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The first time I came here was with 2 GIs. The owners thought we had no idea how to speak/read Korean so he tried to shoo us away saying "No English." (it's a pretty logical idea...how can he serve us?). That was fine, we just sat down. I knew the drill when it came to ordering, anyways. Once Koreans see that you can get by with their language they really start to open up--even if opening up means giving you free food, which they did.
This place is like so many other mid-priced Chinese food restaurants in Seoul. Their delivery boys were constantly darting in and out with their iron boxes (these guys are literllay called "jja-jung-myoung guys" because that is the usual order). What was different is they offered chair-seating (which most Chinese places have) as well as Korean/floor seating (which is rare for Chinese places here). It isn't fancy, but the food was good, served quickly and with a smile.
As always, the usual suspects: Sam-sun bok-eum-bap (seafood and rice with blackbean sauce, 4,000 won (USD 3.50)), jja-jung-myoung (noodles and blackebean sauce, 3,500 won (USD 3)) and deepfried mandoo (free with a big order!). Leave a Comment Theme: Chinese/Dim SumPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: B1 in Building behind Hotel LexingtonPhone: 02-780-2193, 02-182-2192Directions: 20 min walk from Yeouido Station (Line 5). Out the back of Hotel Lexington (formerly the New Manhattan Hotel) and across the street is a building with the Wingswing sign on it. It's in the basement (down a long corridor).
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 It's In this Building (view
from Yeouido Park). by jburron
Meals are just 3,500 won (USD 3) a head and you can choose between pseudo-Western or pure Korean fare. Both have ample sidedishes (take as many as you like) and a good main course. You can also get more rice and kimchi at any time from a table in the dining area.
Seating is in a massive room that is broken up by glass walls that have water cascading down them...very cool.
At the end, take your dishes to the cleaning area (it's still a cafeteria) and have a glass of water from the machines (Koreans like to drink water after a meal, it seems, not during it).
Also, on B1 there is a store with a little of everything and on the main floor there is a coffee-hut with 1,000 won coffee.
It's my fav because it was free. The chicken flu was going its course (no cases in Korea) and the government wanted to tell everyone that Korea's chickens were ok so they gave away free servings of Sam-Gyae-Tang to all patrons. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: B1 of the KDB BuildingDirections: KDB (Korea Development Bank) is known as Hangook San-eum Eun-haeng. From Yeouido Stn. (Line 5) go to and across Yeouido Park (via the main square). KDB is in a massive artsy building on the corner.Website: http://hometownyeouido.blogspot.com/2004/10/busy-busy-day.html Other Contact: pic of food on the link
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 Here it is! by jburron
Many kalbi restaurants have some sort of heated grills in or on the tables. Some are gas, some are heated bricks, others are briquettes: most are dug into the table. Here, however, there is a 1 foot diameter mosaic circle of stones in the middle of the tables. On this is placed a bowl filled with white-hot briquettes and covered with a grill. It's a neat and novel way to cook (in a place that prides itself on new things).
Service is good, and the vacuum/fans stretch all the way down to the grill, so there is less of that smokey smell on your when you leave (although I like that scent).
I had the Kalbi...what else? There are many cuts. The one for 11,000 won (USD 9.50) per person is very good. Very lean, very tasty. The priciest is 18,000 a person. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Jonghap Sang-ga (building) 4FPhone: 02-761-8668 02-783-1324Directions: On street-level in front of exit #5 at Yeouido Station (Line 5) you'll see a 4 story building (Dunkin Donuts is there). Enter next to the Baskin-Robbins; elevator to 4F. Turn right and at the end of the hall right again...it's down the corridor.
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 Dracula Killer aka Date Killer by jburron
I like the set menus (one of the more convenient aspect of Korea) where you get a whole meal with appetizer and drink for about 20-30,000 won (USD 18-24). Leave a Comment Theme: AmericanPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Yeouido and Apgujugn-DongPhone: 02-783-5296 (Yeouido)Directions: Yeouido restaurant is under the Seoul Securities Building (2 down from the HP Building) near Yeouido Station (Line 5, exit 3) near Tony Roma's and SpagetteriaWebsite: http://www.madforgarlic.co.kr/
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 Mmmmm...Pork & Potatos! by jburron
Paldo Kamja-Tang is a little place where the menus are in Korean and the prices are good. You'll get the ubiquitous kimchi and other veggie side dishes and there is not only kamja-tang but also various pork and kimchi main dishes as well.
I always have the kamja-tang here. It's basically pork ribs and spine cooked like crazy in a kimchi soup with a couple of potatoes thrown in (I guess when Korea was poorer it was more potatoes than meat--they might as well call it dway-ji-tang (pig soup) now).
I suggest using the clean side-dish to place the pork in to that it can cool down. This is also one of the few times that you can pick up the food with your hands and gnaw meat off the bone.
Interestingly, and the only place I've seen it outside of boshintang (dog soup), the soup has about a handfull of black pepper heaped on it before serving. As you mix it in the kimchi seems to bond with the pepper--making for one spicy concoction.
Cost per person for the meal: 5,000 won (USD 4.40). Wow, that is a deal! Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: YeouidoDirections: On street-level in front of exit #5 at Yeouido Station (Line 5) you'll see a 4 story building (Dunkin Donuts is there). Enter next to the Baskin-Robbins; it's right behind B-R a little on the left.
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 Grand Opening of the Ilsan
location! by jburron
This place has Korean and Japanese writing all over, which tells you that it's frequented by the many tourists in Insa-Dong and staying at the YMCA across the street. I noticed the service to be a little slow, not sure why. But then, my expectations of Korean service are pretty high now.
