Yakiniku - Korean or Japanese?

obviously yakiniku is a japanese term, but i'm confused as to whether it's japanese barbecue, or korean barbecue. i've seen them translated both ways. is there anyone who can clear this up for me?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:56 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Korean barbecue.

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

WHAT? no way!! Yakiniku is a Japanese type of barbecue. the word Yakiniku is made up of two words in Japanese: yaki which can mean barbecue, and niku which means meat. I'm not sure what's the Korean word for barbecue.. maybe something like bulgogi or some sort... or is bulgogi a marinated meat..? hmm... whatever.. Whistling

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I always thought that it was Japanese....but hey, what do I know? Whistling

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 4:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

ummm... there's a "yakiniku" in every culture! lol!

japanese, korean, chinese, malay, american, u name it.

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

The way the Japanese eat Yakiniku is Korean style. Even though it's called Yakiniku, the English name for the way Japanese people eat it is Korean barbeque. So it's really Korean, we even call it Korean in English, but the word is Japanese.

Oh yeah, make sure you wear dirty clothes when you go eat, since your hamper room will smell like yakiniku and smoke until the next time you wash your clothes. Might as well ruin the dirty clothes instead.

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:43 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

In my town we have at least 5 different yakiniku places, and they are split down the middle whether they are more Korean style or Japanese style. It depends on the place. It's all delicious, though, so who cares?

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:23 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

In Hawaii, the style of each yakiniku joint will tell you if it is Japanese or Korean. From what I've observed, all the Korean BBQs refer to themselves as yakiniku, probably so that the Japanese tourists will recognize the term and know what to expect or to go if they're craving for that style of food.

As for the way these places operate... Again, this is from what I've seen in Hawaii. All the Korean BBQs grill on what I refer to as hubcaps on propane because the cooking surface really does look like hubcaps you'd see on a 1970s era vehicle. And, there are only a few number of slits that allow the flame to penetrate and touch the food. The Japanese BBQs, however use charcoal grills with a wire mesh on top. The good thing about the charcoal grills is that the meat does not boil itself to death like they do on the hubcaps or when you cook meat on a Chinese wok. The food under charcoal also cooks a lot quicker, and with an outdoor barbeque like flavor. And (again, this is in Hawaii), at the Japanese yakiniku places, you do not have to take three showers after leaving the place.

A few cuts made on this hubcap, and you're on your way to BBQ'ing!!!!! Fighting!!!

The Korean BBQs are almost always buffet style. They're also always a flat price per person - all you can eat. The food at a Japanese BBQs are on a per-order basis, and it comes out to be much more expensive.

--- groink

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:28 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It's often used interchangeably, as Groink pointed out, so I wouldn't outright say "yaikiniku" is/isn't korean bbq. It just means bbq'd meat. I wouldn't take it for more than that.

If you want to differentiate in terms of the food... you could look at yakiniku as the Japanese take on "korean bbq." Attributing things like the sauces used for dipping. However since at times it's used interchangeably, it's best to check for each case of its use- or you might be getting a different meal than expected.

Yaki doesn't really mean fire.

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:05 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

here's the wikipedia explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakiniku

being from hawaii myself, i have similar views to groink. the term is used interchangeably, but just from my experience, if you mention 'yakiniku' to someone in hawaii, most of the time, they will think about korean bbq.

personally, i love korean yakiniku BECAUSE of the buffet-style. my appetite (and wallet) has not allowed me to sample the japanese version yet. but i have absolutely no problem with the smell on clothes later. heck, it just makes me want to go right back!! Laugh

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

"And, there are only a few number of slits that allow the flame to penetrate and touch the food. The Japanese BBQs, however use charcoal grills with a wire mesh on top."

I don't know which places you've been, but real Korean barbecues (not the ones you do at home) use grilled mesh with charcoals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_barbecue

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:02 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0