Ingredient appreciation — what makes Japchae special

What sets Japchae apart is the handling of perilla leaves. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the sweet, spicy, and savoury at once result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Korean cuisine integrates fermented ingredients like kimchi as a health and preservation tradition. The a late-night soju bar atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had barley tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Japchae is the place to start.