It’s like a corn cookie that is filled with creamy, vanilla ice cream. These are a new popular treat on Insadong Street. The masterminds behind it are the guys who started the dragon beard candy (Gul-tare  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgdTq_wXn8c). It seems to be a big hit and you’ll se droves of people with the treats walking down the street. The hook is crunchy and the ice cream is refreshing. Get yours today. www.seouleats.com

The post Ice Cream Hook: Korean Street Food appeared first on Seoul Eats.

10. Kongguksu 콩국수: Kongguk is a chilled soy milk noodle soup. Traditionally, it’s a refreshingly hearty bowl filled with wheat noodles, soy milk, cucumbers, and ground peanuts. There are variations of this dish. I have had it with watermelon, parboiled potatoes, pear, and various other ingredients. My favorite version can be found at Myeongdong Gyoja. Here the noodles are green because they are made from the super healthy chlorella algae and green tea. These noodles are full of protein and vitamins and have plenty of life in the thick soymilk broth. And, best of all, this dish is vegetarian friendly.
Myeongdong Gyoja: Myeongdong exit 5. Make a left at the first intersection (Woori Bank) and make the next right (Who.A.U. Clothing Store.)
www.mdkj.co.kr 776-5348

9. Naengmyeon 냉면: “Cold noodles” is not a concept that should alien to the Western mindset. I mean we have cold pasta salad and macaroni salad, but the idea of cold chicken noodle soup is enough to turn stomachs. This classic Korean dish is not just eaten in summer (it just tastes the best then.) What we have is a chewy buckwheat noodles that are in a chilled dongchimi (radish kimchi broth) and beef broth. It is topped with pear, an egg, and pickled vegetables. I recommend you work up a heavy sweat and then head over to Nampo Myeonok for a bowl. It’s the definition of the word 개우하다 (kae-un hada: refreshing.)
Nampomyeonok: Eujiro exit 1. Make the first right and then head straight into the alley.
777-3131

8. Dukbokki 떡복이 at 먹쉬돈나 (Mok Schwei Don Na): Sometimes you have to fight the heat with heat. Koreans have a very strange expression when they eat very hot food “Shiwonhada” it literally means “its cool!” They say this with zeal while eating really hot (temperature), hot (spicy) foods. In Samcheongdong, Mok Schwei Don Na is the king of dukbokki. And this little restaurant (whose name means “Eat, Relax, Pay, Go) always has a line of people waiting to get in to taste their famous sauce. Here you can pick from a list of 10 different ingredients such as dumplings, noodles, meat, seafood, cheese, etc to make your own D.I.Y. dish.
Mok Schwei Don Na: Anguk Station exit 1. Go straight and make a right at the Korean Travel Bureau Building and walk up along the stone wall. It is in the alley past Café Vangia.
723-8089

7. Patbingsu 팓빙수: There isn’t a café or restaurant in Seoul that you can’t find this crushed ice and red bean dish. It has evolved from the simple (crushed ice, sweetened red beans, roasted bean powder, and some rice cake) to its current iteration, a monstrosity of shaved ice, fruit (kiwi, strawberry, peaches, watermelon, and tomato), ice cream, corn flakes, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and (the essential) candied rice cake (duk: 떡). The formula might change a bit, but it’s like iced bibimbap. You take it all and mix it up. My favorite game is duk hunting. You get a couple of people together and fish around this delicious concoction to find the candied rice cake. The winner gets to bask in the envy of the other competitors.
All around Seoul. One of my favorites is in Samcheongdong at Ong Dal Saem (옹달샘). It’s down Samcheongdong Street near the Blue House
733-3356

6. Acorn Guksu 도토리국수: This is a Korean delicacy that will rejuvenate your weary soul. Made from cultivated acorns that are ground into flour and then boiled. The noodles are slick and delicate to the palette. The broth is acidic and slightly spicy. And you’ll find slivers of cucumber, carrots, dried seaweed, and crushed sesame seed swimming in broth. I recommend Woncho guksu (원조국수) in Jeongja. This is one of the best noodle houses in Korea and it has been around for close to 20 years. They close at 4:30, so you know they must be good.
Woncho Guksu: Jeongja Station Exit 3. Go down the alley next to Nolbu budae chiggae.
711-5973

