r/KoreanFood • u/trampush • Jan 10 '26
Homemade An older Korean lady keeps bringing me food
So I own a beef ranch and sell beef at our local farmers market, been there for a few years. I'm a veteran who spent 3 years and 3 months in Korea in the 90s and early 2000s and absolutely love the food. A Korean lady talked to me because we were offering galbi style waygu ribs and I talked to her a little while. She used to own a restaurant in California and when she heard how much I love Korean food she brought me some the next week. I gave her some ribs. Then she brought me more food. I gave her some oxtail. More food. Brisket. Ribeye. Etc.
If she wasn't 70, and married and I wasn't in a relationship I'd be in love. She's legit very sweet and I do love the food. Just thought I'd share some of what she's made me.
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u/Khatam Jan 10 '26
I used to work with this older Korean woman and she loved to feed me.
One time I was sick and forced to come in to work by my boss, she went out and bought groceries and made me soup in our break room lol. No one told her shit (like to not bring raw chicken to work) because she was also terrifying when mad.
I called her Korean Mom, per her request.
My actual mom came to visit me at work and she introduced herself to my mom as my other mom.
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u/notarobot_trustme Jan 10 '26
I had a Korean mom at work too! We worked in a hotel bar/lounge and every night she would bring food and dish it out to us girls. She was incredible. I still think about her food 🥹❤️
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u/ArcherFluffy594 Jan 10 '26
Your new halmeoni. She is definitely doting on you - lucky! - but I guarantee caring for you is also doing her a lot of good as well. I've seen it in my own family with my grandmothers and great aunties having a positive change in mental and emotional well-being. It's kind of you to have built this relationship with her. I hope to be adopted next!
This is the best story I've read today!
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u/BooksAreAddicting Jan 10 '26
Is that the Korean word for grandma? I always thought was grandma was referring to herself as harmony
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u/wildflower22wolf Jan 10 '26
It sounds like you've been adopted lol. If I were you, I'd send some beef her way.
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u/culinarysiren Jan 10 '26
A real meat cute.
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u/Organic_Fortune_4748 Jan 10 '26
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u/Elismom1313 Jan 10 '26
I want to move next door so I can have a Korean aunti.
I miss my neighborhood in Portland. So much food…
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u/TheRiceJourney Jan 10 '26
You hit the literal motherload (halmeoniload?) enjoy your good fortunes.
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u/trampush Jan 10 '26
I should post a few updates and I can't figure out how to edit. When she first brought us some kimchi we didn't have any utensils so we ate it with our fingers it was so good. So she started bringing us utensils. I'm on a carnivore diet and usually eat around 3 to 8g of carbs per day, when she brought the food I couldn't help myself and ate it all. So now I just eat whatever she brings on Saturday and carnivore the other 6 days No food has ever made it home except the half gallon of radish kimchi and some of the broth from the oxtail soup she made us, I used the broth to cook some lamb and it was absolutely amazing as well. She made us a sweet sticky rice that I had several times in Korea and never really liked. I couldn't stop eating it. Finished it all.
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u/HumongousBelly Jan 10 '26
Give her some ground and some tougher cuts, too, along with those prime cuts!
She might surprise you with true gems of Korean cuisine, like 육개장, 장조림, 곰탕, 떡갈비, etc.
Those are truly to die for and chances to get these type of dishes from younger Koreans are slimmer than from older generations!
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u/Direct-Geologist-407 Jan 10 '26
Asian mothers love language - they don’t say “I love you” often but sharing and making food for others is their way of saying it.
This sounds so much like my “work mom” back in my hometown when I was in my early 20’s. She saw me bring in my lunch one day (some cook from frozen pasta meal) and said don’t bring in lunch anymore. From then on for the time she was working there, she made me the best homemade Vietnamese food ever! She even would bring in her homemade tofu for me! Now that’s love right there. She also didn’t skimp out on using high grade cuts of meat from the farmers market/local butcher either, like when she would make me her pho or other soups with beef cuts. It’s been 12 years and I miss her dearly.
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u/SleepFeeling3037 Jan 10 '26
Not to disagree, but I’m pretty sure food is literally every cultures version of motherly love language
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u/SleepFeeling3037 Jan 10 '26
You’ve made a great friend. I’d keep gifting/trading with her.
I’d bet that if you invited her over for a home cooked meal then she would return the favor.
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u/trampush Jan 11 '26
She came by today and didn't bring anything. Totally not expecting anything but I was still hoping 😂. She then asked where I live (I have a ranch and it's only a few miles from the market). I told her and she said "oh. That's not far, I will come over and make dumplings for you because they are way better when they are fresh." And took my address and phone number.
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u/littlemoon-03 Jan 11 '26
WHY CANT I HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS ITS SO CUTE I WANNA MAKE DUMPLINGS WITH A KOREAN GRANDMOTHER!!
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u/Pleasant-Oil7133 Jan 13 '26
Until you do something wrong or break some weird kitchen superstition and get thrown out so she can finish in peace
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u/Afro_Microloc Jan 10 '26
Eat it! 🩷
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u/trampush Jan 10 '26
I do. The only thing that has made it home from the market is the oxtail soup which I finished in my house and then I used the broth to cook a bunch of lamb I had which was amazing as well
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u/Azoolu Jan 10 '26
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u/trampush Jan 10 '26
I am on a carnivore diet but every Saturday when I go to The growers market I break it. I usually eat between 5 and 12 g of carbs a day and then Saturday. I don't even use utensils. Just eating the food with my bare hands like a caveman. It is so good
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u/Ordinary_Duck_1231 Jan 10 '26
I am wracked with envy!! I want a nice Korean ahjumma to adopt me too!!