The Bulggogi is good. But if you order rice it's 2,000 won more...usually it's 1,000 won or free at most places. No matter, the food is good (especially after a few hours of walking around the city). Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Insa-Dong, across from YMCA, near Jongno-i(2)-gaPhone: 02-732-5514 017-273-3644Directions: From Jongno-sam(3)-ga Station (Line 1,3,5) head to Jongno (or the YMCA). Just west of Jungno-sam(3)-ga on the north side of the street find Baskin-Robbins. Walk right through it to the alley behind then turn left. At the end, on the right, is the place.Website: http://www.woosiya.co.kr/store.asp Other Contact: Korean map on website
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This place is similar to the many Chinese restaurants in Seoul...but is a little more high-class than some of the others. There are a few private rooms (seating = 20) and the searvice is pretty fast. They also, as per Korean way, give you free deep-fried mandoo (dumplings) if 3-4 or more people come together (not that you could ever eat that much food, but they do give it to you).
My favs at Chinese places here are Samsun Bok-um-bok (Rice and seafood with blackbean paste sauce) and Ja-jyung-myung (noodles and blackbean paste sauce) as well as Tang-si-eul (sweet and sour deep-fried chicken strips). These are available at every restaurant--so I/you don't even have to read the menu! Leave a Comment Theme: Chinese/Dim SumPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: B1, 13-2 Sambo Building, YeouidoPhone: 02-785-5715 02-761-1953Directions: From Youido or Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) walk toward the National Assembly (see tip) making your way to the Hotel Lexington (or take a cab). Behind the hotel (facing it) Sambo b/d is the one on the left. In the basement.Other Contact: cell 018-216-4460
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 Example of those cute
little Baek-Say-Joo
glasses. by jburron
One thing about Korea, though, is you can get away with a lot as a foreigner and/or customer. We were told to go to a table that was not large enough for our group so automatically we had some leverage. (Korean business owners like to compensate customers for any inconvenience.) So, where we eventually sat there was a shelf and on it were six boxes. Each box (we took a look) had 6 Baek-say-joo (see my tip on Booze in Korea in Local Customs) glasses. As we left, one of the guys said that the foreigner would like some of the glasses. Maybe one box. (The restaurant probably got them as a promotion, anyways.) The owner went one better (Koreans can't give just one of something) and gave me TWO boxes! Only in Korea.
The menu is a line-up of Korean favorites: kalbi-tang (beef soup), nay-ng myoung (noodles) as well as kalbi and such. I had the kalbi-tang last time, not bad at all (and good for the cold I had at the time). Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Youido, near West (Seo) Youido Daishin SecuritiesPhone: 02-784-1478Directions: In West Youido there is a Daishin Jungkwang (Securities) branch. Down that street is Ga-deun (Garden?) Building. Hanbang Samgyaetang is also on the same/main floor, on the right. Across from the Bismark Hof/Minjoktongil Officetel. (Hope this helps!)
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 Shabu Shabu. Not the Huge Pot.
Pic: Aaron Irving by Hmmmm
As he widened his domination throughout China and Eurasia, his army was constantly on the move. He developed "hot pot" or Shabu Shabu form of cooking as a way to feed his troops. The hungry troops would gather around a large pot of boiling water and dip their thinly sliced meat into the pot.
Purpose of the "hot pot" was to feed the troops efficiently, nutritiously, and to save on the army's limited fuel resources. By using thinly sliced meat, troops were able to cook the meat very quickly and efficiently absorbing all of the nutrition of the meat.
The "hot pot" method of cooking survived over the centuries in different regions of China and went through many changes as time passed on.... In 1948, a small restaurant owner in Osaka, Kansai introduced Shabu Shabu cooking to Japan, and within few years Japan introduced Shabu Shabu cooking to the world, today it has gained immense popularity throughout the world.
Shabu Shabu is Immensely popular in Japan, and it has taken off in South Korea in a big way too.
There are a number of ways to eat Shabu Shabu. Some people just through oll the the thinly sliced meet into the "Nambi" or all purpose cooking pot, and serve it as a brothy stew, cook the sliced of meat one by one by dipping into the hot pot as it steams on its hot plate infront of you. Then eating the soupy broth later with added Kal GukSu or Cut Wheaten Noodles (that also finf their origin in Mongolia. Leave a Comment Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific RimPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: In Most downtown districtsDirections: In Seoul you'll find Shab Shabu restaurants in Kangnam, Apgujeong, Jongro, but also in some of the lesser known districts throughout Seoul. I recently ate Shabushabu in Jongam Dong. ^^ Outside Seoul, Shabu Shabu is also widely available.Website: http://www.jinsang.com/
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 Bar under the Sinchon
location. by jburron
Seo-pi-dong-pa is good. Hae-mool-pa-jeon is good as well. For drinks there is the incomparable (especially in summer) Dong Dong Joo (served with ice crystals suspended in it) and also Seo-pi-dong-pa Joo (like Meishil, or plum wine, which is also popular in Korea).
You'll also get a mussle soup as a starter (everything is made to order). The Dae-hang-ro one is the originla, but the original owner moved to Sinchon and now that place has the original soup (with much bigger mussles in it!).
Directions: in Dae-hang-ro: from Exit #4 of Hye-Hwa Station (line 4) go left down the side street to the end (it'll open into an traffic intersection, near a Family Mart) Take an extreme left and continue until you reach the elbow in the road. There is a sign (may be just in Korean, though) and it's in the basement. Ask around.
In Sinchon, exit the Sinchon Station (line 2) by the exit closest to Hyundai Department Store. Walk toward KFC, take a right down the side street at it. Then Follow that street as it veers LEFT after a block or so. Take the second left, it's about 3/4 of the way down the street (past Sam-gim restaurant and before Rollin' bar...pic on the left of the place below it). Leave a Comment
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