5. Taengjang bibimbap 된장비빔밥: Yes, I miss big bowls of salad during the summer. Mainly because during the summer, the idea of a big greasy burger and fries weighs on my mind like the thought of having to carry a refrigerator up a flight of stairs. Taengjang bibimbap is the Korean big salad that comes loaded with fresh greens and leaves. And instead of some oily, mayonnaise based dressing; it comes with tangy, taengjang soup to mix in your salad and rice. My favorite is in Insadong at Tweit Malung (툇마릉). This dish is vegetarian friendly.
Tweit Malung: Go down Insadong Street and make a left at Dukwon Gallery at Hwaenamu-gil. Make the first left into the alley and it is in the basement and 2nd floor of the building next to a restaurant named Doo-rei.

4. Red Mango: Before Pinkberry there was, and still is, Red Mango. I have gone to Red Mango for years and have always been in love with the citrusy, clean, and silky yogurt. I’ve tried Pinkberry and it seems like the younger upstart; it doesn’t have the refined maturity of its senior. You can find them dotted all around the city and it’s upscale interior is a great place to chill and enjoy a bowl of frozen dessert topped with your choice of fixings.
http://redmango.co.kr/

3. Gusttimo 구스띠모: This is the gelato store that started the rage in Korea. Many have tried to copy; none have come close. The story goes that the owner studied for years in Italy to learn the craft, perfected it and brought it home to Korea. It is some of best gelato outside of Italy, and I’m sure it ranks near some of the top there. They have regular gelato mainstays like Frutti Di Bosco, Cioccolato, and Fragola. But Gusttimo has a quirky edge with such flavors as Riso Nero (black rice), Marron Glace (Chestnut), Formaggio (Cream Cheese), and Cereali (Cereal & Chocolate).
All around Seoul. Their flagship store can be found in Apgujeong, next to the Rodeo Street Gate across from the Galleria. It is to the side of Paris Croissant.
www.gusttimos.com

2. Bibimguksu at Ojangdong Hwung-namjip 비빔국수 at 오장동흥남집: It’s all about the noodles and you can’t get better or fresher noodles. As you eat, you can look into the kitchen and see the chefs making the noodles on site. One man is back stepping on the buckwheat to soften them up awhile another cuts them. There is a third person back there and I figure he must be laying on the magic because the noodles that I slurped were like gossamer threads. Eating the whole bowl was as if I was taking a breath of cool mountain air after reaching the apex. Yeah, it’s a bit spicy, but that’s what makes it enlightening.
Go to Eujiro 4-ga exit 8 and to straight. At Chunggujeong Intersection (중구청), make a left. Go around the Market entrance and it is opposite Suhyup Bank (수협 은행)
2272-7117

1. Patbingsu at Café de Coin: Luxury Patbingsu has become a fad in Seoul the last couple of years. The trend seems to be to take an exceedingly expensive space and fill it with fancy décor and then charge 8,000 won for a coffee and 20,000 won for a patbingsu. You would think for this price, you would be getting something gourmet, something worthy of chefs trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Most of the time it’s not the case. I was equally reluctant when I went into Café de Coin, but it came recommened. Café de Coin is impressive. The interior is modern and sleek. My friends and I were escorted up a private room on the top floor and we were amazed by the spectacular view of Seoul. Here the patbingsu is more like a sophisticated ice cream sundae. The green tea bingsu had almonds, distinctly flavored green tea ice cream, and red beans. The ice was shaved snowflake fine so it blended well with the ice cream. The black bean bingsu was a real surprise. Finely shaved coffee flavored ice is topped with black sesame ice cream and sugared pecans, cashews, and almonds. The bowls were licked clean and we contemplated asking them to make us a banana split bingsu. Locations around Seoul.

Cafe de Coin

The post Cold Foods for Hot Days in Korea appeared first on Seoul Eats.

The post Video: My Trip to the Boseong Tea Fields appeared first on Seoul Eats.

Here is the walk to the Dawon tea park.

The rolling green tea fields.

The green tea foods such as green tea bibimbap and green tea Naengmyeong.

the green tea ice cream was incredible after the long hike to the top of the green tea peak.

We learned how to make green tea from a tea master at her house.

Boseong is worth the journey to get there. If you are looking to experience a truly Korean experience, I suggest you make a trip.

