광어(Kwang Uh) – Olive Flounder - 平目 (ひらめ)(Hira mae)
Kwang Uh are the large flat fish flounders that are called Hira mae(平目 (ひらめ)) in Japanese. In English these are called Olive flounders.
South Korea is one of the largest producers of olive founders as there are many fish farms of olive flounders.
Olive Flounder is the staple of raw fish consumed in South Korea. The Olive flounder is also called 넙치(Nub chea). The fin meat called engawa(えんがわ) is the prime meat of the olive flounder.
찰광어 – Turbot
The Korean pronunciation is chal Kwang uh. Turbot are also one of the fish that are being fish farmed in South Korea and started to enter the market. Turbot have a firmer texture compared with other fish.
도다리 – Righteye flounder - カレイ、かれい(Ga Rei, Ka Rei)
The Korean pronunciation is do da ri. In Japanes it is called a Ga rei カレイ、かれい. From the fish perspective, if the eye is on the right it is a right eye flounder while if the eye is on the left it is an olive flounder.
Righteye flounders are often served with their bones together when eaten raw as the bones are soft enough to eat that is called 세꼬시(Sae Ko Shi). It provides a unique bit crunchy flavor.
강도다리 – Starry Flounder
The Korean pronunciation is gang(kang) do da ri. The starry flounder is also one of the flat fishes that are often found in the aquariums of the Noryangjin seafood market. It has a black striped pattern on its fins.
참돔(Cham Dom) – Red Sea Bream - 真鯛 (Madai)
The Korean pronunciation is Cham Dom(참돔) that are called Madai(真鯛) in Japanese that are called Red Sea Bream in English.
Often times Red Sea Bream is served with its skin slightly boiled called a Matsukawa cooking method. Red Sea Bream Matsukawa comes from the Japanese term Matsukawa-zukuri(松川造り) that means Cooking method that makes a pine tree like texture.
강담돔 – Spotted Knifejaw - イシガキダイ(Ishigakidai)
The Korean pronunciation is gang dam dome. In Japanese the イシガキダイ(Ishigakidai). The Spotted Kinfejaws are the fish with spotted patterns found in the aquarium of the Norayngjin Seafood Market.
The Spotted Kinfejaw is one of the prime expensive fish found in the seafood market. The skin of the Spotted Kinfejaw is also edible and one of the special parts that consumers must eat.
돌돔 – Striped Beakfish, Stone Snapper - イシダイ 石鯛 (Ishidai)
The Korean pronunciation is Dole Dome. The Striped Beakfish also known as the Stone Snapper is also one of the most expensive fish found in the seafood markets aquariums.
Male Striped Beakfish are the zebra patterned white and black fish. However, males don’t have a striped pattern and rather have a grey body when they are mature while females maintain a striped pattern.
Younger Striped Beakfish are called Jule Dome(줄돔) and they have a much softer texture and offer different tastes. The Striped Beakfish taste is outstanding and the skin is also one of the prime parts that consumers must try.
감성돔 – Japanese Black porgy - (クロダイ), 鳥頬魚(kuro dai)
The Korean pronunciation is Gam Sung Dome. The Japanese Black Porgy is the silver lined snappers found in the aquariums of Korena seafood markets.
The Japanese Black Porgy is also a very great fish that are often consumed with its skin on Matsukawa-zukuri(松川造り) style like the Red Sea Bream.
방어- Japanese Amberjack - (鰤 ぶり ブリ Buri / 魬 Hamachi
The Korean pronunciation is Bang Uh. During the winter and late fall, the Japanese Amberjack is full of oil and flavor that make it one of the most popular fish in the seafood markets of Korea.
The Japanese Amberjack and the Yellowtail Amberjack may look similar but they have different flavors and have different seasonal tastes.
Japan differentiates younger Japanese Amberjack as Hamachi(魬) and older Japanese Amberjacks as Buri(鰤) as Buri have a firm texture and more oil while Hamachi has softer texture with a sweet flavor. Koreans tend to enjoy larger Japanese Amberjacks.
부시리 – Yellowtail Amberjack, Yellowtail Kingfish – (平政 Hiramasa or Hiras)
The Korean pronunciation is Bushiri. Although it looks similar with the Japanese Amberjack, the Yellowtail Amberjack is a leaner fish and has a different taste profile.
The most notable difference between the Yellowtail Amberjack and the Japanese Amberjack is the tail where Yellow tail Amberjack doesn’t have an edge in the middle of its tail while the Japanese Amberjack has an edge in the middle of its tail.