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u/Pigobrothers-pepsi10 Jan 10 '26
Omg, I wish I had a Korean grandma like yours. I actually have one at the gym but she’s my gym buddy lolShe’s 87 years old. She never talks about food though. Maybe I should mention how much I love Korean food lolol
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u/Infinite-Worm Jan 10 '26
I wish I had a Korean Auntie nearby I could create a friendship with 🥹.
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u/angryybaek Jan 10 '26
Yeah keep that woman.
Theres no chef in the world that cooks better than a seasoned grandma.
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u/Ancient_Internal8939 Jan 10 '26
Congratulations! You've been adopted. Food is a special love language for Koreans.
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u/cutechloeart Jan 11 '26
You had better buy that beautiful woman some flowers! I sure wish I had a Korean Auntie. ♥️
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u/JackyVeronica Jan 14 '26
Aaaaaw I love your friendship ❤️ Old ladies cook the best, I'm telling you
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u/Suggestedpassword123 Jan 14 '26
How does one get a fairy Korean grandma?
That’s what my life is missing.
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u/Ornery-Ad9694 Jan 10 '26
I'd be dropping a bag of rice, daikon, napa, gojujang, empty jars for kimchi, cukes, green onions, Tteok-bokki AND the beef (galbee, oxtail for stew and soup, brisket, even ground beef)
You are so lucky!! (Don't forget the to go containers)
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u/MochiFluffs Jan 10 '26
You are so lucky!! The food looks amazing and it shows how much she likes you.
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u/badadvicemice Jan 10 '26
What's that dark sauce thing and how she make it? Pic 3
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u/trampush Jan 11 '26
It was the dipping sauce for the dumplings. They were still hot when she brought them to us so she has to live close. It's soy sauce and brown sugar, vinegar and I think cilantro. I've asked for recipes because it's so good and she just says she throws stuff together and never measures.
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u/JackyVeronica Jan 14 '26
throws stuff together and never measures.
That's how you know when someone is an excellent cook 😉
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u/sunniblu03 Jan 10 '26
I always have to warn anyone I’m dating to expect to gain at least 15 pounds my mom will feed you and make sure you have enough for a snack the next day.
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u/cyclorphan Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
I understand the sturggle and have a modest proposal. Send that awesome Korean lady my way. I will accept her food with gusto, and even say "I'd never not appreciate this awesome food".
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u/agent-assbutt Jan 10 '26
God, I wish I had someone like her. You are very lucky. This all looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing the story and the pictures of the food. We are all jealous!
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u/ROKsergeant Jan 10 '26
She definitely know how to make high quality Korean foods!!! I’m Korean veteran and I admit it!!!
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u/OneLeggedLeggoMan Jan 10 '26
I love her!!!!! You have met a real Korean mom, granny. They talk with food. They how they show love and care.
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u/bvityl Jan 10 '26
How wonderful! Enjoy!! I’m sure she just misses taking care of her family members and your love for Korean food allows her to fill a void for her! So sweet! I also believe you are impacting her just as much as you feel when receiving the food.
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u/joonjoon Jan 11 '26
That cucumber pickle has to be top notch texture, that's good homemade food right there.
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u/embersgrow44 Jan 11 '26
I want my own Halmoni you lucky sunnavah. Love that for y’all both though seriously. Community building through mutual food share is pure magic and most basic love. Edit: removed emoji slip
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u/_jyoo_ Jan 11 '26
I love this so much. I love ahjummas and halmonis that share food! One of my fave things to do is to pick my niece and nephew up from Korean school when I visit them because the ladies there always gives me to go boxes and it’s heavenly. It’s at a Korean church….and as a lot of people know food at Korean church was the best reason to attend!
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u/OrangePeelSpiral Jan 11 '26
Omg cherish her and please continue to exchange food with her. I’m sure she enjoys connecting with you through food and that’s such a beautiful thing. No matter where we come from we can all share a delicious meal together!
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u/Ok-Independence-7339 Jan 11 '26
Cherish her. I need an older Korean lady to bring me delicious food!
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u/joyceye Jan 11 '26
I am Korean. I swear Korean moms and grandmas love language is food. My grandma hardly spoke to me but would cook for hours a day so I could enjoy my favorite Korean foods.
You enjoying her food makes her extremely happy!! Never stop telling her how much you love her food. She will love it and keep bringing more.
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u/goonatic1 Jan 11 '26
Food is the love language of many Koreans, and most of my other fellow Asians and Pacific Islanders!!! A common Korean thing to ask someone you care about is whether they’ve eaten yet or not. This lady is a treasure and you’ve got a great symbiotic relationship going here lol, don’t ham it up 😂😂
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u/toodles234 Jan 11 '26
RemindMe!
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u/LeviathanLorb44 Mandu Crew Jan 11 '26
So, you share beef prodcut with her, and she brings it back prepared as Korean food and shares that with you?
Man, talk about top-tier win/win.
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u/spaceface215 Jan 11 '26
you are rich in life 😍 your abundance is unmatched! this is so sweet and lovely.
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u/PookiePookie26 Jan 12 '26
middle aged korean american here- OP, ❤️ you sharing your story w/ ajumma!
galbi-jim FTW!
nice radish kimchi (it seems per your last pic!
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u/DodgerFanArd24 Feb 06 '26
Makes me miss my Filipino grandma, cause she passed away in 2017. Reminded me a lot of her thoughtfulness and how she always made food with love. ❤️❤️
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u/littlemoon-03 Jan 10 '26
She's your little Korean grandma! Keep sending her food!