The post A Green Tea Experience In Boseong, Korea appeared first on Seoul Eats.

Napoleon Bakery
3 Stars
Seongbuk-gu Seongbukdong 1ga 35-1
Ph#027427421
Open from 8am-10pm (but they usually sell out far before closing time)

The post Review: Napoleon Bakery appeared first on Seoul Eats.

Recently, I was invited to Hopscotch Gastropub by the owner Brian so I obliged to check out their fare. It is located off the main drag and it doesn’t even have a name sign. It is tucked behind
Imposing steel doors marked by lit by industrial lights and a red neon sign that looks like a cubist daisy.

Inside the interior has a MC Escher, industrial feel and lit by antique Edison lamps. The place has a speakeasy-feel and makes you imagine secret poker games and bootlegging in the back rooms. The good thing is that in the back room they are churning out amazing food to go with wide selection of beers, cocktails, and scotches.

We started with some pork cracklings that kept popping as they came to the table. These were fun to eat but I think could have used more Cajun spice. The shiitake mushroom fries were excellent with the garlic aioli and Parmesan cheese. This was followed by an excellent citrus salad that was topped with cranberry, avocado, mandarin oranges, sugared pecans, cucumbers and tomatoes. The salad was one of the best I have had in a while and it reminded me of San Francisco.

We had a few more appetizers such as their bacon-topped Mac-and-cheese. This was ok, at least it didn’t have corn in it but the use of pasta of different sizes was a tad confusing and I think it could have used more cheese (but I think everything deserves more cheese). The steak chili was hearty and had good homestyle flavor.

The star was the duck fries. These were thin splinters of potato that were sumptuously crispy that has a rich foie gras taste. You start eating one and then just keep going back until they are all gone. Yummy.

For the main, we had the roast chicken with Gorgonzola mashed potatoes. This was a simple dish done right. The skin was crispy and the potatoes were creamy.

For dessert we had a delicious chocolate cake (how delicious I can’t remember because of all the beer.)

Hopscotch has a great beer selection and has a good selection of local and international brews. They have cocktails but no wines. They take their scotches seriously and will serve you a ice sphere in your rocks glass (that the chef cuts himself).

Overall, this is a great find. It’s not cheap for beers start at 7,000 won each. Food is reasonable with small plates starting at 9,000 won and entrees at 14,000. It’s a great atmosphere and your friends and colleagues will up your cool factor for taking them to this great little gastro-pub.

Hopscotch Gastropub
강남구 논현동 113-20
Gangnam-gu Nonhyeon-dong 113-20
phone: 025110145
Directions: If you take a cab, they will drop you off near the Gastropub, but you’ll have to walk down the side-street next to the Kia dealership and make the first left. You’ll see the metal doors up ahead.

The post Review: Duck Fat Fries and Pork Cracklings at Hopscotch Gastropub appeared first on Seoul Eats.

Le Saint-Ex

119-28 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
02-795-2465

Friday hours 12:00 pm–3:00 pm, 6:00 pm–10:00 pm

The post Have you been to Le Saint Ex. appeared first on Seoul Eats.

Written by BigSkySeoul AKA S.A. Walrath Read her blog at http://creamseoul.blogspot.kr/

Visited on April 2013

If you come out of exit 8 in Hongdae, turn right, and walk until you reach the roundabout you’ll spot a tiny brown building, plain white letters. This little burger joint, known simply as Burger 4.5, serves up a very small, but tasty menu, specializing in delicious and beautiful burgers.

The space inside is very small. Three tables, each seating four, can make Burger 4.5 a crowded place, but if you go in the middle of the day, like my friends and I did, you’ll have no problems nabbing a spot to sit and mow down.

Offering only four various types of burgers (three when I went, as the Caesar No.5 was sold out), it won’t take you long to make your choice.

The New Standard, burger number one, is your typical cheeseburger. Served on a soft, tasty bun with your standard (see what they did there?) lettuce, tomato, onion cucumber and cheese, burger number one is a safe and solid bet to kill your hunger.

If you prefer something a little less… standard, burger number three, the Red Rocket Burger, might just be your jam. With rucola, onion and a special spicy sauce that is extremely flavorful, the Red Rocket is my suggestion. Add some fries, either regular or crispy (which simply means seasoned), and you’ve got yourself a meal.

