Seoul Restaurant Tips by bpacker

Bite-sized tender pieces of BBQ

Galbi

Restaurant Name: Itaewon Restaurant

I can't think of a better way to chase my Seoul winter blues away than to eat succulent, beef ribs marinated in sweet soya sauce and grilled to perfection right in front of me. Yup, I'm talking about Korean BBQ Beef Ribs or Galbi . If you're keen on this dish, pop into touristy Itaewon and go to a restaurant that is named after the street. You'll find it opposite the Itaewon subway station (beside Hamilton Hotel) .

Favorite Dish: As with any other Asian dish, there's a complicated method of eating this yummy BBQ.
->First, take a piece of seared cow flesh and put it in the centre of a green leaf.
->After that, smear some sweet garlic chilli sauce on it and place a pickle of your choice on it. Those Korean folks normally wrap rice or radish around the meat so no, ketchup don't count.
->Wrap the leaf around the meat and pickle and eat it. The sweet, smoky flavour of the meat will go very well with the green, raw taste of the leaf . Simply delicious.

This excellent dish cost around US$15 or so. It's a price well paid as the service is excellent , apparently all the waitress love fussing around you like mother hens.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20 » Currency Converter
Address: 112-5, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Directions: A short walk from Itaewon Stn. (Line 6, Exit 2) 20m away

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Website: http://www.kalbi.co.kr/

%BJeongju Jungang Hoegwan: Pee-Bim-Bap ( Rice with Vegetables)

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Updated by bpacker

on Nov 30, 2004

Eating Pee-Bim-Bap in SKorea is a

must

Restaurant Name: Jeongju Jungang Hoegwan

If you're ever in Seoul, try their famous rustic dish "Bibimbap", delicious sticky rice cooked and served in a heavy stone bowl. with more than thirty vegetables. If you're a meatarian like me, ask for their beefy variation, it's equally delicious.

Favorite Dish: I just love Bibimpap and eating it is a must each time I return to South Korea. The Bibimpap there just taste better than the ones they serve in Singapore. Hmm, hot rice with vegetables, mixed with sweet pepper sauce and stir-fried beef.
About every traditional eatery in South Korea serve this dish but you'll find variations here and there.For example, you'll find nondesript carrot and iceberg lettuce in the Seoul version whereas if you're trying this in the 'countryside', you'll find an assortment of fresh mountain vegetables and herb.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10 » Currency Converter
Address: 90-1, Bukchang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Directions: Subway :Get off at City Hall Stn. (Line 1, Exit 7) Get off at City Hall Stn. (Line 2, Exit 7) and refer to your city map for directions.

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%BSanchon: The Best Cusine and Cultural Experience in Seoul

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Updated by bpacker

on Nov 30, 2004

The Meatarian savouring temple fare

Restaurant Name: Sanchon

Read on if a sample of this menu entices you...Hot, sweet gruel made of wild rice and sweet potatoes.Crisp, fried seaweed flavoured with sesame seeds.Succulent wild mushrooms cooked with garlic. Crisp,sweet rice puffs...

Favorite Dish: I am a self - proclaimed "meatarian". So horrid are my meat lovin' instincts that I'll pop into any Mcdonald's in any city, just so I can see how they serve their burgers there. Ya, I'm lovin it man... (Timberlake eat your heart out!) So, why am I introducing this vegatarian buffet in Insa-dong? Well, I suppose if a meat lover can vouch for this buffet meal, it should convince a whole lot of you that this meal is excellent.

Really it is, I can't rave enough about the soft beancurd or the delicious simplicity of potatoes boiled with soya sauce. Interestingly, this is standard temple fare and it is prepared by the owner who used to be a monk himself! For about US$30 or so, you'll be served about 16 vegetarian dishes and be entertained by a troupe of traditional dancers at about 9pm.

Call and make a resevation before going as this place is a hot spot for all tourists. Don't worry about the language. Everyone there speaks English.

In any case, here's some useful info if you are convinced by this meatarian:

Business Hours: 12:00 - 22:00
Closing Days:
New Year's Days, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Holidays)
Sanchon Folk Dance: 20:00 -21:00,every day
Cards Accepted: All types
Seating Capacity: 100 seats

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30 » Currency Converter
Phone: (02)735-1900
Address: 14, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Directions: (Subway)
1)Jonggak Station Line No.1, Exit 3
Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station line No.1,3 and 5, Exit 5.Walk towards Insadong Street
2)Anguk Station Line No.3 , Exit 6.Walk towards Insadong Street.
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Website: www.sanchon.com

%BAirport Cafe: The Food at Gimpo Airport Food Court

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Updated by bpacker

on Nov 30, 2004

Restaurant Name: Airport Cafe

If you're rushing to catch a flight but dying for good food anyway, pop over to the big food court at Gimpo Domestic Airport. Not only is the airport linked by the subway, the food there is excellent a lot better than the crap they serve at the International Airport. I had my meal there before taking a convenient shuttle to the international airport.

Favorite Dish: Go for their excellent lunch boxes (bentos). About everything is good over there, so you can't go wrong choosing a dish over here.You'll find western, japanese and korean food over here.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20 » Currency Converter
Directions: Gimpo Domestic Airport. Left wing

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A recipe for you to try at home: BBQ Beef Recipe

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Written by bpacker

on Nov 30, 2004

instant BBQ sauce!

Restaurant Name: A recipe for you to try at home

One of my greatest passion is to collect recipes from all over the world. And when I replicate the dish back home in Singapore, the taste brings back vivid memories of the place I've visited. Here's a recipe that will bring back a little bit of Itaewon to where ever you are. Try it, it's ridiculously simple but delicious

Favorite Dish: Try buying the instant BBQ marinade from an Asian supermart or a Korean grocery store if you're from LA or Singapore. Any brand will do. Just look out for the words "Galbi sauce". Altenatively, make the sauce from scatch if you're a fussy purist.

Ingredients

4 lb. beef ribs
1 bottle of instant Galbi BBQ marinade or..

Ingredients for the sauce
1 tbsp. Sesame seeds
1 cup Soy sauce
3 Tablespoon Sugar
Roasted sesame oil
9 tbsp. minced green onion
2 tsp. minced ginger
5 cloves of garlic, minced
sesame salt
China pear juice
other vegetables (chopped onion, scallions)

->There's only one tricky part to this recipe and that is to debone the moo flesh. Lay the ribs flat down and insert your sharpest knife under bone. Slice, leaving the end uncut. Open out flat and make a slit along the center of each bone. This eases the membrane and helps the meat separate from the bone.

->After de-boning the meat, marinade the meat with the bottled sauce or mix all the ingredients with the beef overnight. To eat, grill under a hot fire...

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Theme: Local

Street Stalls: Delicious Street Food in Insadong

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Written by bpacker

on Sep 15, 2005

Restaurant Name: Street Stalls

Now other than the antique shops in Insadong, try not to miss the street food found there, almost everything is delicious, including the handmade candy made by this smiley chap over here. Now for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the candy. Would a kind reader let me know what is the name and what is it made of? This was how it was made...

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Theme: Local

Street Stalls: Traditional candy in Insadong

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Written by bpacker

on Sep 15, 2005

Restaurant Name: Street Stalls

The hawker carefully scrapes a thick wad of hard brown substance ( hardened honey?) and shaves a mass of it unto a stick..

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Theme: Local

Street Stalls: Traditional candy in Insadong

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Written by bpacker

on Sep 15, 2005

yes, i finished the whole blob of

candy