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Soojin Park

Staff Writer · Los Angeles, California

Soojin Park is a Korean American food writer based in Los Angeles. She writes about preserving traditional Korean cooking methods and adapting them for smaller modern kitchens. Soojin makes her own kimchi every November and mails jars to friends who have moved away from home. She grew up watching her grandmother make kimjang, the annual kimchi-making tradition, and has been documenting her own version of the process for the last six years. Her work has appeared in Korean American community publications and food magazines. She also teaches occasional workshops on fermentation.

Expertise

Korean cuisine, fermentation, traditional cooking methods

Years Writing

6 years

Favorite Tool

Her grandmother's kimchi container, which is older than she is

Articles by Soojin Park

Food Culture |

Dosas in South India: The Fermented Crepe That Goes From Breakfast to Dinner Without Changing Its Name

The dosa culture of South India, from paper-thin masala dosas to rava dosas, and the chutneys that accompany them.

Food Culture |

The Tea Houses of Chengdu: Where Drinking Tea Is a Two-Hour Conversation, Not a Beverage

The tea culture of Chengdu, from gaiwan service to the ear-cleaning attendants and bamboo chairs.

Food Culture |

Hot Pot in Chengdu: The Sichuan Dish That Turns Dinner Into a Two-Hour Social Event

A guide to the hot pot culture of Chengdu, from the spicy broth to the dipping sauces to the rhythm of the meal.

Recipes |

Pho Broth from Scratch: The Six-Hour Simmer That Makes Packet Soup Taste Like Dishwater

A beef pho broth recipe with charred onions, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, and beef bones.

Food Culture |

Bread and Civilization: Why the Oldest Recipe in the World Is Still Being Made Today

A look at the history of bread from ancient Egypt to modern sourdough, and why it remains essential.

Food Culture |

Injera, Wots, and Coffee: A Morning in an Ethiopian Kitchen

How Ethiopian injera is made from teff flour and connects every meal to centuries of tradition.

Recipes |

The Real Greek Salad: No Lettuce, No Croutons, Just Tomatoes, Feta, and Olive Oil

A traditional Greek horiatiki salad with block feta, olives, cucumber, peppers, and good olive oil.

Recipes |

Fresh Spring Rolls With Shrimp and Herbs: The Vietnamese Appetizer That Demands Assembly, Not Cooking

A goi cuon recipe with rice paper, shrimp, pork, vermicelli, and fresh herbs with peanut dipping sauce.

Food Culture |

Banchan: The Small Side Dishes That Make a Korean Meal Feel Incomplete Without Them

A look at the role of banchan in Korean dining, from kimchi to namul, and how they change with the season.

Food Culture |

Kimchi Season in a Korean Kitchen: A Month-Long Family Affair

The Korean tradition of making kimchi in late autumn, a month-long family affair.

Food Culture |

Rice Across Asia: How One Grain Becomes Five Completely Different Meals in Five Countries

How rice preparation differs in Japan, Korea, Thailand, India, and China, and what those differences reveal.

Recipes |

Steamed Bao Buns With Pork Belly: The Weekend Project That Disappears in Minutes

A recipe for fluffy white bao buns filled with braised pork belly and hoisin sauce.

Recipes |

Tonkotsu Ramen at Home: The Eight-Hour Broth That Makes Restaurant Versions Unnecessary

A tonkotsu ramen broth made from pork bones, with tips on achieving the creamy white consistency at home.

Food Culture |

Fermented Foods Around the World: Kimchi, Miso, Sauerkraut, and What They Share

A comparison of fermentation traditions in Korea, Japan, Germany, and Iceland, and what connects them.

Recipes |

Real Mapo Tofu: The Sichuan Dish Most Restaurants Get Wrong

An authentic Sichuan mapo tofu with fermented broad beans, chili oil, and the ma-la balance that defines the dish.

Food Culture |

Dumpling Night in Northern China: A Family Tradition That Feeds Twenty People

A personal account of making dumplings with a Chinese family in Shandong province, from filling to folding to the communal feast.

Recipes |

Building a Proper Korean Bibimbap Bowl: The Rice, the Vegetables, and the Egg That Holds It Together

How to assemble a Korean bibimbap with seasoned vegetables, gochujang, and a fried egg over short-grain rice.