Ingredient appreciation — what makes Sundubu Jjigae special

What sets Sundubu Jjigae apart is the handling of gochujang chilli paste. 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.

the communal banchan side dishes are as important as the main. The a Korean barbecue restaurant with table grills atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had banana milk as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Sundubu Jjigae is the place to start.