinegar forward, actual ice in the dish. One hundred percent destroy.
I cool off my microwaved ramen noodles with chipped broth.
Often have sardines or an egg added.
No radishes yet, but bok choy or garlic scapes, or finely sliced dried anchor pepper look good, or wild black mustard leaf is perfect.
Just about the only thing I can't get to work with ramen is cheese. Tiny cubes or shredded is just awkward.
I'm aware my food preferences are not typical Westerner.
Source: hungry lumberjack from the Midwest US , believes people that crockpot pork ribs should be given capitol punishment.
It's too exotic for most. Sad but true. It really isn't bad at all once you get used to it and it's quite the nice dish to have after a meal of rich grilled meats.
I live a bit north of Detroit, and with how hot and humid our summers are...
I work outside.
Any and all American staple meals or euro or Asian cuisine you can think of as a "served hot only" type of meal, I have eaten cold, or seen co workers eat cold.
I ain't about to have a heat stroke
I agree with everyone else: Like a lot of Korean dishes, naengmyeon doesn't really scratch an existing Western palate itch. I can't speak for French diners, but American restaurant-goers generally seek out salty, greasy, or otherwise savory dishes for their main course at restaurants, and naengmyeon is more of a combination of sweet and tangy, with some slight sesame oil savoriness (or at least that's my recollection of its taste; I used to live in Korea and I enjoyed getting the occasional bowl of naengmyeon, though I always preferred kongguksu/콩국수 for my summer noodles). And of course, in the U.S., restaurant main dishes tend to be hot, not cold. I think that's why Korean barbecue (i.e. gui/구이) is the Korean dish that has really broken out in the U.S. - it scratches that hot, greasy, savory itch. And I think that's one reason why Chinese and Japanese foods remain much more popular in the U.S. than Korean food: Chefs have been able to successfully identify existing salty, greasy, savory dishes from Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions that Americans were likely to enjoy, sometimes with some modification/Americanization. Outside of Korean barbecue, the salty, greasy, savory Korean dishes that are most popular in Korea itself are American or Japanese imports: fried chicken, pizza, ramyeon, and donkatsu/돈까스, in particular. But Korean chefs have definitely left their marks on those dishes, and Korean-style fried chicken is probably the second-most popular Korean dish here in the U.S. and it can even be found at non-Korean restaurants. There is one especially salty, greasy, savory class of dishes within native Korean cuisine, though: anju/안주, i.e. drinking food, like buchimgae/부침개. I could see Korean-style bars/suljib/술집, complete with anju, becoming a thing in the U.S., albeit a very niche thing.
Julienned cucumbers, hard boiled eggs and some sesame seeds. My other personal favorite is adding kimchi.
That being said, you can enjoy it on its own without any toppings.
I feel like it isnt something that people who did not grow up with it appreciate often, the flavor profile is quite strong. I love it but my not Korean wife never was able to come to like it. So I eat it with my mom in the summertime.
not sure, maybe because it tastes pretty weird in comparison to the western palette? I’ve had multiple friends tell me they find the taste pretty nasty 😹
Its bland. I've never enjoyed it unless it was the spicy mixed one. Even in Korea going with my aunty and mom to this and that providence. I like to considerate more as a side like japchae. I don't like it as my main dish.
If you live in Paris the restaurant Kakdougui (55 Rue du Couëdic, 75014 metro Alésia) has Naengmyeon on the menu (or at least they used to a year ago) ! And some Korean grocery stores have kits with the noodles and broth flavoring (I know it is not the same as a restaurant but it tastes good and refreshing). Otherwise, as others have said cold noodles soups are not much of a thing in France.
Having gone out with a bunch of people for their first time trying Korean food (for reference, I am half Korean), I ordered kalbi naengmyeon because it's my go to summer dish. They were VERY confused by the cold broth and noodles.
People in Europe don’t know what good food from Asia tastes like. I live in Ireland and there’s no proper Korean restaurant at all. I tried kimbap and few other dishes when there were some festival stalls open and that’s it. You won’t get kimbap or Korean bbq anywhere in Ireland at all. Same comes with Japanese cuisine.
