Have you heard of omakase?
The Japanese word is usually associated with sushi restaurants where you leave the menu up to the chef.
But in Korea, the word has taken on a life of its own.
You may sometimes hear playful names like “imo-kase” (이모카세) or “samchon-kase” (삼촌카세) — casual Korean expressions inspired by the word omakase.
And the experience can be very different from the carefully plated sushi course you might be imagining.
1. So what does “samchon-kase” mean?
Samchon (삼촌) literally means “uncle” in Korean, but the word can also be used casually for a familiar middle-aged man.
Combine it with “omakase,” and you get the playful expression samchon-kase.
There's also imo-kase, from imo (이모), meaning “aunt,” a word Koreans also commonly use when addressing a familiar older woman.
These aren't traditional Korean culinary terms with strict definitions.
They're informal names sometimes used for places where the owner or cook keeps serving a variety of dishes, often in a relaxed drinking atmosphere.
2. Don't expect a traditional Japanese omakase
If you hear “omakase,” you might immediately think of sushi served one piece at a time across a quiet counter.
This is a very different experience.
At places like this, the food can jump from raw meat to fried dishes, spicy dishes, salads and other Korean-style drinking food.
Part of the fun is not knowing exactly what kind of dish might appear next.
3. It's as much about drinking as eating
This kind of meal can feel less like a formal tasting menu and more like a long Korean night out.
You eat, drink, talk, and then another dish arrives.
Beer and soju are common companions to Korean drinking food, and the meal can continue for quite a while.
That's also why the atmosphere matters just as much as the individual dishes.
4. The dishes can keep changing
One of the interesting parts is the variety.
Something fresh might be followed by something fried.
Then something spicy.
Then a warm dish.
Instead of ordering one main dish and finishing it, the table keeps changing throughout the evening.
5. And sometimes even dessert appears
After several savory dishes and a few drinks, you might think the meal is finished.
Not necessarily.
Depending on the place, something simple and sweet may appear at the end.
On this particular night in Busan, that meant ice cream.
That's part of the charm of this kind of experience.
You don't necessarily know exactly how the meal will unfold when you sit down.
Korea's drinking culture isn't only about soju and Korean BBQ.
There are countless small bars and restaurants where the food, drinks and conversation are all part of the same experience.
Words like imo-kase and samchon-kase are also a fun example of how Koreans sometimes take a familiar foreign word and turn it into something distinctly local.
If you come across one while traveling in Korea, don't expect a traditional Japanese omakase.
Expect something much more casual.
And possibly a lot more food than you planned.
Sometimes the best Korean food experiences aren't about knowing exactly what's coming next.
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