CHEONNYUNKIDUNG KEUNKIWAZIP TRADITIONAL KOREAN FOOD RESTAURANT, 123 SOGYOUK-DONG, JONGRO-GU, SEOUL TEL: 02 722 9024
Located just a little bit further up the road from the Mandu Guk restaurant posted earlier today, this restaurant will offer you the chance to try Korean speciality dishes, the likes of which you may have never seen before. Depending on the time of year and the seasonality of local produce, this place prepares authentic specialized dishes to time-honoured recipes.
The space is divided into small seperate dining rooms, each with its own different atmosphere. Floors are smooth wooden boards, with some regular tables and other lower tables at which you can sit on a floor mat and cross your legs. The food is served in very beautiful copper coloured dishes, with gorgeous, simply-designed elegant chopsticks and spoons in the same material (perhaps a copper alloy).
The day that we ate there, the waiter welcomed us at the door. I checked if they were still serving and he told us that they were. As we started to remove our shoes he became a little agitated.
"But you can't eat here," he said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Foreignors can't eat this food. You won't like it," he explained.
"Oh, it's OK, I live here and I really love Korean food," I told him.
"But we only do one dish today and you don't like," he insisted.
"No, really, it is OK. We like Korean food and we would like to try your dish. How do you know we don't like it if we have never tried it?" I insisted back.
"Well, OK, if you are sure" he said, and ushered us in.
Our dining room had a stunningly-papered ceiling of gold with a delicate pattern of blue and pink flowers. One wall of the room was decorated with colourful panels of plants and animals and sylish plant arrangements grew in pots on the wooden window sills. We sat down and waited to see what would arrive.
Shortly, a very tall Korean man wearing perfectly round, black wire spectacles came in with a tray of small dishes: some pickled radish, a fresh leaf salad with a grapefruit dressing, some marinated peanuts and small potatoes in a mustardy sauce. Then followed another tray of small eats: some seaweed sheets, spicy kimchi and pickled radish and carrot julienne. The table was already laden with things to try when the same man reappeared with a small bowl of tofu soup and the main dish of crab with soy sauce. Ordinarily I would be quite happy to get crab as a main dish, especially fine specimens such as these crabs, which were large with plenty of meat inside the legs.
But the crabs were totally uncooked, cold and raw. Inside the main shell lurked a gelatinous mix of watery crab juice and wobbly orange bits.
"Um, how do we eat this?" asked my friend. The waiter helped to show us by mixing some warm rice into the watery jelly crabby wetness, and then showed her that this was what to do (by this stage my kids were making pretend vomit noises which was quite embarressing). Making sure that we showed no reaction to any of this in order that the kids would think the food completely normal, my friend and I both tried the rice mixture, gingerly selecting a small spoonful and sliding it into our mouths.
In fact, the taste was not bad at all, the soy sauce giving an added saltiness to the delicate, but very cold, crab flavour. However, the meal itself was just too much of a sensory challenge (especially visually), and we had to admit that our advisor had been correct: we just couldn't eat this!
We all ate our rice, and tried all of the smaller dishes. Not being an expert in Korean food I couldn't say how authentic or excellent this food was. However, everything had an extremely interesting taste and was quite different to anything we have sampled before. Mr Young-yong Chan, the president of the restaurant, is also a Court Food Expert and so if you are looking for some off-the-beaten-track Korean fare, bored of Bulgogi and Mandu, then you should try this place. You will only know what you will get when you arrive. If you find that the daily special is too much for you, you can head back down the road and go for some easy tasty noodles or manduguk.
As we left, the waiter explained that this was a special dish that was prepared around this time of year and especially for Chusok. For each person, the cost was 35,000 won. We thanked our charming, friendly advisor for all his help and went in search of a coffee.
Showing posts with label KOREAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KOREAN. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
AH NUK HAN PEL JANG MANDU RESTAURANT (KOREAN SCRIPT TO FOLLOW WHEN I CAN WORK OUT HOW TO TYPE IT IN) TEL: 02 739 6334 (YOU CAN CALL FOR A FAXED MAP).
when you find one of those restaurants that is consistently good, and turns out a dish that makes your mouth water even when you are just thinking about going there, then you know you are on to a good thing. Ah Nuk Han Pel Jang Mandu restaurant is one of these places. The food here is so tasty, home cooked, perfect in consistency and satisfying. I love it and even though you usually have to queue to get in for a few minutes, recommend that you try it too.
