Don't know much about Korean cuisine?

Rochester restaurateur Sammi Loo is well-known for the variety of ethnic restaurants she owns in town. While the history of her eateries goes back quite a ways, she currently owns four restaurants in town.

First, there's Otori Sushi, a Japanese eatery known for its sushi, (2665 Commerce Drive). That was followed by Mezza9 Cafe and Desserts (20 Third St. SW), which is similar to a Parisian café. Then, she worked simultaneously to open a pair of restaurants on First Avenue Southwest: 1928 Cocktails & Bites — think Asian cuisine meets tapas with a Shanghai speakeasy vibe — and Bebap Korean Inspired Eatery, which brings a new type of food to the Rochester dining scene.

Food has always been one of Loo's passions, especially Korean cuisine. Deciding Rochester needed that sort of restaurant, she dove into it, head first. Loo did extensive research studying the many different ingredients, the unique cooking techniques, the different dishes and textures as well as fermentation, a process critical to some Korean dishes like kimchi. Since opening in October 2023, Bebap has turned into a go-to place.

What she offers are many traditional dishes, key among them is banchan, side dishes based on vegetables, rice, seafood and sometimes meat. These are akin to condiments and are served with every meal. Essential to many dishes are ingredients like sesame oil, kochujang, a chili pepper paste and kochkaru, a chili pepper powder. Garlic and ginger are often part of a dish as well.

What stands out in Korean cuisine is the combination of flavors that all work together — sweet, spicy, salty and vinegary. They also go for harmony and balance, featuring contrasting elements like hot and cold, fermented and fresh, hearty and light. Interesting, there isn't much dairy in their day-to-day food.

What is also important to Loo is the seasonality of dishes. Her extensive winter menu, available both at lunch and dinner, includes kimchi-jjigae, a kimchi stew with pork belly and tofu. Customers new to Bebap and Korean cuisine are often confused simply by the nomenclature. But it's just a matter of learning the language. Jjigae is simply Korean for hearty stews.

These cold days are also perfect for a bowl of gallbitang, a popular soup made with beef short ribs. Also popular is dolsot bibimap which includes rice, vegetables, egg and a red pepper paste all served together in a very hot shallow stone pot.

One of the most requested dishes is bulgogi, thinly sliced beef strips marinated in a sweet, garlic soy sauce among many ingredients. Want to try something uniquely Korean? How about tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake served with fish cakes, green onion and cabbage. Add a boiled egg — a common Korean upgrade — and have a complete meal.

The list of dishes is endless — it might be difficult to choose but just go for it. They are all made with premium South Korean ingredients. There are also descriptions under each menu item which is helpful, especially if you're not as familiar with this cuisine.

Probably one of the most well-known Korean condiments is kimchi, almost a national dish and certainly one of the most popular. Complex, it features tastes of spicy, salty, and sometimes sour. Among the ingredients are gochugaru, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, Napa cabbage, daikon radish and carrots. It turns out to be a kaleidoscope of flavors which can be eaten fresh or made into a stew, added to pancakes, dumplings, meatballs and even to roasted Brussels sprouts. It's said Koreans can't live without it. Kept refrigerated it is good for almost a year.

On these cold days, this is a great place to go — it'll warm you inside as well as your outside. Bebap is open every day but Sunday from 11-9. Happy hours are 3-6 daily. They also offer delivery and take-out. For more information call 507-206-3009.

Post Bulletin food writer Holly Ebel knows what’s cookin’. Send comments or story tips to life@postbulletin.com .