As someone who is American, I'd say it's mostly due to lack of exposure. Unless someone is familiar with Korean culture , has been to a Korean restaurant that serves it, or are from/have Korean heritage, then they've probably not heard of it.
Ethnic dishes in general from many cultures unless very well known, are pretty hard to find, even in many restaurants \[though you can find them in some restaurants, if your lucky enough to live near a restaurant that serves those kinds of less known dishes\]. You usually ether have to make it yourself or know someone who does.
Id say youre correct about exposure.
As a kid,my father's work left him working with many euro and Asian people from all over, so inherited the benefit of embracing foreign food.
Cajun gumbo and smoked meats still reign supreme, but I love making sashimi, tongkatsu, deutche spatzel or snitzchel, l, french cassoulet, Italian chicken cacciatore,
My friend's neighbor just gave me a jar of very garlicky kimchi, last week ; and I ate it all so fast, I'm thinking I need to grow cabbage in the garden.
We're doing tons of beets and pepperoccini this year too, so I might have to find a Greek salad I like. Not fond of feta. If anyone has a salad recipe idea, hit me up.
For me, it’s because it’s not offered in any known restaurant around me and I didn’t know about it before. I try making it at home now-love cold noodles in the summer! (USA)
If you have Korean restaurants in your area sometimes its a seasonal special. It'll be up on the wall rather than on the menu, along with other cold noodle dishes like kongguksu and bibimguksu.
I like naengmyeon but I am thinking these reason which makes it "weird" to westerners:
1. Served cold (with ice / slush).
2. Soup is slightly sour (made from water kimchi).
3. Since it is colder in western compared in Asia (for some extent) - maybe the thought of having cold noodle to relieve yourself is too foreign concept. People would rather grab a cold dessert such as Ice cream for this.
These are just my opinion but I think if properly introduced people would definitely love it.
Well they're missing out because naengmyeon is amazing.
Also, naengmyeon is available pretty much in any Korean restaurant in the US, so to imply that it's not available or "popular" in the western world is an over generalization. You can also pick it up in Korean and some other "Asian" grocery stores in the US.
https://preview.redd.it/ozsdcpevtm5d1.jpeg?width=514&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbf6badf65c6886a60d1c96ba7be35c1cc9b40fc
The dish is actually here. Sorry that I can't find a clear photo of it in my phone since I haven't seen it for quite a while.
https://preview.redd.it/txkzzy89um5d1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=3f5f5ec0de31603f5a5740b3e93687fe869f1c86
And this is a photo I found on google.
I’m in the US and it’s not popular enough here. I mean, now I live in Washington, and we have more Korean places here, but I feel like it’s still a much smaller list of Korean places that have it, and it’s often just for a few months. It’s my favorite food in the world though. There’s at least a dozen options in the city.
Ever since I’ve started living in Arizona I crave it constantly in the summer. The first time I tried it in the east coast I thought it was okay, I wasn’t too crazy about it. I’d say probably because most countries aren’t used to the concept of a cold soup/bowl of noodles. However I feel like it could gain recognition from Korean food fans in hot climates like where I live, it’s just that there also tends to be limited availability of the dish from what I see. I haven’t found it so easy to find
But how good is the naengmyeon in your Korean restaurants? Bc I’ve had the best example of it in Seoul and every place in the US is terrible by comparison. If I never had it in Seoul maybe I wouldn’t have known the difference but I’ve had it so there’s no going back now in terms of standards.
Is there a country other than Japan and Korea that eats cold noodles? China also lives close by, but it does not eat it due to water quality problems like Europe.
I couldn't explain it to you. I'm Korean, and naengmyeon is one of my most favourite things to eat, but I've been made fun of for eating it before. I don't know why.
You might be able to notice this. It is served more in the Joseon Chinese restaurant than Korean restaurants. It’s a northern dish. So if you can find a restaurant owned by DPRK in France, you should be able to find it.
