Hot Spots
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Visiting Dumulmeori for Famous Hotdogs and Fresh Air
There is another nice place to refresh your head when you need a break which is not too far from Seoul. It is located where Bukhangang River and Namhangang River meet and it’s called Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong. Dumulmeori means ‘two water area’ and this place is famous for its 400 year old Zelkova tree which is really a giant tree. It is a privately owned place, still it’s a popular site for filming Korean TV dramas, movies, commercials and wedding pictures as well.
We had a chance to visit this place once before. It was my wife's suggestion and it was actually for a hotdog, ha. One of the famous female comedian mentioned the hotdogs of this place on the TV show and it became the most popular hotdog place in Korea since then. So we actually went there because of the hotdogs. Still it was a beautiful place and it’s very good to take a stroll. So I had to decide, whether this blog is for Food category or Travel category. And here it is.
This is the Zelkova tree that I stated above. Can you believe that it’s 400 years old? Look at the size of the people down there. It is incredible!
This is called Dumulmeori Dock where they used to run ancient ferries before. We could see some ducks instead.
You can take a walk along the way and it is very peaceful down there. Can you feel it from those pictures?
There is a photo zone providing a frame and this place is known as a place that makes your wish come true. It’s like a wishing well. Believe it or not.
This is the place for the hotdog that I mentioned above. It was very good. Why was I holding three? Because I was going to have two, haha.
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting this place.
Address : Yangsu-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Kyonggi-do
For Inquiries : 031-770-1001
Admission : Free
Operating Hours : 24 Hours
Food
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Why So Crazy For Tteokbokki??!! Dukki!!
There’s one thing I still don’t understand about girls in Korea. Do you know Tteokbokki? Tteokbokki is a very popular Korean food made from small sized rice cake stirred with spicy sauce and Korean girls are crazy for this all the time. I still don’t know why. I would say that there’s even a tteokbokki culture in Korea and one tteokbokki franchise which is called Yeopkki Tteokbokki has launched and it’s been super popular among young ladies in Korea. But you know what? It’s not even eatable. Trust me, it is super spicy so you won’t be able to eat it.
But this one was different. It is buffet style so you can choose the ingredients you want, even the sauce for your tteokbokki. So I could eat it at least, ha. My wife is also crazy for tteokbokki and I know she loves Yeopkki Tteokbokki but we made a deal this time that we choose one that I can eat together. So we went to this place that was called Dukki and it was quite a nice tteokbokki place even for me as well.
These are all kinds of tteoks (rice cakes) for tteokbokki. You can choose whatever you want. But you should keep in mind that you’re going to get charged penalty for leftovers and you have 90 minute time limit.
These are the ingredients to add to your tteokbokki.
These are the sauces that makes your tteokbokki’s taste. They also provide Super Hot sauce but of course I passed. We made jajang tteokbokki with the jajang sauce.
They also have some twigims (fried dishes) and I especially loved their twigims. They really suit to our tteokbokki.
Now we’re ready to cook! All you need to do is that you boil the pot when you’re ready.
Ta-da! Sorry we already had some before I took it, ha.
After you finish your tteokbokki, you can make bibimbap as well with your own recipe. I really enjoyed this place.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in the same place that we visited for tteokbokki.
Address : 50, Olympic-ro 70-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Location : Near exit 5 of Cheongho Station, Line 5
Phone Number : 02-474-2771
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 22:30
[Price]
Adult : KRW 8,900
Junior : KRW 7,900
Under 7 : KRW 4,900
Beer (300 cc) : KRW 1,500
Food
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Do You Need a Korean Appetizer?? Ganjang Gejang!!
This is very much traditional Korean food. I don’t even imagine that people out of Korea would eat this because I believe it’s definitely Korean food. Even in Korea, some people don’t eat this. This is called ‘Gejang’. There are two types of this and one is Ganjang Gejang which is made in soy sauce and the other one is Yangnyeom Gejang which is made in spicy sauce. I prefer Ganjang Gejang much more.
So what is Gejang? Gejang is pickled crabs, simply saying. That means it is marinated crabs either in soy sauce or gochujang. You wouldn’t imagine, right? But you know what? Gejang is known as a rice-eater in Korea. If you have gejang, you’re not going to need any other side dishes only but several bowls of your rice. But according to a poll of tourists to Korea, gejang is difficult to eat because it’s too salty or too spicy. It’s a shame, ha.
Can you now see what gejang is? It is fresh raw crabs marinated. But if you’re not a fan of raw foods then you better skip it.
It’s usually like this when you order Gejang Jeongsik at a restaurant. It is also quite expensive in Korea.
Can you tell what part of the crab this is? It is the back shell and you put your rice in it and mix it so you can taste juicy gejang with its eggs in it. I don’t know how to describe its taste. I would say it’s a stunning taste.
And this is another type of gejang which is called Yangnyeom Gejang. Yangnyeom literally means seasoning or seasoned usually with Korean spicy sauce called gochujang.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in the same place that we visited for Gangjang Gejang.
