This November, Try Eric Kim’s Genius Korean American Thanksgiving Dishes

November 03, 2025 • Read in 5 minutes

Dear Hyphenly Readers,

Can you feel nostalgia for a food that isn’t necessarily from your culture? We think yes… and Eric Kim’s Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home proves it.

Kim’s cookbook is a love letter to Korean American identity; one that honors heritage and embraces the improvisation that comes with making a new life somewhere else. If you’ve ever felt in-between cultures (or simply like you don’t fit one box), this book will feel like home.

“This story is mine to be sure, and my family’s. But it’s also a story about the Korean American experience, one that in the history of this country is often never at the center. My hope is that in reading this book, you’ll see yourself in it… because at the heart of this book is really a story about what happens when a family bands together to migrate and cross oceans in search of a new home.”

When Kim’s family moved to suburban Atlanta in 1983, there was only one Korean grocery store. So, they adapted, creating inventive, resourceful meals that shaped his childhood palate. Today, Kim is a bestselling author and beloved NYT Cooking personality, known for his warm storytelling and customizable recipes.

This cookbook teaches you foundational Korean ingredients (kimchi, gochujang, dasima) and how to use what’s already in your pantry. There are chapters on seafood, vegetables, rice, and baking — but the standout? The Korean American Thanksgiving section.

We at Hyphenly have been on the record saying how much we love trying different recipes. In the past, we’ve written about Hummus Wars, Jollof Rice, tested our favorite Instagram recipes, and even recommended restaurants in NYC for our favorite dumplings.

So, for this edition, we took the recipe book to the kitchen.

Zucchini Stir Fry

The recipes were simple to follow and easy to adapt to our taste buds.

Kimchi Bibimguksu

Many of the recipes took less than 20 minutes to put together and provided endless comfort.

“There is more than one way to be Korean. We are infinite.”

Want to learn more about the evolution of Korean American cooking? Listen to this episode of Close to Home with YouTube pioneer Maangchi and the author of Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner.

Want more recommendations for fusion food recipes and what goes into developing them? Listen to this conversation with Saadia and Sarita Ekya, co-founder of S’MAC, the iconic East Village spot that turned mac & cheese into a cultural phenomenon.

Until next time,

Team Hyphenly

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