The burgers come in two sizes, but spend the extra ₩500 for little bigger patty. You can throw on a little bacon, or cheese for a little extra as well. If you’re thirsty, they’ve got cans of soda or nice foreign brews.

With so many burger joints in Hongdae, what stands out about Burger 4.5 is they small, but well crafted menu. As you’d expect from a little place like this in Hongdae, it’s hip, cool, and they’ve got Biggie blaring on their iPod radio. It well priced, the guy making your burgers is friendly and speaks English, and damn is it tasty.”

Price: $$ 10- 20 USD

Rating**** 4 Stars: Recommended: A place you would recommend your close friends

Burger 4.5 (버거 4.5) “Burger 4.5
마포구 서교동 330-18, 서울특별시
Tel: 02 322 8779

The post Review: It’s Burger 4.5 appeared first on Seoul Eats.

I have been getting some concerned emails, supportive emails and angry emails these days from my readers. First of all, thank you for being concerned and thank you for taking the time to read the blog.

I have been having some technical issues with wordpress and I think that this theme has finally frustrated me to the point of change. It is a chore for me to write and post on this platform so I will be making a change soon. The sight is getting too slow and bogged down with errors and I don’t have the technical skills to fix it. I will be changing the theme over and making it more streamlined.

These days I have been very busy with my business and personal relationships so I haven’t been able to write so much these days.

And just for the record, my trip to London was sponsored by Chowzter which i stated in my other posts. My dinners at Mosimann’s and Saint John and the food tours were paid by myself. My trip to Paris was not sponsored by anyone other than me and my company ( so it was paid by me). It was a research trip to see the food tourism and restaurant scene around the world. If Paris or London had invited me, I would have definitely written more and I would have written a disclaimer stating such.

Restaurants that invite me, I state that I was invited. Almost all the restaurants on the site have been paid out of pocket by myself or my company. I would love to get paid to eat for free at all the restaurants but lets face facts and reality. They would all go out of business if they did that. Also, the expat market (and dollar) is not really significant enough to have food bloggers come and dine for free. While my blog gets over 100,000 page views a month unless it targets the Korean market, it will really have no impact on if it makes or breaks a restaurant.

For those interested in my dining habits and approach to review, I tend to pick restaurants that have an interesting story, chefs, or those that focus on ingredients. I prefer local Korean restaurants in Korea and I like small businesses trying to do something new. Cost is really not that important to me. If the dish is composed of expensive ingredients and requires a high level of skill or the atmosphere is unique or sumptuous then it probably justifies the cost. I will try to state the prices of the dishes for those interested. Also, instead of stating something is just bad or good, I try to write my criticisms more descriptively.

Also, for those that are upset about the ads for the tour company, please understand that my job is the head of tours and marketing at O’ngo Food Communications. I need to build up the SEO of different tour products (and other products) we are selling. For those in the expat community that are not interested in such things, please ignore them. However, keep in mind that we are trying to help out the expat community here in Korea. Our tourism company has in the course of three years become one of the top high-end tour companies in Korea. The tour company doesnt really target many of the expats in Korea. We tried this before but we found that our customer base were mainlu from the overseas market. Because of our success we have been able to have a voice in how the tour business has run. These days we are lobbying to have expats to be able to work in the tour industry for their native language skills are better suited for travelers coming to Korea. At least it will be another option from just teaching English.

For those that had some helpful criticisms. Thank you. My plan is to refocus the website on restaurant reviews. I will think of another venue for random diatribes.

Cheers,

Dan

The post Just for the record appeared first on Seoul Eats.

I am supposed to be finishing up an article on Korean food but as I sit here, I am craving the food that I ate in London. Boy was that an epic food trip. Borough Market was one of the most interesting markets that I have been to and I ate so many things there from the sausage rolls, chorizo sandwiches, grilled cheese, beet and apple juice, cheese, cookies and more. I now know why I am having problems getting rid of the two extra kilos I gained on the trip. Lol. I also miss the meatpies.

I was also lucky to stop at Gordon Ramsey’s Plane food on a short stopover at the Heathrow airport. I had Eggs Florentine and it was a nice breakfast before my last meal back to Korea. Anyway, back to work. Deadlines are due.

Dan

The post I am missing London Bites appeared first on Seoul Eats.