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Korean-style serving of Gamjatang

감자탕 · Gamjatang

Gamjatang

감자탕

What exactly is it?

Pork backbone is simmered with potatoes, greens, perilla powder and chili. Despite the potato in its name, the meal centers on picking tender meat from large bones. Perilla powder gives the broth a thicker, nutty texture.

Main ingredients

Pork backbone, potato, cabbage or dried radish greens, perilla powder, chili

Ordering and serving

Use tongs to hold a bone and chopsticks to lift the meat, or ask for scissors. Match the small, medium or large pot to your group and check which greens, noodles or finishing fried rice cost extra.

Origins and changes

Different explanations circulate for the name, linking it to potatoes or a term for pork bones. The reliable menu fact is its pork-backbone base. Shared gamjatang and individual ppyeo-haejangguk are related preparations with different ordering formats.

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Gamjatang

감자탕

Main ingredients
Pork backbone, potato, cabbage or dried radish greens, perilla powder, chili
Flavor and character
Pork backbone is simmered with potatoes, greens, perilla powder and chili. Despite the potato in its name, the meal centers on picking tender meat from large bones. Perilla powder gives the broth a thicker, nutty texture.
How to eat it
Use tongs to hold a bone and chopsticks to lift the meat, or ask for scissors. Match the small, medium or large pot to your group and check which greens, noodles or finishing fried rice cost extra.
Read about this dish →

Pork-bone hangover soup

뼈해장국

Main ingredients
Pork backbone, dried radish or cabbage greens, soybean paste, chili, scallion
Flavor and character
Large pork-backbone pieces and tender greens arrive in an individual hot bowl. The meat is soft but must be separated from the bones. It is closely related to gamjatang, with the single-diner serving format being a practical distinction.
How to eat it
Keep an empty plate for bones and separate the meat as you go. Ask for a wet towel if holding the bones is easier. Taste before adding more perilla powder or chili seasoning.
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