Hot Spots
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Jokbal Must Be Introduced!!
I should’ve noticed earlier that Jokbal hasn’t been introduced yet. Jokbal is a Korean traditional dish cooked with pigs’ trotters and it’s a very common and popular dish in Korea. It’s like a street food but you better find famous restaurants for Jokbal or the quality of the meat would be really low.
Jokbal is generally served in large portions since it is a dish usually shared by several people. It is also such a great ‘anju(side dish)’ over drinking soju or beer in Korea. There are many good places for Jokbal but the one that I visit quite often is one of the top 3 places for Jokbal and it’s located in the Seongsu-dong area, Seoul.
This place is always busy with the line of people waiting for their turns so they usually pick up their Jokbal and go somewhere else like home or other bars.
This is usually what it looks like when it’s served. There is no special side dishes but a few vegetables and some sauces.
It looks like meat jelly. I don’t think I can describe its taste. It is beyond description.
Oh my mouth is watering already. This is so melting in your mouth. It is really yummy.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting this place for Jokbal.
Address : 7, Achasan-ro 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-395-7979
Operating Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00
[Menu and Price]
Mega Big size : KRW 45,000
Big size : KRW 40,000
Medium size : KRW 35,000
Sundae Guk : KRW 6,000
Food
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Jeju Style Noodle, Jeju Gogi Noodle!!
This restaurant is located on the way to my wife’s parents’ house so we used to love to visit this restaurant on the way to her home before. We didn’t expect much but it was really good when we had what they served. Their main dishes are Gogi(meat) noodles and I was told that they were Jeju-do style. I haven’t had noodles in Jeju Island yet but if it’s Jeju style, I must have loved it.
Their menu is mostly quite expensive especially for the amount. That’s because they serve only Jeju style dishes and drinks. I would say that it’s not a typical Korean noodle but it’s very distinguished Korean traditional food. It is definitely different from I have had so far but differently good.
My choice was the Jeju Gogi Noodle, a soup version and I really loved it. It’s getting cold these days so I’d like to go visit again for its hot soup to feel warm inside.
It was definitely my preference, my favorite kind.
My wife’s choice was the Bibim Gogi Noodle, a hash noodle kind. I don’t know why but I guess that ladies in Korea prefer this kind.
I took some bites of it and it was quite good but I wouldn’t recommend it in the winter.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting the restaurant that I visited for these noodles.
Address : 72-10, Pyeongchang Munhwa-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-395-7979
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 22:00
[Menu and Price]
Jeju Gogi Noodle : KRW 8,000
Bibim Gogi Noodle : KRW 8,000
Momguk : KRW 10,000
Dombe Gogi : KRW 18,000
Food
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Korean Potato Pancake, Gamja-jeon!!
Do you like pancakes? I do love pancakes. But I mean, Korean style pancakes. Especially the one that is made by smashed potato mixed with pancake powder on a frying pan. It’s called Gamja-jeon, the Korean potato pancake and when it’s cooked it turns to golden brown. It’s so crispy and yummy. It’s already making my mouth water.
There should be a lot of different recipes for making a gamja-jeon but I don’t care as long as it’s a gamja-jeon. According to the ingredients and taste, it can be plain gamja-jeon, dried shrimp gamja-jeon, squid gamja-jeon and there are more and more. You’re still going to love the plain one. You know why? Because it’s potato.
Sorry we took a bite already before I took pictures. Sorry I couldn’t help it. This one was the most delicious gamja-jeon that I've recently had.
This one must be the plain kind and it’s still really good. Remember, it should be golden brown.
Doesn’t it seem to be such a good snack for everyone, even for kids? I’d prefer having it with beer.
This kind has squid which can make it so special. You’re going to love its texture and taste. Gees, I’m getting hungry.
Please check the information below if you’re interested in visiting the restaurant that I visited for Gamja-jeon.
Address : 15, Hyeondeungsa-gil, Jojongmyeon, Gapyeong-gun, Kyonggi
Phone Number : 031-585-1219
Operating Hours : 07:00 ~ 20:00
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Kimchi + Pork Belly = Duruchigi (?)
Did you know that Kimch and pork are the perfect match for most of the Korean foods in Korea? Yes, they do love eating them mixed and it’s most Korean people’s favorite recipe. Duruchigi could sound like ‘beat up all the way round’ in Korean. But it actually means ‘stir-fried’, the way how it’s cooked and I also love that cooking way for myself because it’s really easy.