Address : 48, Achasan-ro 73-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Location : Near exit 1 of Gwangnaru Station, Line 5
Phone Number : 02-453-2277
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 21:00
Homepage : https://sanwool.modoo.at/?link=d68djy5t
[Menu]
Gondre Jeongsik : KRW 9,000
Ganjang Gejang Jeongsik : KRW 29,000
Buchujeon : KRW 10,000
Sanwool King Mandu : KRW 7,000
Food
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Are You Sick?? Eat JUK!!
Have you heard of Juk? Juk is a Korean rice porridge and it’s usually considered a dish for people who are sick. So it is a culture here in Korea to suggest juk when you get sick. However, it is likely to be eaten any time nowadays thanks to this juk brand, Bonjuk. I would say Bonjuk is the first leading rice porridge in Korea. You can see this franchise restaurant almost everywhere in Korea.
Bonjuk has been always considered as a tasty and healthy food since the beginning. That’s probably why its business has been getting more popular and bigger all the time. They have so many different menus. And my first choice would be Korean Beef Vegetable Juk. Most of their menus are quite expensive but this one is cheaper and more common so everyone would enjoy it.
We recently had a chance to visit Bonjuk restaurant after a health checkup. And I ordered the Beef Vegetable Juk as usual.
They used to serve only juk menu but now they have Bibimbap menu as well so my wife ordered bibimbap. I don’t recall how to call it, ha.
We didn’t take more pictures so I got these photos from their homepage. They have so many menu and there’s more.
As I said, they have bibimbap menu now so if you don’t feel like eating juk then go for bibimbap instead.
I just found out they have delivery service now. So you can just download the app to go for the delivery service.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in the same place that we visited for Bonjuk.
Address : 1st Floor, Gangdong Bld., 1033, Cheonhodae-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Location : Near exit 5 of Cheonho Station, Line 5
Phone Number : 02-488-6288
Operating Hours : 08:30 ~ 22:00
Homepage : https://www.bonif.co.kr/ (Credit Source)
Food
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Another One Melting In Your Mouth, Gopchang-gui!!
Gopchang-gui means grilled beef small intestines and this menus is also expensive in Korea. I don’t know if I can call it 'meat' but this could taste better than the normal meat because of its texture. I already introduced Gopchang Jeongol which is stewed in a hot spot but I definitely prefer Gopchang-gui and it’s much more recommended.
I was told that gopchang was a popular and cheap dish for the public in the past. But it is considered as a rare food today and it’s more expensive than the regular meat of the same weight. It is also one of the most popular anju (food served and eaten with soju or beer). We visited one of the popular gopchang restaurants near the station and it was literally melting in my mouth.
They serve it a bit cooked already and we can just grill it more before we eat it. Doesn’t it look so appetizing?
You have no idea what it tastes like before you put it in your mouth. Gees, my mouth is watering again.
Each gopchang restaurant has its own sauce so it also matters what kind of sauce they serve for your gopchang. This one was much better than the others.
You can order Fried Rice after you finish your gopchang. Most of them have their own recipe and I definitely liked this fried rice.
If you have some leftover gopchang, just put it on your fried rice. You’re going to love it.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting the same restaurant that we visited for gopchang gui we had.
Address : 49, Cheonhodae-ro 159-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Location : Near exit 4 of Cheonho Station, Line 5
Phone Number : 02-487-7942
Operating Hours : 16:00 ~ 03:00
[Menu and Price]
Modum Gui : KRW 16,900 (for each)
Hanwu Gopchang : KRW 16,900 (for each)
Makchang Gui : KRW 15,900 (for each)
Gopchang Gui : KRW 14,900 (for each)
Food
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You Want Some Fire In Your Mouth??!!
Basically I don’t like spicy foods. No matter what, I just don’t like them. If I eat spicy foods, then it’s because I don’t have a choice when I eat outside with my wife. What a tragedy. But there’s still one thing I like about spicy food. I didn’t know what to call but it’s Jukkumi in Korean. I found out its binomial name is Amphioctopus fangsiao. It’s just a small octopus. And it’s often stir-fried in spicy gochujang in Korea.
This restaurant is near my wife’s office in the Seongsu station area. I have tried other different jukkumi food at another restaurants but this is the best that I’ve ever eaten. Yes, it is spicy. It’s like burning in your mouth. But when you eat it with dongchimi kimchi they provide, it turns so good spicy. Yes it does.
They are all served raw and it doesn’t look very great at first. It’s so much red.
Does it look yummy now? You can add some cheese as topping. Trust me. Girls are crazy for this.
You’re going to get a big bowl with some vegetable and dried seaweed in it. What are you supposed to do next?
Just put your rice and the stir-fried jukkumi in your bowl and mix them all. And now you can enjoy your food. Remember you better eat it with dongchimi because it’s going to burn in your mouth, haha.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting this restaurant for the spicy jukkumi.
