For some time now, Asian food has been taking a new shape across the region, going beyond basic Chinese noodles and moving onto out-of-the-box Asian food trends for the masses.
Among the all-stars is Korean cuisine, which spread its wings across the region, especially with its crazy food trends taking over the foodie scene. That is why we are going to take a look at some of these very creations that have taken over the Middle East:
Tissue Bread at Dubai’s Break By Mara
Bread is pretty plain, right? Well, Korea decided to amp it up by introducing a version you wouldn’t believe exists. Meet Korea’s tissue bread, a 1000-layer toast where each thin, soft, and buttery layer can be peeled off and devoured.
That bread is served at Dubai’s Break By Mara, an artisan bakery and pastry shop that also offers modern Mediterranean and international cuisine.
At this bakery, what you choose to do with the layer of tissue bread is up to you. You can either dunk it onto chocolate or pistachio sauce or pair it with cream cheese and honey.
Bingsu at Doha’s Kuidaore
With the weather still a bit hot, despite us heading into the new school year, we still get those cravings for cool, icy desserts. That is where Bingsu comes in.
It is basically milk-based Korean shaved ice that is usually topped with a cool collection of toppings, ranging from chopped fruit and sweetened condensed milk to mochi and sweet red beans.
You can cool off and get a taste of that very dessert at Doha’s Kuidaore. Our go-to option has to be their mango sticky rice served with a side of Korean shaved ice that gets doused in mango puree and salted coconut cream. They also serve other cool flavors like coffee blend tiramisu bingsu and Thai tea boba bingsu.
Korean Corn Dogs at Cairo’s K-Town
It’s crispy, it’s gooey, and it’s cheesy; nothing beats a good ole corn dog.
Knowing Koreans, they like to take simple concepts and transform them into fun and playful versions, that is why they have their own version of corn dogs.
These Korean corn dogs are made in many Arab countries, one of which is Egypt. In Cairo, there’s a little Korean street food spot known as K-Town that serves up these bad boys.
At this dining spot, you can enjoy either one of four types of corn dogs, including their octopus mozzarella version. Then there are the toppings. You can go for everything from hot Cheetos and Takis to cheddar cheese and lemon & spice Doritos.
Rabokki at Riyadh’s Omo Omo
For some time now, two Korean snacks have been taking over our homes. We are talking about Buldak’s line of ramen noodles as well as packaged tteok-bokki (the popular rice cake).
Now, what would be the true icing on the cake? Combining them into one dish of course. Meet Korea’s Rabokki, the love child of Korean ramen noodles and tteok-bokki.
The one place in the region that brings this dish to life is Riyadh’s Omo Omo, the eatery that serves up ramen noodles and rice cakes together, coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. What can be better than that?
Korean Garlic Cheese Bread at Bahrain’s My Daily Cakes
A popular street food in Korea are these garlic cheese breads or buns. They are addictive because are basically these soft, fluffy bread rolls generously stuffed with a luscious cream cheese filling and dipped in a savory garlic butter spread.
Now, you don’t have to go all the way to South Korea to get a bite of these special buns. In Bahrain is a special little bakery that serves up this very bread, a bakery called My Daily Cakes.
If you are already a K-pop fan and want to fully indulge in their culture by eating their cuisine, these are the spots to hit up. If you are an avid foodie who loves to take risks and indulge in delicious foods, these spots should be on your list. If you love good food, again these are the spots to hit up.