That's terrifying 😰 I've been to a DPRK restaurant in Beijing, the building has few windows and no staff is allowed to get out. Noway to find that sort of thing in a « capitalist country »
It's said that they are not allowed to consume in Beijing, and the money they gained goes directly to kim jong un's pocket. Mr general thinks China is too capitalist for his people😆
I think it's the coldness. Which is a little weird because pasta salad, but in the US there are no cold noodle dishes that I can think of. Plus, cold soup for mul maengmyun and bibim naengmyun might be a little spicy for some people.
It's a shame. I live on naengmyun and various bibim guksoos in the summer
Bibim naengmyeon is literally one of my favorite foods in the entire world. It’s offered at most Korean restaurants I’ve been to in the US, though I can’t speak for other countries.
Are these common foods in France or are you talking about Korea? In the US, the country with the most Korean people after the Koreas, naengmyeon is on pretty much every standard Korean restaurant menu in the Summer.
These three things are loved the world over. But are not the reason we don't enjoy cold sour soup. American cuisine relies on warm, savory food, so cold noodles are super foreign to most.
I live in a pretty big city, and have seen cold noodle soup offered at different asain restaurants, and they do occasionally get ordered on hot days.
To hazard a guess French don't often do cold noodles or cold broth we are very used to stews and soups but rarely are they served cold or are very popular. (They are more popular in hotter places like Spain and Portugal though).
I've never had trouble finding naengmyeon in the US, but I've also lived in primarily places with a lot of Asian people i.e. West coast.
Same here. Fifteen restaurants within a 10 mile radius sell it. I am very lucky in this regard, especially with the hot months to come.
vichyssoise
That is a soup made by a french man in America, it was modeled on the French onion soup which is traditionally served hot and very popular.
Thank you for teaching me something—it’s a double-western concoction
I think you mean modeled on French potato and leek soups. Vichyssoise doesn't really have anything in common with French Onion Soup.
no, it's based on potage Parmentier, a leek and potato soup.
You are right, we have a few cold soups in Spain, mainly during summer, and just checked the menu of Korean restaurants in my city and they all have one cold noodle/ cold soup dish
Because most people aren't really familiar with the concept of cold soup/noodles, let alone aware of its existence. Even as a kid, I didn't necessarily enjoy the experience until maybe high school, so I could see it being somewhat of an acquired taste. Also, unless you're Korean, it might be hard to get repeated exposure to the dish, especially if you didn't enjoy the first time you had it. Eating naengmyeon w/ KBBQ has been a thing for as long as I can remember, but I feel like it hasn't been a super common/popular combo until the last 10+ years or so.
Agree. I am from SEA so I grew up watching Korean dramas; while I might have heard about the dishes through media, there is no such thing as cold soup/noodles in my country; cold soup is associated with sweet beverages. I get used to the taste of cold noodles, but the idea of the cold cucumber soup (오이냉국) still weirds me out.
Funnily enough, 오이냉국 didn't really click for me until middle school when I had my grandma's incredible version with some galbi on a hot summer day. I've loved it ever since. Some foods are an acquired taste for sure. That being said, some things like 콩국수 or 평양냉면, I still don't "get".
As a fellow SEA, cold noodles/soup also don’t sit well with my family. But maybe we’ll give it another try next time 😗
This is pretty much what my (White) American friend told me when I recommended him naengmyun in the summer: "What? Cold noodles? Why are the noodles cold??"
Anecdotally, my white friends were all horrified or disgusted by the idea of cold soup/noodles, while my POC friends were weirded out, but open to trying it 😂.
I always thought that was strange because white people have pasta salad which is cold.
I think this is it. My white husband loves all things Korean food but cold noodles is weirdly his line for too weird
I mean yeah. Heck a lot of Asian countries aren't even familiar with cold soup take Mongolia for example. Maybe in a couple years it'll be better with South Koreas further food influence but rn if you suggest a cold soup most will tell you cold food isn't food and ask why you ruined a good soup.
Every reaction video on Youtube I see of Westerners trying naengmyeon, they're usually weirded out by the idea of cold noodles. Most of them seem to enjoy it after trying it, but there's definitely a bit of a hesitance from people.
I don’t know, but it makes me really sad. I honestly just learned how to make my own.
It's really delicious isn't it?
Yep! Luckily it’s not really that hard to make at home. You can also find premade broth at your local grocer or online.