Address : 48, Seongsuil-ro 4-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-465-4569
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 23:00
[Menu and Price]
Dakgalbi : KRW 12,000 (for each)
Jukkumi : KRW 12,000 (for each)
Jukkumi Rice : KRW 7,000 (only for lunch)
Food
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Super Fish for Your Stamina, Grilled Eel!!
Have you tried to eat eel before? I don’t know about other countries but here in Korea, eating eel is known for increasing your stamina but also expensive. There are many ways to eat eel but my favorite way is eating it grilled. It is very tasty and chewy. Eels are born in the ocean but migrate to rivers and then go back to the sea to begin the cycle again. That’s why they’re very rare and the meat is very nice, I guess.
The one that we visited for eel was located near our house. I was told that chefs electrocute the eels before they cook them because they’re so strong that they can’t handle them without doing so. Also I found out eel’s blood is toxic. No wonder they don’t eat eel raw or sushi. But trust me. Grilled eel could be tasty enough so you don’t have to think of other ways.
When they served the eel that we ordered, it's nothing but fish that is cut opened.
It turns yellow when it’s ready. And then you can chop it up into bite sizes.
You can’t imagine what it tastes like. Do you think it’s similar to normal fish? Totally wrong. It’s much better, chewier and tastier.
You can dip it in the sauce or wrap it in the ssam(vegetable) adding some garlic and ginger. Do you already feel your energy and stamina refilled?
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting the restaurant that we did.
Address : 1521, Yangjaedae-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-489-0010
Operating Hours : 10:00 ~ 22:00
[Menu and Price]
Eel Gui : KRW 35,000 (1 eel)
Janchi Noodle : KRW 4,000
Rice : KRW 1,000
Doenjang Jigae : KRW 1,000
Food
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My Apologies! I Forgot Dak-galbi!!
Dakgalbi is such a popular Korean food so everyone loves it. I should’ve noticed that I didn’t post dakgalbi yet. My bad! Dakgalbi is a spicy stir-fried chicken dish with gochujang sauce and various vegetables. I would say that Korean ladies love it more than guys do because it’s usually quite spicy. And of course men also love to eat dakgalbi while drinking Soju. Also I know that many foreigners love to eat dakgalbi in Korea.
We visited one dakgalbi restaurant located in Namyangju City and ordered their main menu. It was of course dakgalbi and added cheese topping. When you finish your main dakgalbi, you can order a fried rice. And they will serve and cook the fried rice right in front of you. It is also great.
This is the picture of the dakgalbi we ordered with cheese topping. Does it look delicious?
Doesn’t it look spicy already because of the color? It wasn’t very spicy to be honest so I enjoyed myself too.
You can wrap it with the vegetables they serve such as lettuce and perilla leaves.
This is the fried rice that I mentioned above. It doesn’t look so good? It is really really good.
Chuncheon is the famous city for dakgalbi in Korea and as far as I know, it is the city of dakgalbi’s origin. Besides, an annual festival dedicated to dakgalbi is held in Chuncheon so you can visit there if you want a real one. It is still everywhere if you want dakgalbi near your house.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting this place for Dakgal-bi.
Address : 47, Dumul-ro 39beon-gil, Namyangju City, Kyonggi Province
Phone Number : 031-527-3544
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 23:00
[Menu and Price]
Otu Dakgalbi : KRW 11,000 (for each)
Cheese Dakgalbi : KRW 14,000 (for each)
Fried Rice : KRW 2,000 (for each)
Budae Jigae : KRW 8,000 (for each)
Food
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The Best Beef Intestines Food, Gopchang-Jeongol!!
Gopchang is one of my favorite types of food and I prefer it to be grilled when I eat gopchang. Gopchang refers to tripes in English and it’s usually expensive since it’s a part of cow. Jeongol means Korean stew or casserole and it’s usually cooked spicy since it’s a Korean typical food.
Although Gopchang-jeongol is mainly based on beef gopchang, other parts of beef tripes are also used to give the dish a better flavor and chewy texture. Gopchang-jeongol is generally eaten at restaurant specializing in gopchang dishes since cooking the dish requires not only special techniques but also very fresh ingredients.
It’s almost cooked already except for vegetables when it’s served. You’re going to feel good when you look at it boiling and being ready to eat.
This is the picture of it when it’s ready to eat. Doesn’t it look so appetizing?
This is the gopchang inside the dish. It is very chewy and delicious. I really like the texture.
When you almost finish the main dish, you can ask them to make Bibimbap with the leftovers. Trust me. You’re going to love it.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting this place for Gopchang-jeongol.
Address : 4th Floor, Lotte Mall, 1050 Tongil-ro, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-6975-5452
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 22:00
[Menu and Price]
Gopchang-jeonggol : KRW 19,000 (one portion)
Bulgogi-jeongol : KRW 16,000 (one portion)
Hanwoo Shabu-shabu : KRW 32,000 (one portion)
Beef Shabu-shabu : KRW 22,000 (one portion)
Food