banchan
banchan
Banchan refers to the small side dishes served alongside cooked rice in Korean cuisine. The mental image is a table filled with various small bowls containing seasoned vegetables, fermented items like kimchi, or small portions of fish and meat, meant to be shared by everyone at the table. In practice, banchan is a staple of the Korean dining experience. You will almost always find them served as a complimentary accompaniment to a main dish at a restaurant. They are typically eaten in small bites throughout the meal to balance the flavors of the main course.
In conversation
Ordering at a restaurant
Should we order another round of banchan?
Should we order another round of banchan?
No, I think we have plenty, but I definitely need more kimchi.
No, I think we have plenty, but I definitely need more kimchi.
Banchan is often refillable at Korean restaurants.
Home cooking
I made some fresh banchan for dinner tonight.
I made some fresh banchan for dinner tonight.
Great, I hope you made those spicy cucumbers!
Great, I hope you made those spicy cucumbers!
People often prepare several types of banchan at once to keep in the fridge.
Examples
Please bring us more banchan.
Please bring us more banchan.
A traditional Korean meal is incomplete without an assortment of banchan on the table.
A traditional Korean meal is incomplete without an assortment of banchan on the table.
The restaurant prides itself on serving over ten different types of seasonal banchan with every meal.
The restaurant prides itself on serving over ten different types of seasonal banchan with every meal.
