Pork back Hangover Soup  Got a hangover? Well, the best way to cure it is with a bowl full of piping hot soup full of pork-back bones, potatoes, and wild sesame seeds. Trust me. Much better than a plate full of eggs, sausages, and toast. Wondang Gamjatang isn't the best place for this hangover stew, but it's a pretty reliable bet- plus you can find them all around the country. The kicker for this place is the ground wild sesame seed on top of the soup with the fresh green onions. They add a very herby-nutty flair to this dish. The broth is great as well- nice and porky. Rice also does a great job of sopping up any leftover alcohol in your belly as well. (If you are not hungover, it is just as good. I was not actually hungover when I had it.) I have fond memories of this dish for it was my first breakfast when I came to Korea 6 years ago. These restaurants typically stay open 24 hours, so you can get it anytime you'd like. Cheers, Dan Wondang Kamjatang Locati...

Ox Blood Hangover Stew (Haejangguk) Most people drink, and some people drink too much. In South Korea, with the social pressure to drink with coworkers, there is even more cases of drinking (and over drinking). The result? A hangover. For those not familiar with the ailment, the feeling is akin to a hammer is being continually slammed against your head. Others consider it an overwhelming feeling of fatigue and grogginess that you can't seem to shake. However it resonates, it feels neither good nor invigorating. Regardless of the after-effects, most people continue to booze week after week (even day after day), knowing full-well how they will feel come the next morning. Thankfully, there are a few remedies out there. In South Korea, the answer is (해장국) haejangguk, or the infamous "Hangover Soup." I stumbled upon my first batch (in a similar condition described above) one Sunday afternoon. The word haejangguk actually means "to detoxify," and rightly so. With...

Known as Sunji Haejangguk  선지해장국. This soup is made from collagulated ox blood which forms a mushy, filmy-tasting cube. This is stewed with vegetables and served piping hot. As you can tell from my wording- NOT MY FAVORITE. Apparently, the president (Lee Myeong-bak) likes it and we went to one of his favorite places to try the dish. Dan