This is the way how it looks like when it’s cooked. This can be a spicy dish based on Kimchi you added.
I visited a Korean restaurant when I was abroad. We ordered Kimchi Duruchigi but it tasted nothing like what I knew. Yes, it’s Korean food. It can’t be the same.
This one doesn’t look very spicy and I would prefer this kind.
One of the restaurants served Kimchi Jjigae(which is similar to stew) after the main dish. This one is loved by everyone in Korea.
And below is the one that I recently visited and enjoyed very much for Duruchigi. Why don’t you go for it for yourself? This restaurant is also for Samgyupsal, the pork belly.
Address : 76, Seongan-ro 3-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-470-9032
Operating Hours : 15:00 ~ 24:00
Food
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Globally Popular Korean Food, Bibimbap!!
Did you know that Bibimbap is a globally recognized healthy food? I also recently found out Bibimbab has been already popular among foreign people who haven’t even visited Korea before. Bibimbap is a very Korean traditional food and there are so many different kinds of Bibimbap.
Bibim means ‘mixed’ and Bap is ‘rice’ so Bibimbap is literally mixed rice with many different ingredients and a raw or fried egg and sliced meat are common additions. Jeonju is the most famous city for Bibimbap in Korea. But my favorite Bibimbap kind is Yuke Bibimbap which is served with mainly raw beef topping.
The black one is the Bibimbap served in a stone pot and the other one is the reqular Bibimbap in Jeonju style.
When you mix your Bibimbap, it’ll look like this way. Looks delicious?
These are my favorites. Both are Yuke topping kinds and if you’re into Korean beef already, then you’ll love these. Trust me.
This is quite a typical Jeonju Bibimbap kind with a raw egg added. This one is still really good. I’ve seen so many foreign friends love Bibimbap.
Bibimbap could be considered a type of fast food because it’s easy and fast to eat. But Bibimbap contains a lot of beneficial ingredients such as vegetables and meat. It is also very colorful thanks to these various vegetables. Bibimbap has evolved in many ways, improving health benefits, convenience and taste and now it is loved by so many people in the world.
And this one is the restaurant for Bibimbap that I commonly visited.
Address: 1113, Cheonhodae-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-474-4995
Operating Hours: 11:00 ~ 22:00
Credit Source : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Food
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Bossam, Everyone in Korea loves it!!
Can you guess what Bossam means? Bossam in Korean means wrapping meat with vegetable and it is usually a Korean traditional pork dish consisting of boiled belly pork thinly sliced. This meat is served usually with Kimchi and Ssam(wrap) vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage.
Bossam is quite a popular dish among Korean people. I don’t know why but they are most likely to use pork more than beef. Bossam is traditionally connected to making Kimchi so we can easily see that they enjoy Bossam when they make Kimchi in Korea.
This is quite a typical Bossam table with side dishes in Korea. I don’t usually like to eat vegetables but for Bossam, I would prefer to eat meat wrapped with vegetables, just like what it says, Bossam (wrapping).
This is another way how they serve Bossam. It’s in the pot so we can eat it while we see that it’s being cooked. This is also great and you can taste a bit tender Bossam.
Does this logo look familiar to you? This is one of the most popular Bossam franchise in Korea and you can actually witness these restaurants almost everywhere in Korea. If you’re afraid of trying Bossam in Korea, then you can go try one of these franchises because the taste can be much guaranteed there. It’s a bit expensive though. It usually costs around 30,000 KRW for the smallest size menu.
And this one is located in Gangnam, Seoul
Address: 712, Seonneung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-544-3601
Operating Hours: 11:00 ~ 23:00
(They also provide delivery service during that hours.)
Credit Source : https://bossam.co.kr/
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Are you a vegetarian? Interested in vegetarian cuisine?
Are you a vegetarian? Looking for a place to try vegetarian cuisine? Come to Plant. Well known in the vegetarian and vegan community, you can enjoy delicious meals. The restaurant presents two different menus each week and freshly baked goods such as gluten free muffins and cakes every day. Located in Itaewon, Plant started out as a small little shop located in some alley where you would never notice it. However, Plant moved to a much bigger place but still located in Itaewon. The original place is still there but is used as a bakery by Plant. The new restaurant is a lot bigger and can have more guests.
Plant provides a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere where you can enjoy your meals or desserts with friends or just by yourself.
