Had the famous beef noodles from Soi Yeonnam. Its a satisfying bowl of noodles like no other in Korea but it is a tad on the sweet side. The beef is incredibly tender and flavorful and I like their somtam, but it could be spicier. #seouleats #korea #yeonnamdong  Seoul, Mapo-gu Yeonnam-dong 229-67  Ph 02-323-5130

Som Tom at Wang Thai in Itaewon Lunch with Friends at Wang Thai I can admit when I am wrong. The first few times I was at Wang Thai, I wasn't that impressed. Maybe it was because I spent one too many days in Thailand and that is never a fair point of comparison. I think the first time I was there, I was upset that they didn't have jasmine rice (the light, fragrant rice is a the perfect vessel for Thai sauces). I haven't been too nice to many of the Thai restaurants in the past and that is something that I am looking to change- especially since I have been finding places that serve great food. A benchmarking dish for me at a Thai restaurant is Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad). This dish should be citrusy with a shot of spice and rounded with a savory pungency from fish sauce. It's a dish I always enjoyed and one I have found memories of while eating in Chang Mai, Thailand. The Som Tam at Wang Thai is all of that plus they give you a side of cabbage and bok choy so ...

Som Tam: Papaya Salad Pad Thai Panang Curry Service! Thai Steamed Egg Here is the story that Chang Mai Charlie wrote before: http://www.seouleats.com/2010/01/yum-thai-best-thai-restaurant-in-seoul.html. Here's Charlie in person: I am trying to do more video on Seoul Eats. I am still learning how to edit, so be patient. You can check my youtube page with more foodie adventures. YUM THAI 02-594-7988 Go out Sinsa Station Exit 1 and walk straight for about 3 minutes. Across from J-Tower. The best Thai restaurant in the city. View Larger Map

So is Wang Thai worth it? Well, let me tell you interesting story about the Thai Restaurant scene in Seoul. 5 years ago the best Thai Restaurant was Thai Orchid, located where Thai Garden is at the end of Itaewon Road (across from the Cheil Building). The restaurant was great because they had a real Thai chef. As the restaurant become more popular the owners wanted to franchise, Thai Orchid. What I heard was that the owners started to fight and they split off. One owner took the name of Thai Orchid and opened up a restaurant across the street. The other owner renovated the restaurant in the same location and renamed the restaurant, Thai Garden. I went to Thai Garden when it reopened and it was...Koreanized Thai Food. This was the same case over at Thai Orchid. I was not impressed. Oh, you are probably wondering why I'm telling you about Thai Garden and Thai Orchid in relation to Wang Thai. The reason why is that the current management of Wang Thai is the same as Thai Garden. They s...

Can a Thai Restaurant in Seoul Make me a decent one?

**You can get a hard copy of this article in this month's issue of Groove Magazine. -Dan** YUM THAI By Charlie Brennan As the owner/chef of a small Thai food business back home I have been disappointed to find Seoul Thai eateries failing to deliver on even a basic level. In truth, I have stopped visiting Thai restaurants in Seoul and will only visit following a specific recommendation. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I urge you to visit YUM THAI near Sinsa Station. Our appetizers cheerfully signalled the start of fine dining experience. Fresh spring rolls were an excellent start; uncooked, the fresh vegetable contents cleared the palate whilst the sweet chilli sauce provided a pleasant foretaste of what was to come. The deep fried spring rolls were plain in flavour but had a crispy texture. The king of the starters was the prawn balls, which took me straight back to the land of smiles. The dishes arrived in perfect order. The Stir Fried Vegetables with Oyster...