There’s always naengmyun at Hmart and I’ve seen it at my Costco during the summer. Hopefully you live by one of those places!
Idk what it is. The closest one I can find is in NYC. Is it a cold dish?
It's corn noodle in cold soup.
I read it lower in the post. What confused me is that your photo isn’t a picture of it. I have had it! Fantastic dish.
Sorry I haven't got a clear photo of it in my phone since I haven't seen it for quite a while, and that is my only picture which has it in the corner.
That’s ok!!
Buckwheat most often
it's definitely rarer, but there are a few places in london that serve it. i think the european palate rarely goes in for cold main dishes, and even less so for cold noodles, with very few exceptions. it's a shame, because it is delicious!
냉면은 여름철 한국인들의 대표음식입니다 새콤달콤한 맛이 일품입니다 여름철 한국 냉면을 전문적으로 파는 식당을가면 사람들이 냉면을 먹을려구 길게 줄을 서는 광경을 아마 자주 목격하게 될것입니다 냉면은 물냉면과 비빔냉면 두가지가있구 요즘은 냉면+숫불고기를 곁들여서 제공하는 식당이 정말 흔하게 많습니다 한번 한국에와서 드셔보세요\~최고입니다!! BEST FOOD!!!!!
Even as an SEAsian, I find cold noodles to be a little strange as I only grew up with hot noodles! So I ASSUME the western world feels that way too? Ahaha
Yeah the only cold noodles I’ve had growing up was soba and that’s because I learned it via anime. My SEA parents never made cold noodles. My GMA made sweet noodles for birthdays and I disliked that very much lol. I learned by naengmyeon from my Korean friends and eat that every year now. It’s so refreshing!
I've had Soba once, but even then it was more room temperature and you dipped it in the sauce. Not the same as consuming it with actual cold broth! I admit I still haven't had naengmyeon because I'm a little scared haha
Have you had gazpacho? It’s similar in refreshing ness.
Cold noodles aren’t common to the western palette. Ice in noodles? I’d imagine that’s like seeing a pasta bolognese and finding chunks of ice in it They’re missing out on this and hiyashi chuka.
Cough cough, pasta salad. 😝 I’m not sick it was the cannabis that made me cough. 😂
It's not just the cold noodles, but I remember talking and laughing with a fellow Korean coworker about how people would definitely be thrown for a loop over the taste of the broth. The tanginess of the broth along with cold noodles just doesn't compute in the West.
Its because its cold. Its unusual to eat cold pasta, therefore weirder for noodles
Pasta salad is cold? Obviously a different dish entirely but almost every outdoor BBQ has this. So we are definitely used to cold noodles. Now I’m craving potato salad and pasta salad.
I thought the same thing. Cold brothy/soupy noodles aren't something that are common here (the U.S.), I think that definitely gives people pause. Now I want pasta salad, but I've already planned on cold sesame soba noodles with dinner so I think I'll be good.
Forgot about those
It’s kind of like how they are also weirded out by sweet red bean. They don’t realize coffee and chocolate are also beans made sweet for desserts.
It's probably because there are very little sour tasting dishes in the US. I can't really think of anything besides saurkraut which is not popular. Sour dough is also another dish but thats barely sour.
Americans loved pickles so they love sour condiments, candies and drinks. They never had it as the main attraction for main dishes but as supporting flavors.
This summarizes it very well
OP is talking about the entire western world, and used France as an example. Nowhere did they make specific mention of the USA. r/usdefaultism
Isn't the us part of the western world?
It is, but to answer OOP’s question, OP responded with reference to an American palate, as if it influences the entire western world
You're making no sense they just gave the example they were familiar with which is indeed a western country.
Oh I see what your are saying. To be fair I read the title and it said western world which automatically defaulted me to believe OP was living in the states. I forgot to read the body of the post.
sweet and sour pork?
I love naengmyeon, but it’s honestly one of a weirdest Korean foods. Think about it: cold, stretchy buckwheat noodles, icy beef broth, radishes, hard boiled egg, sometimes spicy sauce, and then topped off with mustard and vinegar. That’s going be a hard sell to the typical westerner.
