Cycle 12 – Item 348

19 (Sun) December 2021

Bangeo Hoe

3.5

at Palddak Palddak

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

with the Family

Palddak Palddak (팔딱팔딱) is a Korean restaurant.  Specializes seafoods, prepared in a variety of methods: raw, grilled, deep-fried, souped.  The name is an ideophonic reduplicative adverb (see also for example 12.317 Chochok Ojingeo;  12.318 Ojingeo Muchim) conveying the vigorousness of an action or movement, like a freshly caught fish flopping on the desk of a boat.

Bangeo (방어), sometimes “Dae (great) Bangeo” – is a Japanese amberjack aka yellowtail aka Seriola quinqueradiata.  The raw flesh is much darker/redder in color (see for example 6.349 Bangeo Hoe), compared to the whitish/pinkish flesh of yellowtail as served at Japanese restaurants in America – aka hamachi – suggesting that they may be related but not the same species.  In Korea, the fish is served almost exclusively as hoe/sashimi, in both Korean and Japanese restaurants, only during the winter.

The bangeo hoe was excellent.  Pristinely fresh.  Served with dips and leafy wraps, in the style of Korean BBQ.  Not that cheap at 48,000 won for the medium platter – 32 pieces = 1,500 won per piece – but in line with current market prices.  If not for the movie we had to catch (Spider-Man: No Way Home), we would’ve ordered another platter.

I look forward to the day when the fish becomes more readily available in sushi restaurants.

(See also CULINARY AQUATIC CRANIATES À CORÉE)

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)