Korean Chinese Cuisine

Korean Chinese cuisine (Korean: 중화요리 Junghwa yori, hanja: 中華料理) is derived from traditional Chinese cuisine but has been influenced by local ingredients in Korea. Due to geographical proximity, most Korean-Chinese dishes are derived from Northern styles of Chinese cuisine such as Beijing and Shandong cuisine. However, some have regarded Korean Chinese cuisine as being more Korean than Chinese. The cuisine developed in the port city of Incheon, where the majority of Korea's ethnic Chinese population historically lived. However, Chinese restaurants in Korea are unusual in that they are owned and run by Koreans, rather than ethnic Chinese. The latter development came in part due to the assimilation of the ethnic Chinese in Korea into the Korean culture as well as due to their outward migration due to legal discrimination they were subject to, especially under the Park Chung-hee administration. Consequently, the most authentic Korean Chinese cuisine can be found in centers of overseas Korean communities such as Queens and Manhattan in New York City; Palisades Park and Fort Lee, New Jersey; as well as Los Angeles, all in the United States.

In South Korea there is an aspect of this cuisine which is unusual, in that home delivery is the main means through which it is put in front of diners. As such Korean Chinese cuisine is analogous to pizza delivery in the US or Indian take-away in the UK, and every S Korean urban household is served by no fewer than two such establishments. The cuisine also occupies the same economic position to the two a-fore mentioned analogues, in terms of relative pricing vis-a-vis other dining options. Expensive gourmet Chinese cuisine at upscale establishments dedicated to such is also popular in South Korea, but the cuisine served is mainland Chinese styles.