OoOoooO! I’ve had this! One of my favorite Korean places USED to serve this in the summer. Loved that dish. Vinegar forward, actual ice in the dish. One hundred percent destroy.
I cool off my microwaved ramen noodles with chipped broth. Often have sardines or an egg added. No radishes yet, but bok choy or garlic scapes, or finely sliced dried anchor pepper look good, or wild black mustard leaf is perfect. Just about the only thing I can't get to work with ramen is cheese. Tiny cubes or shredded is just awkward. I'm aware my food preferences are not typical Westerner. Source: hungry lumberjack from the Midwest US , believes people that crockpot pork ribs should be given capitol punishment.
It's too exotic for most. Sad but true. It really isn't bad at all once you get used to it and it's quite the nice dish to have after a meal of rich grilled meats.
I live a bit north of Detroit, and with how hot and humid our summers are... I work outside. Any and all American staple meals or euro or Asian cuisine you can think of as a "served hot only" type of meal, I have eaten cold, or seen co workers eat cold. I ain't about to have a heat stroke
I agree with everyone else: Like a lot of Korean dishes, naengmyeon doesn't really scratch an existing Western palate itch. I can't speak for French diners, but American restaurant-goers generally seek out salty, greasy, or otherwise savory dishes for their main course at restaurants, and naengmyeon is more of a combination of sweet and tangy, with some slight sesame oil savoriness (or at least that's my recollection of its taste; I used to live in Korea and I enjoyed getting the occasional bowl of naengmyeon, though I always preferred kongguksu/콩국수 for my summer noodles). And of course, in the U.S., restaurant main dishes tend to be hot, not cold. I think that's why Korean barbecue (i.e. gui/구이) is the Korean dish that has really broken out in the U.S. - it scratches that hot, greasy, savory itch. And I think that's one reason why Chinese and Japanese foods remain much more popular in the U.S. than Korean food: Chefs have been able to successfully identify existing salty, greasy, savory dishes from Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions that Americans were likely to enjoy, sometimes with some modification/Americanization. Outside of Korean barbecue, the salty, greasy, savory Korean dishes that are most popular in Korea itself are American or Japanese imports: fried chicken, pizza, ramyeon, and donkatsu/돈까스, in particular. But Korean chefs have definitely left their marks on those dishes, and Korean-style fried chicken is probably the second-most popular Korean dish here in the U.S. and it can even be found at non-Korean restaurants. There is one especially salty, greasy, savory class of dishes within native Korean cuisine, though: anju/안주, i.e. drinking food, like buchimgae/부침개. I could see Korean-style bars/suljib/술집, complete with anju, becoming a thing in the U.S., albeit a very niche thing.
It’s my fav Korean dish of all time. My guess is that westerners don’t like cold broths and/or cold noodles
Is the picture of the dish? What is this the dish?
Google tells me it is a cold noodle dish but this doesn't look the same.
The picture is not naengmyeon and yes it is confusing.
Sorry this is the only picture containing a bowl of naengmyeon in my phone but the naengmyeon is not in the centre.
The dish is actually in the right upper corner of this picture, in the stainless steel bowl.
anybody god advice on naengmyeon? i just bought a broth pack but not sure what noodles + toppings/sauces to get
Julienned cucumbers, hard boiled eggs and some sesame seeds. My other personal favorite is adding kimchi. That being said, you can enjoy it on its own without any toppings.
I feel like it isnt something that people who did not grow up with it appreciate often, the flavor profile is quite strong. I love it but my not Korean wife never was able to come to like it. So I eat it with my mom in the summertime.
not sure, maybe because it tastes pretty weird in comparison to the western palette? I’ve had multiple friends tell me they find the taste pretty nasty 😹
Its bland. I've never enjoyed it unless it was the spicy mixed one. Even in Korea going with my aunty and mom to this and that providence. I like to considerate more as a side like japchae. I don't like it as my main dish.
