Korean cuisine captivates local palates with its bold flavors and harmonious blend of diverse ingredients.

The popularity of Hallyu, including K-pop, dramas, and movies, is contributing to the rising interest in Korean cuisine. Many people, not only K-pop fans but also those unfamiliar with Hallyu, are seeking out Korean foods they've seen indirectly through media. This growing demand for Korean cuisine has led to the opening of numerous new Korean restaurants in Madrid in recent years. Currently, there are over 20 Korean restaurants just in the city center. The increased accessibility and opportunities provided by these restaurants have attracted both Hallyu enthusiasts and locals curious about Korean food.While Chinese and Japanese cuisines have already become mainstream in local societies, Korean food hasn't been as widely available. However, with the increasing popularity of Hallyu, there's now a broader range of Korean dishes available for people to enjoy, from street food like hotdogs and tornado potatoes to more traditional dishes like fried chicken and bossam.The interest and popularity of Korean cuisine can also be observed in local media articles. Notably, the world-famous kimchi, which has become a representative of healthy foods globally, has garnered significant attention for several years. Cafés that sell homemade kimchi and restaurants offering fusion dishes incorporating kimchi sauce or kimchi as an ingredient have become increasingly common. The popularity of Korean cuisine has expanded beyond kimchi to embrace a wider variety of Korean dishes.In Spain, where the concept of banchan (side dishes) is not common, the system of various side dishes served at Korean restaurants is highly praised. The interest in these banchan is growing. An article titled "Banchan Beyond Kimchi" in a well-known Spanish newspaper, "El Pais," explains the concept of side dishes and introduces three easy-to-make side dishes that can be prepared at Spanish homes: kongnamul muchim (seasoned soybean sprouts), oi muchim (seasoned cucumber), and sigeumchi namul (seasoned spinach). The article provides a recipe that uses "chili flakes (escama de chile rojo)" instead of gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) to make the dishes more accessible and suitable for pre-meal consumption, suggesting readers visit an Asian market to purchase chili flakes if they enjoy spiciness. The article emphasizes that learning how to make these three side dishes is easier than memorizing K-pop lyrics.Another article introduces 13 different Korean dishes, highlighting that Korean cuisine is both healthy and diverse. Locally, Korean dishes made with various vegetables are recognized as nutritious options. The article mentions that if a main dish is accompanied by two or three side dishes, it's reminiscent of the Korean banchan system. As previously mentioned, the article notes, "In addition to kimchi, which has received attention in recent years, there are many other Korean dishes," and proceeds to introduce 13 dishes including kimchi.

The article introduces not only well-known Korean representative dishes such as gimbap, bulgogi, bibimbap, and tteokbokki, but also lesser-known Korean dishes like bossam, samgyetang, and sundubu jjigae. It also introduces samgyeopsal, the Korean-style barbecue of grilling meat and wrapping it with various side dishes in lettuce, rice, gochujang, onions, garlic, and kimchi. This Korean barbecue style is also gaining popularity in Spain.Another article from "El Diario" introduces good Korean restaurants across Spain, mentioning that Korean cuisine has a charm to it. It states that once you try Korean food, you'll fall in love and be captivated by its intense flavors and unique combinations of ingredients. It emphasizes the diversity of Korean recipes and mentions that new trends are constantly being added to Korean cuisine.Another article from "El País" introduces various Korean restaurants in Spain, stating that dishes like gimbap, bibimbap, and bulgogi are becoming more familiar to Spaniards and that Korean cuisine is gradually becoming mainstream.The owner of Dokdo Korea, a Korean restaurant located in the heart of Madrid, mentioned that their restaurant is not only catering to Korean tourists but also aims to introduce Korean cuisine to the locals. They emphasized the increasing popularity of Korean cuisine among both Korean wave enthusiasts and local Spaniards.With the rising popularity of Hallyu and the increasing interest in Korean food, it is hoped that Korean cuisine will become even more popular among the locals in Spain.