#Shiwonhada: Intensely Refreshing Korean Foods ​ ​In summer, the word that you need to know in Korea is Shiwonhada. But, you can’t just say the word, you have to precede it by saying, “Ahhhhh…” Say it with me, “Ahhhh…Shiwonhada.” Shiwonhada in Korea means cool and it is often said after experiencing a great shift in temperature such as experiencing a cool breeze after a run or after working hard all day and for dinner you have an ice-cold soup. Shiwonhada can also be said after having a shot of soju after a stressful day or the first sip of a bubbling hot soup that awakens your senses. Its a word that expresses an emotional sense of refreshment. Korea has many dishes that convey this idea of intense refreshment. Here is a list of 7 of my favorite chilled dishes. Note: I am leaving naengmyeon off this list since I and others have written about it so often. This is a list of more unique and unusual cold Korean dishes. 7. Cucumber Chilled Soup (Oi Naengchae 오이냉채) This chilled cucumb...

Naengmyeon Comic! Hi All,  I was asked about my favorite naengmyeon places for an interview and I thought about it and came up with a list. I figured in a world with too many choices. I should curate my choices a bit so you don't waste calories. At my age, I can't waste any calories. I can only focus on the best. Click on the addresses to go to the Google Map! Pyeongyang Myeonok Seoul 1. Pyeongyang Myeonok (평양면옥) This place is the best for the broth and the noodles are made so fine. It's something that is so balanced that it is ethereal. Its after eating at lots of other naengmyeon places that you realize what the essence of the dish is. It's the light, pickled broth that is crisp like spring water; the floral buckwheat scent of the noodles; the hearty yet clean taste of the beef and egg; the crispness of the slivered pear and cucumber.  Address:  Seoul, Jung-gu, Jangchung-dong-1-ga 26-14  (서울특별시 중구 장충동1가 26-14) Phone:  02-2267-7784 Sub...

Nampo Myeonok for Naengmyeon in Seoul Nampo Myeonok for Naengmyeon in Seoul Nampo Myeonok for Naengmyeon in Seoul Nampo Myeonok for Naengmyeon in Seoul It's hot, so it is best to get some cool, chilled Naengmyeon at the classic Nampo Myeonok Restaurant by City Hall. Pictures by Jihyun Lee Seoul Eats: Nampomyeonok Contrary to popular belief, Korean “naengmyeon” is a wintertime specialty dish that originated in North Korea. I guess the idea of combating cold with cold is similar to people in India drinking blazing hot coffee to fight the heat. Although some still eat naengmyeon-which translates to “cold noodle”- in winter; these days it is more common to eat it in summer cool down from the heat Naengmyeon has become ubiquitous around Korea and the world. The standard seems to be a brown chewy noodle that's dense (and often clumps), a salty beef broth, half an egg (which you are supposed to eat first to prepare your stomach for the cold meal), turnip, ch...

Naengmyeon at Pyeongga Oak (평가옥) So how deep does Korean nationalism go? Since the South Korean Navy Boat, sinking, I haven't had trouble getting at seat at my favorite cold noodle house.  Maybe this is a coincidence, but even on the hottest day of summer during peak lunchtime (12-1:30pm). I'm not worried, it's all about taste and this place has amazing food. The name of the restaurant is Pyeongga Oak (평가옥) which is unpronounceable because of the Chinese characters. North Korean Naengmyeon is different from its saltier, chewier, robustier South Korean counterpart; and on a hot humid summer day it tastes so much better. Mountainous North Korea doesn't have the taste for sweet or spicy. The flavors are more subtle with a bit of sour. The vegetables aren't as fermented so they have a fresher crunch and the noodles give when you bite them instead of stretching like taffy (requiring the help of scissors to cut them. These noodles have give and slurping them are e...

I would like to welcome a new writer to the Seoul Eats Team: Joel Park. He is a food lover that is going to be focusing on finding great Korean Eats in the city. Here is his first story on Pyeongyang Myeonok. Dan There are four restaurants in Seoul that routinely come up when naengmyun aficionados talk about Pyeongyang style mulnaengmyun: Pyeongyang Myeonok, Pildong Myeonok, Eulji Myeonok, and Wooraeok.  Collectively they are known as 평양냉면 4대천왕 , or the Four Heavenly Kings of Pyeongyang Naengmyun.  However, look up reviews online and you'll find they're mostly negative.  Many Koreans are underwhelmed when they try the naengmyun.  But step in one of those restaurants during lunchtime and you'll probably have to wait in line.  So what's the deal? It's all a matter of generational differences.  Younger Seoulites grew up with foods like candy and chocolate. The clean, subtle taste of Pyeongyang naengmyun just can't excite their sugared-out tastebuds.  ...