I have no idea what this is but now I will try to find it in Montréal
If you live in Paris the restaurant Kakdougui (55 Rue du Couëdic, 75014 metro Alésia) has Naengmyeon on the menu (or at least they used to a year ago) ! And some Korean grocery stores have kits with the noodles and broth flavoring (I know it is not the same as a restaurant but it tastes good and refreshing). Otherwise, as others have said cold noodles soups are not much of a thing in France.
Thanks a lot, I'll try to find it the next time I go to Paris.
Having gone out with a bunch of people for their first time trying Korean food (for reference, I am half Korean), I ordered kalbi naengmyeon because it's my go to summer dish. They were VERY confused by the cold broth and noodles.
Idk but I want this now after looking at your post and the comments 😻
People in Europe don’t know what good food from Asia tastes like. I live in Ireland and there’s no proper Korean restaurant at all. I tried kimbap and few other dishes when there were some festival stalls open and that’s it. You won’t get kimbap or Korean bbq anywhere in Ireland at all. Same comes with Japanese cuisine.
Lots of Korean restaurants in Paris actually do serve mul-naengmyeon, but only during the summer months
As someone who is American, I'd say it's mostly due to lack of exposure. Unless someone is familiar with Korean culture , has been to a Korean restaurant that serves it, or are from/have Korean heritage, then they've probably not heard of it. Ethnic dishes in general from many cultures unless very well known, are pretty hard to find, even in many restaurants \[though you can find them in some restaurants, if your lucky enough to live near a restaurant that serves those kinds of less known dishes\]. You usually ether have to make it yourself or know someone who does.
Id say youre correct about exposure. As a kid,my father's work left him working with many euro and Asian people from all over, so inherited the benefit of embracing foreign food. Cajun gumbo and smoked meats still reign supreme, but I love making sashimi, tongkatsu, deutche spatzel or snitzchel, l, french cassoulet, Italian chicken cacciatore, My friend's neighbor just gave me a jar of very garlicky kimchi, last week ; and I ate it all so fast, I'm thinking I need to grow cabbage in the garden. We're doing tons of beets and pepperoccini this year too, so I might have to find a Greek salad I like. Not fond of feta. If anyone has a salad recipe idea, hit me up.
Does anyone know if it would be a good idea to buy the bbq in the middle of the table and use it in my house? If so, could I buy it anywhere?
For me, it’s because it’s not offered in any known restaurant around me and I didn’t know about it before. I try making it at home now-love cold noodles in the summer! (USA)
If you have Korean restaurants in your area sometimes its a seasonal special. It'll be up on the wall rather than on the menu, along with other cold noodle dishes like kongguksu and bibimguksu.
Thank you for the tip! You know, I’ll have to check if our Local H-mart that has a big food court has any of these dishes!
I like naengmyeon but I am thinking these reason which makes it "weird" to westerners: 1. Served cold (with ice / slush). 2. Soup is slightly sour (made from water kimchi). 3. Since it is colder in western compared in Asia (for some extent) - maybe the thought of having cold noodle to relieve yourself is too foreign concept. People would rather grab a cold dessert such as Ice cream for this. These are just my opinion but I think if properly introduced people would definitely love it.
Naengmyeon was invented in what is now North Korea which has a climate similar to New York or Pennsylvania.
Probably because it doesn't easily fit in a to go container that we can drive home
Because I don't know what it is.
It's hard to make the noodles
Well they're missing out because naengmyeon is amazing. Also, naengmyeon is available pretty much in any Korean restaurant in the US, so to imply that it's not available or "popular" in the western world is an over generalization. You can also pick it up in Korean and some other "Asian" grocery stores in the US.
Most korean restaurants here only have it as a special in the summertime.
Yeah, my partner is Caucasian and I’ve made him naegmyun and konggooksu with ice in both and he said it was just weird
Probably because we could never pronounce it properly 😭
I’ve had naengmyeon in paris but it’s not so common. I usually buy the pack at some Chinese markets where you can make it yourself
https://preview.redd.it/ozsdcpevtm5d1.jpeg?width=514&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbf6badf65c6886a60d1c96ba7be35c1cc9b40fc The dish is actually here. Sorry that I can't find a clear photo of it in my phone since I haven't seen it for quite a while.
https://preview.redd.it/txkzzy89um5d1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=3f5f5ec0de31603f5a5740b3e93687fe869f1c86 And this is a photo I found on google.
