Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi-Bokkeumbap)
When it comes to Korean food, living in Chicago has really spoiled me. One of my favorite haunts is the King Spa and Sauna—a Korean spa that’s pretty much paradise on earth. On top of their spa amenities, they have a food court that features authentic Korean dishes, including eggs cooked in the hottest sauna at the spa! Despite, or I guess because of, the extreme heat, it’s my favorite sauna.
Right next to the King Spa is one of the best Asian grocery stores I’ve seen: H-Mart. It’s an Asian (primarily Korean) grocer the size of a big-box retailer, and its tremendous selection always spurs me to experiment with Korean cooking at home. Out of these experiments have emerged several favorites, one of those being kimchi fried rice.