I realize, I have over a hundred of pictures taken, of some of the food which are absolutely gastronomic and totally a top notch on my cravings! Since last year, I have sorted out this pictures from all kinds of authentic Korean Barbecues, to Steaks, Sea foods, soups, coffee, sweet treats and even street foods!
Most of the foods that you will see here are treats from work, because truly, some of them are expensive. Anyway, when in Seoul, never miss out to try their one of a kind cuisines.
Mokega-seyo! (Let's Eat!)
Korean Barbecues
Koreans love to grill any food: meat, sea foods or veggies. My first grilled experience was duck in Busan, (Not in Seoul, but there's a lot anywhere in Korea) Then the original one, Pork, Beef and Chicken. Pork is "samgyeupsal", Beef is "K/Galbi" and Chicken is "Dakgalbi". The most expensive ones are beef, well no need to explain why :)
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| This is Duck. I remember the restaurant is in Namison on our way to Nami Island. It's really good with "samjang"! |
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This is one of my favorite! "Dakgalbi" Chicken Barbecue :)
Dakgalbi restaurants are everywhere in Seoul |
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| The grilled duck in Busan |
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The famous "Samgyeupsal", or Pork Barbecue
You can almost find samgyeupsal restaurants in every corner of Seoul |
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| Grilled Beef is expensive than Pork :) but this one is the best, we had this at Gangwhon Province. |
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| This bacon sliced pork is another version of their "samgyeupsal" and they are easy to cook :) |
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This is not barbecue, it's called "Jokbal". Jokbal is a steamed pig feet with semi sweet taste.
It's like our version of Patatim, but patatim is more saucy and sweeter than Jokbal |
Kimchi/ Korean Soup
During my first year here in Seoul, I hated kimchi so much. Maybe I was getting fed up of it (lol!) because it is always served in every restaurants here. Some houses and establishments here smells kimchi already. When they started serving me kimchi soup, I wanted to curse them (joke)! But months have passed, I fell in love with Kimchi Jigue. This is a kimchi soup with meat and it almost tasted like "pork sinigang" or maybe I just missed sinigang! The only difference is -- they are too hot and spicy! At first I wasn't used to it... but I don't know why I easily adopted to the level of their hot spices. Maybe because the consistency of the spices doesn't stay longer in my tongue, unlike 'sili labuyo"... There are many kinds of "jigue" here. And the one I love most is their "bude jigue" a combination of noodles, in kimchi soup with sausages, ham and tofu!
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| My all-time favorite during lunchtime especially on winter, Bude Jigue! |
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| This is one the Korean's comfort food- "Kimchi Jigue" |
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Korean Shabu shabu (this one is beef version, they also have in seafood).
I remember this was during my birthday last year. This kind of food here is expensive though. |
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This is like our version of Aroz Caldo. In Korea, it's called "Samgyetang" or ginseng chiken soup. It's a very
popular dish but come summer, the whole nation will eat this on "Bok days". Bok days are the three hottest
days of the year according to Lunar calendar. Summer is the season right before the autumn harvest when people work the hardest. It is believed in the old Korean history, farmers being exposed to the scorching heat while working the fields left many dehydrated and fatigued, so on Bok days people would take a break, feast on foods to replenish their strength and stamina and frolic in cool streams and rivers.
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Noodles & Pokumbap (Kimchi Fried Rice)
Noodles are traditional food of Asians. Here in Seoul, they have so many different kind of twists in making a noodle, one of a kind cuisine. An example is the "jajameun" , a noodle with a sauce made of bean paste with sea foods, pork or chicken.
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| This one is called, "Jimdak", chicken in rice noodles |
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This is a Cold Noodle with Vegetables. Koreans love eating cold noodles after drinking soju or mekju.
They also called this Hangover Noodles:) |
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| Cheese Ramen |
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| Korean fried rice with Cheese, next picture is my sister enjoying the mozzarella cheese! |
Sea Foods
Koreans naturally love eating seafoods. They also have their version of "Sinigang na Isda" with vegetables. They also love oysters but, that I can't enjoy because of my allergies :( Seafoods here are also quite expensive.
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| My favorite Sashimi at Namdaemun, a treat from my former Team mates |
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| Oysters at Pier17 in Gangnam |
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| Sea shells found in the river, they are truly delicious! |
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In Namdaemun market there are lot of seafood restaurants which are cheaper and
it's concept are more of like our own version of "Dampa". |
Steaks and Burgers
They also love western foods, of course at times they are also like us, craving for an alternative, but not my boss. Outback, Bennigans and Ashleys are some of the restos that I tried. There's a lot of Steak house in Hongdae and maybe one of these days I might give a try.
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| The best Steak at Bennigans |
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| Somewhere in Itaewon, they have the best tower burger! |
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| The Chili Fries are the best at Seoul Tower! |
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| Bennigans has chili wings too! |
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| One of my hubby's favorite at Bennigans...their freshly baked buns. |
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| Ribs! Just can't get enough of it at Bennigans. |
Coffee and Sweets
Korea is home to a lot of coffee shops. Most of them are so unique and highly conceptualized to suit the relaxing ambiance for a coffee drinker. And I have a lot, yet to discover...There's a lot in Hongdae but I haven't gone inside yet, maybe before the year ends because 2 months later, fall and winter will be coming. This are some just of my few discoveries near my place here in central Seoul.
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| Café T at Insadong, they have a very artistic presentation of their coffee. |
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| His and Hers (Green tea Latte and Café Mocha) at T Café. |
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| Heavenly coffee treat at "Jesus Coffee" near Sookmyung University Station |
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| Sweet treat from Mango Six |
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| Coffee Prince at Hongdae |
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| Coffee Prince has the best cheesecake! (their coffee and cakes are expensive) |
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| Moist and very Red Velvet Cupcakes, only at Cafe 81/2 in Hongdae! |
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| Banana Split Waffle at Bins Beans Cafe |
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| Oh-My-Baby Mini Cheesecake is something I always look forward to at Paris Croissant! So yummy! |
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| NY Cronut is sinfully sweet at Lotte Supermarket |
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| Red Velvet & Tiramisu at Hummingbird Bella in Hongdae |
Street Foodie
Uniquely delectable Korean Street foods are almost everywhere in the streets of Seoul. One of the famous are those similar with Chinese Kikiam or Fish Cakes with hotdogs and "topokki". I also like "sundae" that is made of pig's blood with noodles wrapped in pig's intestine, interesting right? But what makes them really delicious is their sweet and spicy pepper sauce.
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| Assorted Korean Dimsum :) |
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| A variation of crab meat, topokki, and sausage. This is so yummy with mustard and ketsup. |
Drinks
Koreans' traditional alcohol drink is Soju. They also have another version of soju made of rice, or the Korean rice wine. I'm not a fan of soju but whenever they offer me one, I have to mix it with mekju (beer) or Cola. Below are some of the cocktails I enjoyed here, so far.
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| Soju is better when mixed with Mekju (beer) but it's double the consequence you have to pay! :)) |
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| Samsachun white wine is better than Soju. |
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| Cocktails we tried at Pier 17 in Gangnam. I want to drink this again! |
Cheers!
I hope I didn't made you feel hungry...this blog is not yet over, I still have many more days to taste and discover more foods here! :)) until then.