Just outside the entrance to the Korean Folk Museum and Gyeong Bok Dong Palace, there is a pedestrian crossing. Make your way across the road and walk along the road which leads away from the Museum. A couple of small buildings in on the left, you will see this restaurant. It usually has many cars parked outside at lunch time, and is a white building with wooden panelling and large windows on two floors which are covered from the inside with paper blinds.
Inside the restaurant, you will find staff making Mandu (stuffed dumplings) by hand and then arranging the beautifully folded dumplings on floured wooden boards ready to be dropped into the steaming soup bowls for hungry eaters. These are the best mandu we have found in Seoul so far, and the restaurant is busy and lovely. The space is mainly constructed of pale wood, and is airy and light with diners sitting at regular tables (not on the floor). It even smells fresh and is full of Koreans enjoying an excellent lunch of mandu or noodles. Two or three types of Kimchi come with your dish (one spicy and one more vinegary), and the usual soy sauce dips are also given.
A bowl of Mandu Guk (dumplings in soup) will cost about 6,000 won which is average price, and contains 5 dumplings. We ordered two bowls of Mandu guk and a bowl of plain noodles for our kids and the bill was 24,000 won (which included tax and a drink). Great place.
when you find one of those restaurants that is consistently good, and turns out a dish that makes your mouth water even when you are just thinking about going there, then you know you are on to a good thing. Ah Nuk Han Pel Jang Mandu restaurant is one of these places. The food here is so tasty, home cooked, perfect in consistency and satisfying. I love it and even though you usually have to queue to get in for a few minutes, recommend that you try it too.
Just outside the entrance to the Korean Folk Museum and Gyeong Bok Dong Palace, there is a pedestrian crossing. Make your way across the road and walk along the road which leads away from the Museum. A couple of small buildings in on the left, you will see this restaurant. It usually has many cars parked outside at lunch time, and is a white building with wooden panelling and large windows on two floors which are covered from the inside with paper blinds.
Inside the restaurant, you will find staff making Mandu (stuffed dumplings) by hand and then arranging the beautifully folded dumplings on floured wooden boards ready to be dropped into the steaming soup bowls for hungry eaters. These are the best mandu we have found in Seoul so far, and the restaurant is busy and lovely. The space is mainly constructed of pale wood, and is airy and light with diners sitting at regular tables (not on the floor). It even smells fresh and is full of Koreans enjoying an excellent lunch of mandu or noodles. Two or three types of Kimchi come with your dish (one spicy and one more vinegary), and the usual soy sauce dips are also given.
A bowl of Mandu Guk (dumplings in soup) will cost about 6,000 won which is average price, and contains 5 dumplings. We ordered two bowls of Mandu guk and a bowl of plain noodles for our kids and the bill was 24,000 won (which included tax and a drink). Great place.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
9 2 3 3 CHU KU MEE GRILLED OCTOPUS BAR Tel: 02 568 9233
Cross the road outside the Oakwood Coex serviced apartment in Gangnam-Gu using the pedestrian crossing on your right, and head up the small road in front of you. Restaurant 9 2 3 3 is about 200 metres up on your right (if you get to the Family Mart on your left you have gone too far).
At night after work, Koreans like to head to a cafe for a bite to eat, some drinks of Soju and a relaxed chat. These local neighbourhood cafes are a more economical way of eating out in Seoul, with plastic chairs and aluminium tables and no frills. But the food is really good, the Kimchi is fresh and tasty and the staff will always help you even if your Korean is not so great.
The 9 2 3 3 cafe is one of these joints, specialising in grilled Octopus (which has to be the most yummy way to cook octopus). Tables have central grill points and if busy, the owner will bring an extra table onto the pavement and has a small mobile gas grill for your food.
