Korean Food Is a Hit in UN Cafeteria

The Delegates` Dining Room on the fourth floor of the UN Headquarters in Manhattan is dominated by the Korean menu.

The restaurant is currently hosting a Korean food festival with the theme, “Taste Korean food mixed with nature.” The restaurant is frequented by diplomats and UN employees from around the world.

The price of the lunch buffet in the restaurant is 25 dollars per person excluding tips (approx. 24,000 won). It is cheap compared to Manhattan restaurants. But by introducing Korean dishes at the same price from June 5 to 16, the number of guests has increased. On some days, guests rushed to the restaurant, so those without reservations had to turn back.

The dishes are not limited to bulgogi and kimchi, which are already commonly known to foreigners. Lim Ji-ho, a natural food specialist, has developed a menu comprised of such dishes as the gujeolpan, which is up to par to the tastes of global New Yorkers. Desserts are designed by Choi Yoon-ja, a court cuisine specialist, who introduced jeungpyeon and jeonggwa.

Responses are generally favorable. One European diplomat said, “Korean food has a different taste from Chinese or Japanese dishes,” and “The rib and jabchae were delicious, and the variety of food using vegetables was memorable.”

The Korean Cultural Service NY and the New York branch of the Korean Tourism Organization, who are hosting the event, is distributing a free map of Korean restaurants around the Manhattan area so that the guests may enjoy Korean food even after the event.