Restaurant Review - Ippudo

Ippudo is a famous Japanese ramen chain all across the world and there is a few in Seoul. Being that ramen is a popular Korean eat because everyone loves it, young and old, finding the perfect ramen paired with amazing pork was a must. Being that I have not been able to sample the one in New York, getting it in Korea is a must.

The one amazing appetizer that is a must order is the pork bun. Although Japanese food is not known for their pork buns, it has become a staple with all ramen restaurants to have pork buns. This is a definite necessity in all restaurants in general! A thick slice of pork meat is served with lettuce and a mayonnaise sauce folded in a steamed plain bun. The pork meat is marinated to perfection with a saucy drizzle and tender meat that it just slides off with a bite. 

Ippudo stands up to their name for ramen because it offers something that is basic, but tasty. The only problem is some ramen dishes can be too tasty (not in a good way). The soup can be a bit too salty for those who are not used to the blast of flavor, but for the most part, the ramen and pork is on point. The ramen menu is extremely basic and priced at $9, but additional meats and vegetables can be added to provide a more appealing bowl of ramen. For the most part, ramen should always be basic and simple so all the additions are just not needed unless you have the stomach for it!

Address in Sinsa Dong: 강남구 신사동 645번지
Phone: 02-512-2644

Traditional Korean Eat - Cold Noodles 육쌈냉면

Nangmyeon is a popular traditional Korean eat, especially in the summer time because it is served in a bowl of ice. Although it sounds to be peculiar, it is probably the most refreshing meal that you can have. The best part about nangmyeon is many restaurants serve it in addition to their signature dishes. 

육쌈냉면 is one Korean chain restaurants that is favored among locals for this traditional Korean eat. Because the store focuses on the traditional eat of cold noodles, there is a very basic menu to order from. Most order either the regular or spicy nangmyeon. Each order is served with a marinated BBQ pork without the need to order (unless of course you want a bigger portion). This extremely cheap eat will only set you back $5. SAY WHAAAAT? Five bucks for noodles with BBQ meat? Yes. Because it such a cheap eat, there is almost always a line. Service is usually rather quick since there is a basic menu and customers expect a certain quality of food. 

Korean Traditional Eat - Kalguksu Noodle Soup 갈국수

Kalguksu is a traditional Korean eat that is usually enjoyed as a seasonal dish. There are many different takes on this traditional eat. It basically consists of wheat floor noodles that are made in a chicken broth usually. Additional ingredients of cucumbers and a handful of other vegetables are added in and the soup is topped with a meat of your choice. The popular consists of seafood, beef, and chicken. 

Depending on how are you consuming this dish, it can be served as a single serving per person or it can also be served with a bowl of soup over an open fire shared between a table. Ingredients are then added as you consume, to your liking. This is rather important for those who are eating beef because leaving the beef in for too long can result in an overcooked and extra chewy slice of meat. Many people strain away from this by cooking their beef slices as they eat. If consuming beef, it is recommended to go with the beef base broth which provides a better enhancement to your taste buds than the common chicken broth. 

Traditional Korean Eat - Jjajangmyeon 짜장면 (Blackbean Noodles)

This traditional eat, Jjajangmyeon 짜장면, takes it's roots from the Chinese noodle. Usually cooked up with a blackbean sauce, the dish is an all time favorite for many Koreans. Consumed alone as a noodle topped with pork, onions, and a variety of other vegetables (depending on the restaurant), it can also be decked out to be a fancy meal. One of my ultimate favorite concept is with sweet and sour deep fried pork, 탕수육. This meal is usually a cheap eat, my combination lunch which I could not finish was less than $5! Depending on the location and restaurant you buy from, you are definitely getting a bargain for your meal

Korean Traditional Eat - Naengmyeon

Naengmyeon, the Korean cold noodle, is the perfect lunch and even dinner option for a hot summer day. Although it is popular in the summer time, it is available in restaurants all year 'round. The dish varies from place to place on the type of noodle used (some thin white, some brown flat noodle). The concept is the same: soup noodles served in an ice bowl. 

It may be a bit peculiar to have cold noodles, but it definitely worth it to have this cheap eat that averages at the price of $5. It helps to fill up your stomach and keep yourself cool. Can't go wrong with that!

Street Food Yum - Seafood Stir Fry Noodles

One of the cheap eats for just $3 is this seafood stir fry noodles found in Dong Dae Mun that is made of thin rice noodles, bean sprouts, onions, cabbage, other vegetables, and squid mixed with soy sauce, topped with a mayonnaise-like sauce. Made fresh on the stand, this street food yum helps to satisfy the stomach of shoppers.

Although this mix is more of a vegetable dish rather than a seafood dish, it is still worth it for the cheap price of $3. This same stand also serves enormous sausages on a stick and BBQ chicken, freshly grilled.

Restaurant Review - Pho Mein

Pho Mein is a Vietnamese pho noodle chain in Korea that helps to temporarily satisfy my pho cravings in Korea. Pho Mein is a chain, the service is extremely quick and the restaurant is on the higher end of the market. Although there is such good service and the dishes are relatively close to traditional pho noodles, there is still a Korean touch to their foods.

Like any other Korean restaurant, they serve pickled radish along with their dishes. In addition to this, their "summer rolls" consists of the Korean rice noodle, imitation crab meat, pickled radish, cucumber, carrot, lettuce, and the traditional Vietnamese beef. Dipped in a peanut sauce, the summer roll stands on its own for a Korean-Vietnamese restaurant.

Most importantly, Pho Mein carries all of the must haves for the pho noodle which includes the Sriracha and hoisin sauce which I had to drown my noodles in. It felt great to finally have a bowl of pho noodles and although it is noting like those back at home, it'll have to do for someone who does not have all the materials to make her own pho noodle in Korea.