Anju, or Why You Never Drink Alone
In Korea, the food on the table matters as much as the drink in the glass.
안주 — anju — is the food that comes with drinking. It is not a snack and not quite a meal. It is the reason the table stays crowded and the night stays long.
The rule of the table
Order food before the second bottle arrives. Share everything. Keep the grill moving. Anju is designed to be eaten slowly and together.
A short list to start with
- Grilled pork belly with lettuce, garlic and ssamjang
- Spicy stews that arrive bubbling and stay hot all night
- Savoury pancakes on a rainy evening
- Fried chicken, the modern classic
Each one does the same job in a different key: salt, fat and heat to balance a clean, cold spirit.