Controversy Over Rest Area Food During Vacation Season
A story shared by an internet user about ordering galbitang at a food court in a rest area in Gangwon Province has been drawing attention online. Despite the high price of 16,900 won, which the user willingly paid during the vacation season, the galbitang contained no meat and was instead filled with various tendons and fat. A large amount of garnish seemed to have been added, possibly to cover up the lack of quality ingredients.
On July 26, a post titled "16,900 Won Galbitang at XX Rest Area in Gangwon Province" was uploaded to an online community. The user shared photos, explaining that the galbitang was ordered at a rest stop on the way to a summer vacation destination.
A netizen ordered a 16,900 won galbitang at a rest area in Gangwon Province. Screenshot from BobaeDream
When the dish was first served, it appeared to have plenty of garnish such as egg, green onions, and jujube, but nothing else stood out. However, after removing the garnish, the user found several large chunks of white fat, and other pieces consisted mostly of untrimmed tendon with only a small amount of meat attached.
A netizen ordered a 16,900 won galbitang at a rest area in Gangwon Province. Screenshot from BobaeDream
The user commented, "It was impossible to chew at all. I think all that garnish was meant to hide the untrimmed contents."
Upon checking the other pieces, the user found only more fat and tendon, with almost no meat visible. After placing the inedible parts onto a separate plate, the user reported that there was nothing left to eat and eventually threw away the food before leaving the restaurant.
Other internet users who saw the post responded with comments such as, "People say rest area food has improved a lot, but there's still a long way to go. It seems to get worse during vacation season or holidays," and "It seems like the only thing rest areas are good for is using the restroom."
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