Stop by for a meal or try one of Plant's signature desserts. It is visited by many foreigners and locals. To get there take the subway to Itaewon station line 6 and come out of exit 4. Once you come out turn around and take the path on your left, you will see a Taco Bell and walk straight for about 150m. It will be on the right side on the second floor.
Here's some more information about the place.
Address: 20, Itaewon-ro 16-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone Number: 02-749-1981
Operating Hours: 11am~9pm
Credit Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
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Korean Table D’hote, Han-jeongsik Restaurant ‘Nakseonjae’
Have you heard of Han-jeongsik? Han-jeongsik means Korean table d’hote which is a Korean style full course meal with many different Korean traditional side dishes served. And many Korean people are likely to arrange it for formal and official meetings with important persons. And this is one of the most popular Han-jeongsik restaurants in Korea.
The name of this restaurant is 'Nakseonjae' which is located in Gwangju city and one of my colleagues visited here and took some pictures to give me. I was told that this restaurant was introduced in a TV show recently. Their main menu is Korean chicken soup and I looked it up and found that many of them loved the food at this restaurant.
This is what they had at the restaurant and it was Korean chicken Baeksuk. Baesuk is a boiled or steamed chicken food with plenty of water and it’s very similar to Samgyetang. And this one looks like it has more vegetables added.
This is why I would love to go visit this restaurant one day soon. They have such beautiful sceneries and you can get fresh air in the middle of the mountains. You’re going to feel the difference from what you feel in the cities. But I can see that you might want to drive a car because of its location.
These are called ‘Jangdokdae’ meaning Korean traditional jars and they’re simply for storing comestible goods, typically Kimchi, soybeans and red pepper paste. But it’s really hard to witness these days since everyone uses refridgerators. It means that they must stick to the Korean traditional recipe for their services so far.
Here’s some more information about this restaurant.
Address: 101, Buldang-gil, Namhansanseoung-myeon, Gwangju City, Kyonggi Province
Phone No. : 031-746-3800
Operation Hours: 11:00 ~ 21:30
- Price for each -
Korean Chicken Tang (Spicy soup) : 66,000 KRW
Korean Chicken Baeksuk (Boiled chicken) : 66,000 KRW
Korean Duck Baeksuk (Boiled duck) : 70,000 KRW
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Popular Sulfur Duck Cooking Restaurant in Korea
Did you ever know that duck meat has been always considered as a source of stamina food? I don’t know about other countries but there’s a saying in Korea, “You shouldn’t share your duck meat with anyone.” which means that you should be greedy when you eat duck meat. I’ve never been into duck meat before I tried this restaurant but trust me. You have to try here.
This restaurant serves mainly 2 kinds of duck meat and they also provide Maewoontang that can be translated into Spicy Soup for free at the end of the service. Another reason they’re popular is because they serve sulfur duck cooking. Duck meat is known as detox food and sulfur can increase its detoxification. But you don’t actually have to know all this. Because it’s very tasty and good to eat. That’s all that matters.
This is Shinseon Joomulleok and I really loved it. This meat is very slightly marinated so you can taste duck meat itself.
This one is Yangnyeom Joomulleok and it’s a little bit spicy but I would say it’s still good for those who don’t like spicy foods because it’s not too strong.
The side dishes are not served enough but you don’t need most of them only but some vegetables. If there’s more, then they could spoil your appetite.
Yes, this is the Maewoontang that I mentioned above. You’re not going to believe it’s free. You’re going to feel that your power’s up after eating all this, haha.
I shouldn’t give you the picture of this restaurant’s sign but I don’t care. It’s strongly recommended. Just get there to increase your power.
Some of you might say that I’m exaggerating but I’m not. I looked it up and found out duck meat is known as the most delicious meat out of all the wild birds. Have you been looking for something to provide restoration for your body? Here it is. One more thing, when I was visiting my parents last weekend, I dropped by this restaurant to pick up their meat. And I could see my parents really enjoyed this food and it made me a proud son.
Here’s some more information about this restaurant.
Address: 533, Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone No. : 02-413-5292
Operation Hours: 11:00 ~ 22:30
- Price for each -
Shinseon Joomoolleok (Light Marinated Duck) : 42,000 KRW
Yangnyeom Joomoolleok (Spicy Marinated Duck) : 44,000 KRW
A Set (Half and half) : 43,000 KRW
Food