Last November 2022, I flew out to Korea to visit my hometown. It’s been so long, and I am overdue to visit my favorite spots and get more inspiration on recipes I can bring back to my restaurant in Philly. I just love how I can do business and leisure at the same time on this trip!
I went with Korean Air and I love everything about my 17-hour flight. The aircraft was spacious and comfortable. They provided entertainment by having your own screen where you can watch movies, comfort by giving pillows, blankets, slippers, and hygiene kits, and just generally great service and assistance when you need something. All these made it easy for many hours to pass without a hitch.
Despite all those, the highlight of my flight was really the food. It brought me back to the time when I first rode the plane from Korea to immigrate to Philly. I was about to go to a foreign place but was excited about my new adventure. Amazing how food can bring back a feeling and for a second you get to relive those moments because of it~
I’ve been through the good – making a career out of food which I love. I’ve been through the bad – going through stereotypes, discrimination, and disappointment from naysayers. Despite those throughout the years, I believe everything that happened, happened for me to be here—anyway, going back to the highlight of my flight!
First Meal: Bibimbap
Generally, bibimbap is not on the list of my favorite Korean dishes, but this one hits all the right spots. Bibimbap has several parts which consists of this microwavable rice, mixed vegetables (salted cucumber, sauteed mushrooms, seasoned beansprouts, blanched spinach, pickled radish), sauteed beef, a tube of gochujang, and a sachet of sesame oil.
I was so excited as I was mixing this because it just tastes different when you’re 30,000 ft above the air. The meal also came with pickled cucumbers, doenjang soup, fruits, and drinks. I always look forward to this meal every time I fly because it’s nothing like the other in-flight meals I had.
Snack: Cup Ramen
Did you know that you can have cup ramen as your flight snack, and that you can have as much as you want? This was actually new information for me since I always only get one, but apparently, people shared that you could get as much as you want!
This is one of my favorite cup noodles and it always hits differently. I had this at my wedding for a hangover cure and now I got unlimited cups on my flight to one of my favorite places. This has always been a part of special events in my life and eating this on a plane makes me look back to all those memories.
There is also a wide range of snacks such as cookies, muffins, and fruits, but cup noodles really top them all!
Second Meal: Bulgogi Rice
For the last meal, there are a lot of options available on their food menu such as Bulgogi Rice, Jeyuk Bokkeum with Rice and Lettuce, and Bibim Noodles. They have several options that are all classic Korean dishes. I’ll be honest, the second meal option doesn’t match up to my recipe, but having these classic meals completes the package of the flight.
The meals are served with some salad, dinner rolls, and cake. In flight, you can also have a selection of beer and wine and they pair perfectly with the snacks and meals being served.
Korean Airline Food
This review is actually for the economy class, but I am sure it’s even more remarkable in business and first class. While they serve similar dishes, the ingredients used in upper-class seats are all farm-to-table. Korean Air owns a land in Jeju where they cultivate all the produce being used in all their in-flight meals.
I think it’s a great way to support the locals, but also to make sure that everyone who is new to Korean food gets a diverse taste of the culture. But what about you? What’s your go-to carrier and what’s your favorite airplane food?
I really enjoyed my flight back home and I am excited to revisit my favorite spots and discover the changes that happened in the last three years. Yeobosayo!
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