Opulent Korean Food at Ondal Written by Seouleats In the past, Royal Court Cuisine was a mystery for most in Korean society for only the royalty and nobility could enjoy it. The descriptions of colorful, artistic foods made with exotic and opulent ingredients would capture the imaginations of the working class. The main principles behind the cuisine is that it should be a harmonious balance of color, textures, and of ingredients from the land, sea, and mountains. Traditionally, the king would sit in a room as servants would bring tables set with food for him to dine by himself. The food would be brought out all at once and the king would be able to see all the products of his kingdom before him. By tasting pollack from Inje, the tofu from Paju, or apples from Daegu; he would be able see how his people fared. These days Royal Court Cuisine is typically reserved for special meetings and guests. In the top restaurants in Korea, families might meet to discuss the marriage of their children...

Neobiani at Ondal Restaurant Neobiani at Ondal Restaurant Opulent Korean Food at Ondal Written by Seouleats In the past, Royal Court Cuisine was a mystery for most in Korean society for only the royalty and nobility could enjoy it. The descriptions of colorful, artistic foods made with exotic and opulent ingredients would capture the imaginations of the working class. The main principles behind the cuisine is that it should be a harmonious balance of color, textures, and of ingredients from the land, sea, and mountains. Traditionally, the king would sit in a room as servants would bring tables set with food for him to dine by himself. The food would be brought out all at once and the king would be able to see all the products of his kingdom before him. By tasting pollack from Inje, the tofu from Paju, or apples from Daegu; he would be able see how his people fared. These days Royal Court Cuisine is typically reserved for special meetings and guests. In the top restaurants ...

Buddha, Jesus, and a Peacock at Om Restaurant Beautiful Interior at Om Restaurant I was recently invited to Om Restaurant by the owner of the restaurant K.P. Situoula. Apparently, he had been a fan of my blog and wanted to introduce this restaurant to me. He told me that he felt it had excellent Indian food in Seoul for good value. I am a huge fan of Indian Food, so I was happy to accept his invitation (and the challenge) so I headed there with a friend for dinner. His ornate restaurant is in the posh Samcheongdong area and it is right next to Jubilee Chocolatier and one of my favorite dessert places J's Cake . It is on the second floor and once you enter, you'll instantly be blown away by the interior. The lush, red color and the decorations make you feel like you are in a Harem. I know that in many of these places, I warn that the food often is secondary to the decoration, but I was here so I had to try the food. It is quite impressive though. I sat down...

Pulled Pork Tacos at La Taco in Samcheongdong  La Taco in Samcheongdong Lauren McPhate's last review of La Taco wasn't very exemplary. Here's a quote from the review: "My taco was very tasty, although I don’t think I would call it a taco.  It was a veggie wrap.  There were onions, lettuce, veggies, cheese and sour cream wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.  Very nice, but not quite a taco." The restaurant owner, Maureen, was a tad upset and I went to talk with her to see what she was doing at the restaurant. She said that she didn't think the review was quite fair since she had many other items on the menu that she felt were much better. When I went she presented me with a brand new Mexi-Korean concept. You could get moist pulled pork stewed in Korean red chili paste or spicy chicken barbecue with sides of fresh pickles, green chives, sour cream, and tortillas. It was a fusion of Korean tastes, table manners, with Mexican flair. I was intrigued.  ...

Hanjeongshik Damah (한정식 담아), Traditional Korean Food in Hongdae by Karika Huszar I think the main difference between American restaurant-dining versus doing the same in Korea is that here, going out to eat feels like I'm taking a short bus-ride over to my G-Ma's in Queens, NY. Which is why Michael Kenny and his wife's restaurant is fittingly named "Hanjeongshik Damah (한정식 담아, or literally, "Put Traditional Full Course Korean Food). "About two years ago, my mother-in-law sent me a container of pork galbi, which, when I started eating, I couldn't stop. I thought it was so good. From there, the idea for our own place emerged and here we are today," Michael says. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the variety of western choices in Hongdae--you've got your Dos Tacos, Nolita Cafe, Donkatsu restaurants galore---and even in the Korean sector I had trouble deciding among the Ssam restaurants that permeate every alley. Located behind the Seo...

Behind the Hamilton Hotel and next to Three Alley.   These two guys are the brothers that run the restaurant. Lentil Soup with Bacon. Oh, my god, delicious, This meatball dish was awesome as well. The meat had body and was perfectly cooked without getting dry. The potatoes were oven roasted and the sauce gave just the right amount of tang. I guess this is the Bulgarian version of Mom's Meatloaf. The Chicken dish was a bit charred so it tasted too smokey and not in a good way. The cheese on top didn't add much. On the other hand, the bread was hearty and crusty- just the way I like it.   The salads are super cute and with nice chunks of feta. It's all about the yogurt. It's homemade and it's luscious. Topped with honey and walnuts, it blows Red Mango out of the water.   Say hi to the chef. Zelen 02 749-0600 English is spoken. Prices range from 8,000 to 25,000 Lunch Specials: 18,000