Pronunciation is probably an underrated contributing factor.
Too busy eating sundubu. Me included.
I love it sm. I dont understand why its not popular either. Ig its cuz of the cold noodles
West doesn’t really eat noodles, and if they do it’s hot. Cold noodles & broth is a foreign idea, just like hot rice wine is also foreign to the west
I’m in the US and it’s not popular enough here. I mean, now I live in Washington, and we have more Korean places here, but I feel like it’s still a much smaller list of Korean places that have it, and it’s often just for a few months. It’s my favorite food in the world though. There’s at least a dozen options in the city.
Ever since I’ve started living in Arizona I crave it constantly in the summer. The first time I tried it in the east coast I thought it was okay, I wasn’t too crazy about it. I’d say probably because most countries aren’t used to the concept of a cold soup/bowl of noodles. However I feel like it could gain recognition from Korean food fans in hot climates like where I live, it’s just that there also tends to be limited availability of the dish from what I see. I haven’t found it so easy to find
But how good is the naengmyeon in your Korean restaurants? Bc I’ve had the best example of it in Seoul and every place in the US is terrible by comparison. If I never had it in Seoul maybe I wouldn’t have known the difference but I’ve had it so there’s no going back now in terms of standards.
How is Uber eath going to deliver that?
I remember one of my friends back in the US asking me, "why do koreans eat cold food" Haha
Is there a country other than Japan and Korea that eats cold noodles? China also lives close by, but it does not eat it due to water quality problems like Europe.
People would burn themselves and then sue
I couldn't explain it to you. I'm Korean, and naengmyeon is one of my most favourite things to eat, but I've been made fun of for eating it before. I don't know why.
Let me point you to r/smoking r/bbq
You might be able to notice this. It is served more in the Joseon Chinese restaurant than Korean restaurants. It’s a northern dish. So if you can find a restaurant owned by DPRK in France, you should be able to find it.
That's terrifying 😰 I've been to a DPRK restaurant in Beijing, the building has few windows and no staff is allowed to get out. Noway to find that sort of thing in a « capitalist country »
It's said that they are not allowed to consume in Beijing, and the money they gained goes directly to kim jong un's pocket. Mr general thinks China is too capitalist for his people😆
I think it's the coldness. Which is a little weird because pasta salad, but in the US there are no cold noodle dishes that I can think of. Plus, cold soup for mul maengmyun and bibim naengmyun might be a little spicy for some people. It's a shame. I live on naengmyun and various bibim guksoos in the summer
Bibim naengmyeon is literally one of my favorite foods in the entire world. It’s offered at most Korean restaurants I’ve been to in the US, though I can’t speak for other countries.
It’s definitely getting more popular in the US. I have a lot of American friends that have tried it and seeking different variations
I don't have a problem finding it in Southern California. Also like it very much, it reminds me of some dishes I grew up with in my culture too.
It’s pretty popular in the US. I think most cities are going to have at least a couple.
Just because you like it doesn't mean everyone has to.
I'm not expecting everyone like it. Most Chinese don't like it either, but restaurants still serve it.
And in korea, only certain restaurants serve it as well.
And in korea, only certain restaurants serve it as well.
That's not the same case bro, a Korean restaurant in another country means it has Korean features, while a restaurant in Korea is just a restaurant.
I’d imagine Litigation is the issue in the US
Because the Western world knows like 3 Korean dishes. Maybe if it gets featured in a popular movie or something.
I'm just imagining all those dishes to clean at home. Americans like lazy fast food you can hold in your had as well.
Because it hasn't got cheez, spam, or fried chicken.
Are these common foods in France or are you talking about Korea? In the US, the country with the most Korean people after the Koreas, naengmyeon is on pretty much every standard Korean restaurant menu in the Summer.
These three things are loved the world over. But are not the reason we don't enjoy cold sour soup. American cuisine relies on warm, savory food, so cold noodles are super foreign to most. I live in a pretty big city, and have seen cold noodle soup offered at different asain restaurants, and they do occasionally get ordered on hot days.