By Honorary Reporter Lola Lazovic from Serbia

Photos = Lola Lazovic

I've wanted to try Korean food for a long time, but only recently got the chance to do so. In December last year, the Korean restaurant Ahmee opened in Belgrade. As a big foodie and lover of cultures, I jumped at the opportunity to finally taste authentic Korean cuisine for the first time.

To get a table at the restaurant soon after it start operations was hard due to the hype surrounding its opening. Even now, it's hard to make reservations there, especially on weekends. Nonetheless, I made a reservation and went there with my two best friends. One of them had recently lived in the U.S. and tried Korean food there, so she was our food guide. The dish that I tried that night was bibimbap (mixed rice with meat and vegetables).

I would've never guessed how good bibimbap tasted but after I ate it, I understood why a female lead character in a K-drama often eats it after breaking up with a boyfriend. It's sweet and spicy at the same time. Every time I've visited this place, I try a new dish and get amazed by the taste and how similar the dishes can be to Serbian food. For example, kimchi tastes similar to Serbian sour cabbage salad with sweet pepper.

My friends who have been to the restaurant also chimed in with their reviews. 

"There just weren't any Korean places in my city, but when one opened recently, I went there as soon as I could," Isadora said. "I had seafood gimbap plus dressing on top. As a side dish, I had pickled ginger, which I'd eaten many times with sushi. The food, as expected, was truly amazing and delicious, so much so we didn't leave a single crumb behind. I definitely recommend checking out some genuine Korean restaurants and trying everything on the menu."

Another friend, Bojana, added, "I'd eaten beef instant noodles in the U.S. before coming to the restaurant in Belgrade, so I chose ramyeon because I knew how good it was and it didn't disappoint. It was spicier than the ones I tried in the U.S. but I still loved it. Pomegranate tea helped me make it less spicy."

And still another pal, Dina, said, "The people made the food even better. The waitstaff made us feel like we were at home. One even recommended some good K-dramas."

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.