A set course is one of the easiest meals to plan for a group with mixed diets, because the menu is fixed before anyone sits down. Korea offers two strong examples: royal court cuisine and Buddhist temple food. Our Korea team describes both in its briefing on royal court cuisine and temple food. Here we look at what they show about planning group meals.
Two Set Courses With a Story
Royal court cuisine comes from the kitchens of the Joseon royal household and is recognised as national intangible heritage in Korea. It is served today as a long set course of many small dishes, brought in sequence and balanced in colour, flavour and cooking method.
Temple food is the cooking of Korea's Buddhist monasteries. It uses no meat and none of the five pungent vegetables: garlic, green onion, chives, onion and leek. Seasonal vegetables, grains, tofu and fermented sauces take their place, and the menus change with the season.
Why a Fixed Menu Helps a Group
- Everyone eats together. The same menu at the same pace keeps the group on one timetable.
- Requirements are handled before the day. Because the menu is planned, the kitchen can adapt courses for allergies and restrictions in advance.
- A plant-based option by design. Temple food is vegetarian by default and cooked without garlic and onion, which suits vegetarian, many vegan and some religious diets.
The step that matters most is the same in any destination: send each guest's requirement ahead in writing, and ask the venue to confirm every dish, not just the name of the menu. Our standard for allergies and dietary needs sets out how we handle this across our programmes.
Where the Meal Sits in the Programme
A royal court dinner is a sit-down evening rather than a quick lunch, which makes it a good welcome or farewell dinner in Seoul, especially for incentive and VIP groups. A temple-food lunch fits beside a palace, temple or gallery visit and gives a quieter midday. Temple food can also be eaten at a temple itself, as part of a temple visit or temple stay.
These venues are smaller than large barbecue restaurants, so a big group may need a private room, a buyout or two sittings. Book early for peak dates, and brief the guide to explain the courses as they arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Korean royal court cuisine?
The cooking of the Joseon royal household, recognised as national intangible heritage in Korea and served today as a long set course of many small dishes.
Is Korean temple food vegetarian?
Yes. It uses no meat and none of the five pungent vegetables, such as garlic and onion.
How should a group's dietary needs be handled?
Send each guest's requirement ahead in writing and have the venue confirm every dish before the day.
Where Explera Fits
We choose the venue for the group's size and budget, book the set course and confirm every dietary requirement in writing in all four destinations.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341). Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119. Our KTO and KATA registrations in Korea are in application.
