By Honorary Reporters Thu Zar Win Lwin from Myanmar, Rumeysa Zeynep Yıldırım from Turkey, Raina Ackon-Mensah from Ghana, Cecile Daussin from France and Gleisy Murillo from Nicaragua
Photos = Cecile Daussin, Rumeysa Zeynep Yıldırım, Thu Zar Win Lwin, Raina Ackon-Mensah, Gleisy Murillo

Korean food has grown popular around the world with the growth of Hallyu. The rising demand for Hansik has caused many Korean food franchises to spread abroad. 

The following are the thoughts of four Honorary Reporters about their favorite Korean restaurants in their respective countries. We have shared our experiences via email from Jun 3.

Cecile Daussin from France

In the heart of Nice, France, Sixsa welcomes locals and tourists with homemade versions of leading Korean dishes. Opened in 2020 by three friends, the small establishment is the only Korean restaurant in Nice, so make a reservation if stopping by the city. 

Sixsa offers day and evening menus featuring famous dishes such as bibimbap (rice mixed with meat, vegetables and spicy red pepper paste), kimchi and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables) as well as other foods like yeonggeun (braised lotus roots) salad, jeon (fried pancake) and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup). For dessert, hotteok (sweet filled bun) is the cherry to top off a satisfying meal.

Rumeysa Zeynep Yıldırım from Turkey

Korelee was the first Korean restaurant in Ankara. When I first visited this place, K-pop songs were playing and many visitors tried on Hanbok and took photos of themselves. I ordered chicken with Korean-style sauce, ramyeon (instant noodles) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cake). Korean pickles were served with the food and the chicken was the best I had ever eaten. It tasted sweet and crispy, something considerably different from Turkish food.

I also tried ramyeon served in a saucepan like in K-dramas with vegetables and pieces of meat in a moderately spicy soup. The side dishes included baechu (lettuce) and pa (green onion) kimchi and danmuji (pickled radish). A small section at the restaurant sold side dishes, so I could buy danmuji as well.

Thu Zar Win Lwin from Myanmar

My hometown is Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar. I love Korean barbecue buffets, so I often visit them with friends. Han Guk offers not only barbecue but also other dishes like kimchi fried rice, kimchi soup, pork bulgogi (grilled meat), Korean-style fried chicken, pajeon, japchae and tteokbokki.

The decorations there makes feel like I'm in Korea and the walls are decorated in Hangeul and with drawings related to Korea. Though an indoor restaurant, Han Guk has a smoke extractor above each table that allows convenient dining. This place is crowded even on weekdays, so reservations are a must.

Raina Ackon-Mensah from Ghana

Ninano in Ghana is a Korean restaurant known for a wide variety of dishes. The name means "Let's play together" and the place was opened in 2014 to introduce Korean dishes to Ghanaians, according to owner Lee Young-gyu. The restaurant's two branches are in Osu (main branch) and East Legon.

The extensive menu ranges from common Korean fare such as gimbap (seaweed rice roll), tteokbokki, ramyeon and kimchi to less common foods like dubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew) and sundaeguk (spicy sausage stew). K-pop songs are played to set the mood. 

To promote cultural exchange, buffet night features live performances like that by a jazz band or a singing contest in which the winner earns a coupon for a free buffet.

Gleisy Murillo from Nicaragua

Restaurante Excelencia is a Korean restaurant in Managua, Nicaragua. When I found out about this place, I jumped at the chance to visit. I ordered kimchi jjigae (stew), and no words could express what I felt when I tasted it. Nicaraguan food is usually salty but this stew was sour, which was new to me. Despite my initial doubts, the combination between the rice and stew was perfect.

This place has the traditional atmosphere of a Korean restaurant with grills at each table for barbecue, making me feel like I was in Korea. The menu features many popular dishes like bulgogi (grilled beef strips), bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables, meat and spicy red pepper paste) and samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly). In my case, I always order kimchi jjigae when I come here. 

enny0611@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.