While Korean music is becoming mainstream in the states, appearing in the billboard charts and even on Conan O'Brien's show, Korean food is still slowly making it's way into the melting pot of American food scene. There are famous Bloggers like Maangchi who is introducing Korean staple recipes to the globe. Her collection of recipes is so vast that sometimes I would get confused on where to start.

​What I'm trying to do here is introduce you to 6 simple Banchan recipes that I've either adapted or created based on what I've tasted at various Korean restaurants. Not all Korean food is great, but there are hidden gems that could even help with your Sunday meal prep as these dishes will last for a week! Furthermore, these selected banchans are great to store in the fridge and can be eaten cold or at room temperature. Just need some hot rice or hot soup to accompany these flavorful side dishes. In fact, you can make your own Bibimbap, a popular Korean rice bowl, with all of the banchans here. Enjoy!

Recipes in this post:
1) Garlic Spinach
2) Fresh Baby Bok Choy and Zucchini Kimchi
3) Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers
4) Bean Sprouts and Jalapenos
5) Pickled Cucumber
6) Braised Potatoes with Korean Chili

As much as we like home-cooked meals or fancy Michelin star restaurants, there are days when we just want no-frills and guaranteed deliciousness without the damage to our wallets. Embracing cultural diversity has its virtue and beyond the hot dogs and burgers, Chicago hosts a list of marvelous joints where you can sample worldly cuisine at an affordable price. We've included Chinese, Persian, and Mexican cuisine, just to name a few, so that your taste bud can have its own glorious moment of international enlightenment.