Soy crab 간장게장

간장게장

Shin Ramen and Kimchi is how we do it in Korea. Now as a father I have learned how to make Ramen with nearly no sound like a ninja. I like to add an egg in it just as the ramen starts to bubble. The kimchi is a perfect complement. Hey it might not be the healthiest but it is my comfort food that goes well with a side of Stranger Things.

Best Beef in Korea Hanwoo

I am all about going to the source. The best beef is not found at the supermarkets or even at the high-end restaurants in Seoul. If the restaurant does not have its own herds or farms then they can't control the quality of beef or have discretion on what is good beef then it won't consistently be the best. The problem is that Korea doesn't have enough local beef and the grading system is not exact across the board. I am not going to name names or go too deep into the politics of this because it is something that is being addressed and I think eventually it will be standardized. 1++ (the highest grade) beef is different from region to region. Local beef cooperatives are the ones that set the standards. In Korea, I would say the best beef comes from the Southwest in Jeollanamdo and in the center in Chuncheonbukto regions. Both of these regions have enough land for cattle raising and their beef cooperatives have set high standards. The standards are kept via the farmers through standardization and confucianism.
Hanwootown

Super marbled, top grade beef place where you can pick it all out at the stores in the complex and then take it to a table to grill it all up. You get plenty of sides, sauces and leaves for wrapping and it is a really local experience. It is the highest grade beef Korea has to offer and it ranks up there with the best in the world. Get a couple of packets of their Imsil Halloumi-like cheese and grill it up. Amazing and our top-level corporate clients thought this was an amazing dinner and later went again on their own.

Majangdong Beef Market is great but I prefer Pyeongchang. The freshness and quality is top notch. The beef is expensive here (about 18,000 for 100grams) but it is worth it.

Google Maps
Daegwalnyeong Hanwoo Town
38 Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
033-332-0001
https://goo.gl/maps/CTeteK7Z2uGxqZee8

Naver maps
[Naver Map]
Daegwallyeong Korean Beef Town
38 Olympic-ro Daegwallyeong-myeon Pyeongchang-gun Gangwon-do
http://naver.me/5FrcUJvS

ok I know a lot of you want and need bulgogi. FYI the bulgogi here is different than the non-Korean version you might have had. Here bulgogi is all about the stewing broth and pan that holds the broth.

The Original Seoul Yetmat Bulgogi in Hongdae

When there is a line out the door and people waiting on the street, there must be something worth waiting for. The Original Seoul Yetmat Bulgogi is amazing because of the no-nonsense staff that work there and their owner and head chef that has a long ZZ Top like beard. The chef is always diligently working to marinate loads of beef into his sauce while pouring copious amounts of alcohol into it to give it the right balance. The restaurant has local flare and it’s got lots of smoke, hot coals, and jovial customers and dictatorial workers. When you get served, you’ll get a load of meat to be cooked on a percolated copper tray that sits over white hot coals. As the meat cooks, there is trough along the outside where broth will bubble and cook noodles and mushrooms. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll get loads of vegetable sides, kimchis, a chilled, crisp turnip soup, a beef soup, and fermented sauces for dipping. It’s an amazing meat fest that can’t be matched. Now I mention going to the original one because sadly, this place has been franchised. The copycat places don’t even compare to the energy and the taste of the original. It’s really hard to clone a chef after all.


