One, Two, Korean Barbecue Trivia Quiz

Answer: Taking off your shoes when you enter the restaurant.

Taking your shoes off at the door is considered polite in Korea, especially in homes, but also in restaurants. Traditional Korean dining is done on the floor, so taking off your shoes is a must so as not to dirty the floors. Best to wear clean socks when you go out!

Pouring water should be done with two hands as it signals deference and a spirit of communal sharing. It is also rude not to pour water for others at the table, especially if you are the youngest. Pouring water for yourself should be done by another person at the table.

Blowing your nose at the table is rude in many cultures; though Korean food can often be spicy, it is best to excuse yourself from the table before partaking in the act.

Korea has an ingrained cultural respect for elders, so the first bite should be taken by the oldest at the table. If the youngest person were to eat first, it would be considered very rude for everyone present.

Answer: napa cabbage

The main ingredient in most versions of kimchi is cabbage, with napa cabbage, a type of Chinese cabbage, being the most common. The dish is fermented and often made with other various vegetables including radish. Red pepper paste is also frequently an ingredient and serves to make the kimchi spicy.

The many sides that come with your meal can be overwhelming, but part of the fun is to try a little bit of everything. Also, many of the items given to you, such as fresh daikon, can be used as palate cleansers.

Answer: soju

Sake is a Japanese liquor that can sometimes be ordered in Korea. And while Cass beer and makgeolli (a sweet milky rice wine) are certainly cheap, they are not quite so popular as a bottle of soju, which is ordered with nearly every dinner. The beverage (which means "burned liquor") is generally taken neat, and has a strong alcoholic taste, even though it is considered diluted compared to other liquors. "Gun-bae!" (Cheers!)

Answer: Yes

Though it is common in China and Japan to eat rice with your chopsticks, in Korea, this is often done with the spoon. The spoon can also be used to eat other messy foods that can't be picked up with chopsticks, including Korean soups.

Not only is it seen as odd to eat your rice with your chopsticks in Korean restaurants, putting your chopsticks straight up and down into your rice is seen as extremely rude. Doing so reminds everyone at the table of the Asian practice of sticking incense into a bowl of sand when a relative dies. Not exactly what you want to be thinking about at a nice dinner.

Answer: pork belly

"Samgyeopsal" is a dish that any Korean would be happy to share with you, and they might even be impressed if you happen to order it. The select cut of meat can be considered a little more on the expensive side when dining at a barbecue, so it is wise to consider it as a special treat when dining out.

Seasoning the meat with salt as it is cooking is key to its delicious flavor. Dip it in spicy red pepper paste for some extra flavor.

Answer: Failing to vent the smoke

That large metal contraption is a personal vent that you can use to suck away the smoke escaping from the grill. It sticks down all the way from the ceiling and is adjustable, so you can move the vent up and down at your convenience.

Failing to vent the smoke from the barbecue grill will allow it to blow into your guests' faces, but more importantly, it will make their clothes smell. Some restaurants offer sprays to their customers as they are leaving to mask or eliminate the offending odors.

Garlic is commonly served with barbecue and is popular in Korean cuisine. Also, it is very common to cut the meat with a shears so that everyone can share.

Answer: bulgogi

Quite possibly one of the tastiest foods of Korea is the succulent, sweet-and-salty bulgogi. The word itself means "fire meat" because it is typically grilled. It can be eaten naked, dipped in sauces, or wrapped in a leafy green for consumption.

At one point, the meat was a delicacy only eaten by the wealthy and the Joseon nobility. Now, however, it is a relatively inexpensive choice at the barbecue.

Answer: spicy red pepper and soybeans

Though "ssamjang" and "gochujang" serve mainly as a way to enhance the flavor of the Korean barbecue meats, it also pairs excellently with grilled garlic for those vegetarians that may just happen to be in the group.

However, vegetarianism is quite rare amongst Koreans and some may wonder why you are not partaking in the consumption of meat. Though it is less likely to be thought of with a foreigner in Korea, if a Korean person were to order a meal without meat, they could be thought to be poor and unable to afford it.

Answer: tofu

Tofu is very popular in Korean cuisine and features heavily in Korean soups and stews, taking on their flavor. While dining at a barbecue, it wouldn't be unusual to see someone order a "jjigae" to share with the table.

Answer: The left hand folded onto the right arm

In general, the way the money is situated is unimportant, though dirty and/or crumpled bills might be considered in poor taste (much like anywhere). However, the gesture of placing the left hand on the right arm (or under its elbow) is considered the polite and proper way to give and receive money or credit cards in Korea.

When giving or receiving other objects, the same hand gestures apply, though using two hands is also acceptable. This is also why pouring water and other beverages should be done with two hands.