We ordered a big tray of octopus in a spicy sauce, with roughly chopped onions, mushrooms, leeks and side orders of bean shoots, cabbage and kimchi. As the gas fires away underneath the tray, the octopus and vegetables sizzle away, the sauce blackening and caramalising underneath, making the most delicious tit bits to eat with your chopsticks. A metal scraper comes with the food , so you can scrape these bits up and turn the food to cook it.
It is a a lovely way to spend and evening with friends, and won't break the bank. A meal for two with a few beers will come to around 50,000.
Cross the road outside the Oakwood Coex serviced apartment in Gangnam-Gu using the pedestrian crossing on your right, and head up the small road in front of you. Restaurant 9 2 3 3 is about 200 metres up on your right (if you get to the Family Mart on your left you have gone too far).
At night after work, Koreans like to head to a cafe for a bite to eat, some drinks of Soju and a relaxed chat. These local neighbourhood cafes are a more economical way of eating out in Seoul, with plastic chairs and aluminium tables and no frills. But the food is really good, the Kimchi is fresh and tasty and the staff will always help you even if your Korean is not so great.
The 9 2 3 3 cafe is one of these joints, specialising in grilled Octopus (which has to be the most yummy way to cook octopus). Tables have central grill points and if busy, the owner will bring an extra table onto the pavement and has a small mobile gas grill for your food.
We ordered a big tray of octopus in a spicy sauce, with roughly chopped onions, mushrooms, leeks and side orders of bean shoots, cabbage and kimchi. As the gas fires away underneath the tray, the octopus and vegetables sizzle away, the sauce blackening and caramalising underneath, making the most delicious tit bits to eat with your chopsticks. A metal scraper comes with the food , so you can scrape these bits up and turn the food to cook it.
It is a a lovely way to spend and evening with friends, and won't break the bank. A meal for two with a few beers will come to around 50,000.
Monday, July 24, 2006
NORI PEOPLE, RODEO DRIVE, APGUJEONG
Tel: 02 549 6674 http://www.noripeople.com/, 657-12 Shinsadong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul
Turn left off Rodeo Drive as after the large convenience store and you will find Nori People on your right.
It is called a lounge but is an open-fronted korean "pub" full of good looking 30-somethings getting drunk, eating and having a real laugh. Funky korean tunes play and posters for reggae gigs are plastered around the walls. The toilets are outside round the corner, basic but have loo roll. Metal and plastic tables and chairs and good service from cheerful bar folk.
We loved this place. It feels real and gives you a good look at Koreans having a good time. A mix of couples out on a Friday night, mates having some beers and a chat together and small groups of friends in cool kit ready to go clubbing later (it didn't look like some of them would make it, though. There was a guy at the table next to us with his mates, just passed out fast asleep, sprawled on the table - too much Soju I think, or maybe too much beer, or perhaps a mixture ... his mates were absolutely plastered, funny to watch, lots of animated conversations, back slapping and swaggering around with their hats on sideways).
On another note, and following our visit to a pretty people bar, there are some mighty good looking Korean men here ....
Tel: 02 549 6674 http://www.noripeople.com/, 657-12 Shinsadong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul
Turn left off Rodeo Drive as after the large convenience store and you will find Nori People on your right.
It is called a lounge but is an open-fronted korean "pub" full of good looking 30-somethings getting drunk, eating and having a real laugh. Funky korean tunes play and posters for reggae gigs are plastered around the walls. The toilets are outside round the corner, basic but have loo roll. Metal and plastic tables and chairs and good service from cheerful bar folk.
We loved this place. It feels real and gives you a good look at Koreans having a good time. A mix of couples out on a Friday night, mates having some beers and a chat together and small groups of friends in cool kit ready to go clubbing later (it didn't look like some of them would make it, though. There was a guy at the table next to us with his mates, just passed out fast asleep, sprawled on the table - too much Soju I think, or maybe too much beer, or perhaps a mixture ... his mates were absolutely plastered, funny to watch, lots of animated conversations, back slapping and swaggering around with their hats on sideways).
On another note, and following our visit to a pretty people bar, there are some mighty good looking Korean men here ....
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