Hey everyone, I am in the mood for some really good homemade Naengmyeon. If you would like to join me and a couple other readers, please e-mail me at seouleats (at) gmail (dot) com. We will meet at Eujiro 4-ga exit 8. I'll have to reschedule this... Here is a write up on the place. 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 ...

Hamhung Naengmyun - traditional North Korean mulnaengmyun in Yeongdeongpo-gu by Lily www.lunalil.com I am slightly obsessed with naengmyun (냉면) . It's one of my favorite Korean dishes. In fact I've been collecting information and pictures to write a giant post on this topic for over a year and a half. It's becoming more of a Wikipedia article than a blog entry. There are several types of naengmyun , my favorite and one of the more common types is mulnaengmyun (물냉면). Briefly, naengmyun is a cold noodle dish that originated in North Korea. There are two main varieties; bibimnaengmyun (비빔냉면) and mulnaengmyun. Personally I prefer mulnaengmyun over bibimnaengmyun. Most of my coworkers know how much I like naengmyun. A few months ago one of them suggested that go to Hamhung Naengmyeun (함흥냉면) in Yeongdeungpo (영등포). This restaurant is known for its authentic North Korean style of noodles, from the city of Hamhung (함흥시) . It was opened more than than 50 years ago by a former residen...

By Daniel Gray www.seouleats.com There are things that I miss about American Summer. I miss the jangling sound of "Pop Goes the Weasel" that drive little kids to beg, steal, or borrow change and then sprint towards roving truck dispensing frozen confectioneries. I miss huge cups at the 7-11 that I could fill with a mixture of exotic frozen Slurpee blends like Super Sour Watermelon, Arctic Blash, and Blue Woo-Hoo Vanilla. And I miss big hulking salads topped with the summer's plenty. Even though there are no Slurpees, ice cream trucks, or big salads in this country, there are plenty of other ways to chillax (chill and relax). As the Seoul sun has been heating up these days, I've made it my mission to find foods that fight the heat wave. Here are my top ten suggestions. 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...

I haven't uploaded pictures in a while, so I figured I should go ahead and do that. Here are some shots that I've been holding and waiting for the right moment to upload. I'm on day four of the master cleanse(yes, I'm doing it again) so I have been romanticizing about food for the last couple of days. First up, this is a Korean Tuna Sushi place that I went to. The food was pretty and pretty good. Carol insists that Hubble is a cat and a girl, so here is my dog in a sailor dress. I think he's posing Delicious Chocolate from Passion in Hangangjin. Mignon has some tasty salads. Here's a chicken one that I got. Mignon is behind Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, up the hill from 3 Alley. Zaza's Tea Party. Speaking of which she is having another one on Sunday at the Orange Tree. Anyone want to go? I'm cooking. I'm making Curried Egg Salad Sandwiches, a 7? layered bean dip, and some sort of wrap (I haven't decided) Potato roasted in Soy Sauce...yum. Chef Meili...

Ok. So I have to do an article on Nam Po Myun Oak and I decided that I should do a little research on bin-dae-dduck and I came across this very good story on how it's like to make these crispy mung bean pancakes. First of all, I think the name needs to change, because when I think Mung, I think...I don't know, something negative and mushy and not something I'd want to taste. Maybe crispy bean pancakes? I personally like the Indian form of the word, Moong. It has a serene sound to it.The beans are very healthy and full of vitamins and protein. The most common use of these are in bean sprouts and they are full of vitamin C. Anyway, the taste of the beans are very subtle. They are a tad bitter but with a complex green flavor that pair well with the clean naengmyeon broth. I first went to Nam Po Myun Oak back in January and when I had the Naengmyeong, it was legendary. When I first had the cold noodle soup; it was winter, but the soup was strangely warming. Now that it is fin...

Here is a Listing of Popular Korean Dishes with a brief description of what each dish is. The dish also has the dish's name in Hangul as well. Dan 1. 비빔밥 (bibimbap)/ Rice Mixed with Vegetables and Beef Bibimbap is a popular, healthy dish that is served in a large bowl with its ingredients arranged by color. The rice is topped with cooked vegetables such as squash, mushrooms, carrots, fern brake, beef, and fried egg. Everything in the bowl is mixed in thoroughly with red chili paste before eaten. Vegetarian Option Available. 2. 돌솥비빔밥 (dolsot bibimbap)/ Stone Pot Bibimbap This is one of the most delectable variations of bibimbap. Rice topped with vegetables, beef, and egg is served piping hot in a heated earthenware bowl. The bowl continues to cook the ingredients at the table and gives the rice a distinctly crisp texture. Vegetarian Option Available. 3. 산채비빔밥 (sanchae bibimbap)/ Mountain Vegetable Bibimbap This type of bibimbap consists of lots of freshly picked mountain shoots and...