For example, unlike American fried chicken, Korean fried chicken is usually sweet and spicy, not salty. Additionally, Korean fried chicken is served with pickled radish, a 반찬 (banchan) or side dish very common in Korean cuisine. Pizza, on the other hand, is almost always sweet. Instead of pepperoni, toppings can include everything from sweet potatoes to shrimp, corn, beef and even mayonnaise. At first, I was surprised by how different the food was, but then I realized that I enjoy Korean 치킨 (chikin) even more than American fried chicken. Every bite was a surprise!
Unlike American fried chicken, Korean 치킨 (chikin) is fried twice and coated with a powder or a sauce. Sometimes it also comes with peanuts, sesame seeds or green onions on top. When I ate 치킨 (chikin) with my host family, we ordered it 반반 (banban), or half-and-half: one half with a sweet cheese powder and the other half with a sweet and spicy sauce made from jam, ketchup, soy sauce and 고추장 (gochujang), a traditional Korean seasoning.
In contrast, Korean 피자 (pija) is prepared just like American pizza, but the toppings are different. For example, the 피자 (pija) we ate was topped with pepperoni, sweet potato, cheese, jalapeños, broccoli and barbecue sauce, and the crust was stuffed with cheese. Normally, 피자 (pija) also comes with a side of sweet pickles, which serve as a refreshing treat when the meal ends.
