Yes, but more like “kimchi to taste”. For the typical Kraft box, I’d say more like half a cup of kimchi, but please do sneak up on what you think is a good amount if its your first time. For reference, a lot of Korean dishes serve at least a quarter-cup per serving.
Exactly. It’s like watching the gas station across the street and quietly setting your prices to the same thing. The moment you set it one cent lower than the other guy, it’s a race to the bottom and everyone makes less money.
It’s also not as big a leap as one might think. There are all kinds of chaat that are basically small rounds of bread that are just wrecked with toppings. They may as well be pizza with 100% Indian street food ingredients.
Do it. It’s incredible.
Kimchi Mac N Cheese
For those reading and thinking “what the actual fuck”, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. This is in steady rotation at my place. You’d think American cheese is a bad fit for asian food, but budae jjigae has been a staple comfort dish in Korea since the war and proudly boasts this flavor combo.
Anyway, this dish is incredible. The kimchi funk is mellowed by the other ingredients and contributes acid, spice, and seasoning to the overall dish for practically zero effort.
Top and finish as you like. Here, we like to take it deeper into East Asia by adding chopped green onions, fried shallots, peanuts, and chili crisp.
I think you hit the nail on the head there. IMO, it’s very much late-night drinking/partying food. It’s right up there with the Rochester Garbage Plate, Jumbo Slice in downtown D.C., or those hotdogs they serve on the street in Reykjavík.