Bunsik
Encyclopedia
Bunsik is a generic term used to refer to inexpensive Korean dishes available at bunsikjeom (분식점) or bunsikjip (분식집) snack restaurants. Since the term bunsik literally means "food made from flour," foods such as ramyeon and bread
can be considered bunsik. However, the modern definition of the term also includes other dishes served at bunsik restaurants that can be had in large portions at low prices, such as gimbap
, tteokbokki
, ramyeon, rabokki (tteokbokki with ramyeon), sundae
, odeng, twigim (fried dishes), and others.
was scarce in South Korea
, and the government was prompted to promote bunsik as an alternative. Committees were set up in each region to encourage public organizations, schools, and government offices to lead the movement. Restaurants were guided to use more barley and wheat flour while sales of rice-based foods were banned on certain days of the week. Government run restaurants in official buildings were banned from selling rice dishes altogether. This effort lasted until 1976.
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
can be considered bunsik. However, the modern definition of the term also includes other dishes served at bunsik restaurants that can be had in large portions at low prices, such as gimbap
Gimbap
Gimbap or kimbap is a popular Korean dish made from steamed white rice and various other ingredients, rolled in gim and served in bite-size slices...
, tteokbokki
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki, also known as Ddeokbokki is a popular Korean snack food which is commonly purchased from street vendors or Pojangmacha. Originally it was called tteok jjim , and was a braised dish of sliced rice cake, meat, eggs, and seasoning. Tteok jjim an early variant of modern tteokbokki, was...
, ramyeon, rabokki (tteokbokki with ramyeon), sundae
Sundae (Korean food)
Sundae is a Korean dish made generally by boiling or steaming cow or pig's intestines that are stuffed with various ingredients. It is a kind of blood sausage and believed to have been eaten for a long time...
, odeng, twigim (fried dishes), and others.
Efforts to promote bunsik in South Korea
During the 1960s, riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
was scarce in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, and the government was prompted to promote bunsik as an alternative. Committees were set up in each region to encourage public organizations, schools, and government offices to lead the movement. Restaurants were guided to use more barley and wheat flour while sales of rice-based foods were banned on certain days of the week. Government run restaurants in official buildings were banned from selling rice dishes altogether. This effort lasted until 1976.