Seoul yummy: Insider guide to eating in Seoul
Navigating through Seoul’s restaurants can be daunting if you don’t know Hangul. That’s why we badgered our friends for their favorite places to eat like a local
By Edwin Tam 19 October, 2009
We’ve hounded our Korean friends for their favorite restaurants and food. After endless rounds of bantering and Shoju, we’ve finally gotten the goods and here they are in no particular order for your chomping pleasure.
Now, where’s our bottle of Pepcid?
Toppoki.
What is it? This Korean street snack is essentially rice compressed into cylinders and smothered in bright red chili sauce and fish cake. Mix a batch of tempura into your Toppoki for a few more won and crunch.
Cost: 2,500₩
Address: Jaws Food (
Along Eoul Madang Gil; Tel: +82 02 337 1525; Getting there: Follow the rows of parked cars from Sang Sang Madang. It’s directly opposite Prince Edward Karaoke.)
Insider's comment: “I don't usually eat Tempura, but theirs are fresh and good, and their Toppoki’s really spicy. It’s also nice and clean, not like your usual Toppoki place.”
– Pae Soo Hyun, English localization editor for Netmarble.
Ssam Bap Jeong Sik.
What is it? Put meat, rice and whatever else that you fancy onto a raw leaf, roll it into a little packet, and pop it into your mouth. It comes with a little earthen pot of beans and rice. Pour tea into it and leave until the end of the meal. Drink the mix to cleanse your palate.
Cost: 9,000₩
Address: Sam Kam Ma Ma Duck Galbi (
Jong-re-gu, Sam Cheong Dong, 9A; Tel: +82 02 920 9621; Getting there: From Angguk subway station, head north-west towards the prime minister’s residence. It’s in a nondescript building beside it.)
Insider's comment: “I like to go to this place for lunch. They give you a piece of beef; you put bean paste sauce on it; put it on rice; and then [mimes a folding square]… You know? Mmmm…”
– Lee Min Kyeong, waitress at Seoul Selection.
Galbi.
What is it? Galbi is marinated meat grilled over charcoal fire in front of you. Your table’s waitress will do everything from firing up the charcoal brazier to cooking the meat, leaving you with the messy and fun work of wrapping lettuce dumplings from freshly grilled meat. Goes well with Shoju and friends.
Cost: 11,000 to 30,000₩
Address: Yang Hwa Jung (
Ma Po Gu, Ham Jung Dong, 383-26; Tel: +82 02 323 5777; Getting there: From exit 8 of HapJeong Station, turn right into an alley behind a Toppoki shop, the restaurant is in the middle of the alley.)
Insider's comment: “Galbi is meat barbequed on an open grill. It is so good. But you have to order two portions. They also have pork, but you really must eat the beef. Smack smack smack.”
– Mrs Kim, owner of Kims’ Guesthouse
Sam Gye Tang.
What is it? Chicken stuffed with glutinous rice and ginseng, and simmered until the meat slips off the bones at a poke. It might taste bland at first, but be patient, take slow sips, and you’ll find that it’s utterly Umami.
Cost: 13,000₩
Address: Groyeo Samgyetang (
164 Sejongno Chongno-gu, 110-822; Tel: +82 02 737 1888/1889; Getting there: From Gwhanghwa Plaza exit at Gwhanghwa subway station, cross over to Starbucks and head into the alley with a signboard with the words “Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup”.)
Insider's comment: “Koreans love foods with ‘deep’ taste, like Sam Gye Tang [Ginseng Chicken Soup] that’s boiled for hours. If you’re in the city, you should try Groyeo Sam Gye Tang. It’s so popular that we must wait 20 minutes in the heat for a place!”
– Jay Lee, owner of Blu Guesthouse
☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
专属天使の悪戯なKiss m(~_~)m
언제나 비가와도 칠흙같이 캄캄한 어둠이 와도...
그대 곁에서 기다릴께 ...
Nothing better than that...
[Color - Melody & Harmony]
誰かのために
For someone’s sake
僕らはここで
we are here,
小さな事しかできないけれど
Although we can only achieve small things,
一秒だけでも
Even just for 1 second,
世界上に涙止めて
We still want to stop all the tears in this world,
笑顔になってくれるのなろ
And turn them all into smiles
My music is my life
For you, for your smile..
.
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