Yetmat Seoul Bulgogi | 옛맛서울불고기
T. 02-336-9371

Hours: 11:30am–2pm, 5pm–10pm
Price: KRW 8,000 for lunch, KRW 18,000 for dinner

Directions and Address
Gwangheungchang Station 광흥창역 (Line 6), Exit 1. Walk 200 m.
(15-4 Changjeon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul ㅣ서울시 마포구 창전동 15-4)
[Naver Map]
Seoul Mapo-gu Changjeon-dong 15-4
http://naver.me/5hZ9rt3U

Google Maps
15-4 Changjeon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
https://goo.gl/maps/WVcTDeop71e6WMyHA

The Original Sariwon Bulgogi in Gangnam

For more refined bulgogi done in a proper restaurant then this is the place to go. The restaurant is more subdued in a hard wood and brick sort of way. The service is polite. The sides are perfectly laid out and tastes right. The meat is top notch. The bulgogi here has a flavor that is unique and famous for there is a mix of fruit juices, sesame oil, soy sauce and other secret ingredients that make the meat tender and caramelize just right when they hit the hot grill. The sauce’s recipe origin was out of love. A wife wanted to make a bulgogi sauce that was healthy and without sugar for her diabetic husband. That love has spawned a franchise of restaurants, but again go to the original in Gangnam. Actually go to the original places of all the restaurants. That’s just a common foodie law to follow.


Seocho Sariwon 서초사리원
T. 02-3473-5005
Address: Seoul Seocho-gu Seoun-ro 136 서울특별시 서초구 서운로 136 (서초동)

Directions
Get out at Gangnam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 8. Go 250m straight towards Seoul National University of Education Station 교대. At the Gangnam Building, turn left onto Seoun-ro Street. Walk about 140m straight until you see Seocho Sariwon on the left.

[Naver Map]
Seoul Seocho-gu Seoun-ro 136
http://naver.me/5oOCuCCn

(Google Map)
136 Seoun-ro, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
https://goo.gl/maps/pC8NL8yq5z459Zhh9

View this post on Instagram

Had a glorious Korean Hanwoo Beef experience at the original @woolaeoak in Seoul, Korea. The marbling and flavor of the ribs was transcendent. The kimchi and salad sides were not too salty or sour so they did not outshine the star: beef. Had the bulgogi after which was fine. Finishing the whole meal off with Pyeongyang-style #naengmyeon made it complete. Amazing. 4stars. #seouleats #koreafood #foodporn #love #instagood #beautiful #food #korea #instafood #instatravel #travelgram #goodeats #foodblogger #푸드스타그램 #맛스타그램 #맛있어 #좋아요 #냠냠 #데일리 #맞팔 #데일리 #맛있다 #먹스타그램

A post shared by Daniel Lee Gray (@seouleats) on Jun 28, 2019 at 6:05am PDT

Folks, this is exciting Having a file system and being able to use desktop versions of  a website, changes everything. This is no longer a nice video player or a bridge device. It’s a workable computer that it seems I can work with. Oh, the mini thumb keyboard is also amazing.  I tried using the iPad instead of a desktop about 3 years ago. It didn’t work. I had the top of the line 12.9 iPad Pro with pencil and I couldn’t get any work done on it. I still needed my computer. I got fed up with it so I sold it’s an artist. I then went back to using the desktop top. Now it so sudden I can work without being changed to a desk! HURRAH!  The new iPad makes the iPad seem new and exciting again. Ir also will be able to work along side my back in laprop in extension mode or something.  iOS on set the iPad but maybe in few updates you should do it!

UPDATE: Wait for the next public Beta at least. Really Buggy right now and lags.

The last couple of years I have been working in a more visual medium. Looking back, I used to just point, click and post. Now I have been composing, thinking about aperture and shutter speed and trying to think of the mood I am trying to convey. I delete more these days. I no longer horde. I have gigabytes of content that I say that I will go through at some point. I haven't and I don't think I will.

These days, I love playing with colors and there are so many colors to see and manipulate in Korea. It's a country that never seems to sleep.

I don't fear the night anymore. When I look out, I see a colorful jungle that is inviting - but too inviting. There are so many places you can go to behave in any manner you would like. In Korea, one must have the sense to go to places with the right mindset. I think this is one of the reasons why I find living and traveling overseas is worthwhile. All the temptations of the world are out there. You can stay sheltered to them or just accept they exist and you decide to embrace them or not. It's all about perspective.