Experience a traditional Korean dinner at Juni's Cafe

Traditional Korean dinners are a different experience than most Americans are used to, and it's not just because of the unique food. With the opening of Juni's Cafe, Wichitans now have the chance to experience a slice of Korean culture.

Korean meals normally consist of rice, soup and side dishes. The size of the meal can range between 3-12 side dishes, depending on the occassion. Each person gets their own individual serving of rice and soup, while all the other dishes are set around the table. Unlike Western cultures, Koreans mix their food- their rice dish serves as the main dining plate, and all the sides are stacked on top of it. Koreans traditionally eat with both chopsticks and spoons. The spoons are used for their soup and other watery dishes, while the chopsticks are used for everything else.

Korean food is usually very healthy. They don't use much cooking oil, and little food is fried. Korean dishes constain a lot of vegetables and are kept light.

Most Korean restaurants in the United States have been Westernized- the food is portioned and seperated onto individual plates. You can get this style of meal at Juni's Cafe, but you can also try a traditional meal.

If your party wants to have a traditional Korean meal, you have to call a couple days ahead to plan it. Owner Jenifer Kang will talk with you about the different sides you want, and will come up with a specialized dinner just for your party. Kang can make any type of traditional Korean dish, as long as she has enough notice to get all the ingredients and prepare it.

If you've never had Korean food, here's a list of common side dishes you'll find at most meals:

Bulgogi: Grilled marinated beef
Beebimbap: Plain rice topped with minced meat, vegetables and egg
Kimbap: Commonly referred to as "Korean Sushi," this dish is rice, vegetables and bulgogi wrapped in seaweed.
Kimchi- Fermented spicy cabbage 

To schedule your traditional Korean meal, call Juni's Cafe at (316)425-5111.