Korean Traditional Eat - Tofu Soup 순두부찌게

Soondubu Jjigae (순두부찌게) is a popular Korean spicy soup that is made with tofu, vegetables, chili powder, and a variety of seafood which includes oysters, mussels, clams, and shrimps depending on the restaurant of dining. The last kick of the dish is a raw egg that is cracked and dropped in while the soup is served to you, still boiling. Paired with a bowl of white rice and banchan (side dishes), it is extremely popular to consume during the winter because it is an extremely hot dish, but be sure to not burn your tongue!

Restaurant Review - 하동관 Traditional Korean Eat

One of the oldest restaurants, one hidden treasure, can be found in Myeongdong of Seoul. The big shopping area has more to offer than just beauty goods, it's a great place for food as well which includes one of the oldest restaurants this city has to offer. 하동관 opened back in 1939 and has been in business since. their specialty dish for just $10 is 곰탕 which is thinly sliced beef served over a bowl of rice that is embedded in soup. Top with your own greens garnish, add a bit of salt and pepper and you can enjoy this traditional Korean eat. This popular lunch spot closes at 4:30, caters to all of the local business people and tourists that come to get a sample of their goodies. With unlimited soup, kimchi and radish to enjoy with your food, it is the one recommended place to visit for an authentic and generation going lunch. Service is extremely quick because they only have a few number of dishes on their menu. Because it is a quick service get in and get out kind of restaurant, you must pay before getting your dishes to facilitate the speediness and efficiency of the restaurant. 

Address: Jung-gu, Myeongdong-1-ga 10-4 (서울시 중구 명동1가 10-4)

From 명동역 Myeongdong Station on the blue Line 4, take exit 8 and make a left at the first block. Go straight for about 5-6 blocks and the restaurant will be on your right.
From 을지로입구역 Euljiro Ipgu Station on the green Line 2, take exit 5 and make a right at the second block. Follow the straight path on the left and continue on your left until you see 하동관 on your left with a traditional and black interior.

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 - Fish Cake 오뎅

This Korean traditional eat is usually a street food yum, but some restaurants take it indoor for those who are looking for a more special kick and an upgrade on the dish. Restaurants specialize in making a spicy radish soup base and serve it boiling with sticks of fish cake 오뎅 for your enjoyment. The best part about eating this street food yum indoors is that you're sheltered from the cold and you are able to sit down and enjoy it. 

Such restaurants also have other dishes to add with this meal and for most Koreans, the most important is the option of alcoholic beverages to enjoy with a group of friends. Side dishes and other snacks can be ordered for those who are looking for more of a filling meal, but definitely one of my favorite street food yums and I just can't get enough of. Price differences of course is extreme, considering a stick of fish cake from the streets can cost you a measly 50 cents for the very least, average at a dollar a stick, but in restaurants, look to pay at around $20-30 for a bowl with about 10 sticks. 

Korean Traditional Eat - Pork Bone Soup 감자탕

A Korean traditional eat is the Pork Bone Soup 감자탕 (Gam Ja Tang) which can be served per person or as a whole pot to share. Shared between a group of friends, this is an extremely delicious soup with pork spine that slides right off of the bones and a handful of vegetables and pearl noodles boiled in a broth. The soup is full of flavor and you are given a bowl of rice to fill up on in addition to the noodles. It is one of my absolute favorite soups to have in Korea and it is perfect for a winter day. Although the weather is warm now, it is that good that I will consume it on a summer day or when I am sick!

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Sweet Soup

This peculiar Chinese dessert to some is a soup which is usually consumed after dinner. Served both hot and cold, it is a sweet tooth satisfaction on my boat! With a variety of choices which include the most popular of mung bean, red bean, tapioca, tofu, and a handful of others, it is a must try for all. When visiting Hong Kong, I actually had sweet soup every night. 

This extremely cheap eat can be found almost everywhere in Hong Kong. The best part about it is the convenience of this sweet soup which can be found out in the streets. My absolute street food yum is the tapioca soup which is boiled in coconut milk, usually consumed cold or on the cooler side. My ultimate favorite hot sweet soup is the rice balls filled with sesame or peanut paste. The texture is like mochi balls, but it may be too strong of a taste for some because it is boiled in a ginger soup. Nonetheless, sweet soups are a different kind of dessert, but absolutely tasty!

Korean Traditional Eat - Chicken Ginseng Soup

Korea is known for their ginseng, having the best in the world. Because there is so much nutritious value in ginseng, the cost of it is rather high. For those looking to get a bit of ginseng in their diet and is not familiar with how to cook it, there is a handful of options in Korea for you.

The most popular and famous tourists attraction by Jong-no called Tosokchon (토속촌) is the one place that is a must visit for their ginseng chicken soup (Samgyetang 삼계탕). A baby chicken stuffed with glutinous rice is boiled in a ginseng broth until soft and infused with ginseng. This healthy eat is a bit expensive, $20-30 a bowl, but extremely worth it. With only four soups to choose from, they are all on the recommendation list.

In addition to the ginseng soup, there are shreds of ginseng that is served to be added to the soup. The restaurant also serves up ginseng tea and a shot of ginseng wine for those who dare to take a drink. Wait at the restaurant can be as long as two hours, depending on the time and the number of tour buses in the area. Nonetheless, it is a must visit for all in Korea!

Directions to Tosokchon (토속촌): Take Gyeonbokgong exit 2 and go straight until the second block. Take a left and you will see the wooden front with chicken roasting and perhaps a line.
Address: 85-1 Chebu-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Korean Traditional Eats - 부대찌개

One of the popular dishes in Korea is this spicy pepper soup base of the general term 찌개 that is topped with a variety of different eats. This particular blog focuses on 부대찌개 which is a huge pot of deliciousness.

The selection varies from restaurant to restaurant, but it is usually mixed with a bunch of goodies such as luncheon meat (usually the Korean version of Spam), kimchi, slices of hot dog, a braised pork meat, mushrooms, pearl noodles, tofu, leafy vegetables and others. Most pick a bag of ramen to top the dish off for an extra price, usually a dollar. Many restaurant provide you with one ramen per soup, but you can order more to fill up, especially when sharing between a group of people. It is recommended to share this dish with a minimum of three people, it may be difficult to share between just two people unless you are expecting to leave with a  bloated stomach like I always do!

The best part about this dish is being able to cook your ramen to be the way you like, some like it mushy, some crunchy, and some the in-between. All you have to do is set your fire and cook away. It is one of the must have dishes in Korea. If you are not a fan of the spicy soup base, just add water to your bowl to dilute the taste. I must say though, it is just not the same without the spicy kick. Although I do not eat much spicy foods, it is definitely worth it to consume as served. With time, your taste buds, like mine will change as well. I have learned to love the 찌개 soup base and eat it almost every week now. 

Today's Lunch - Pret A Manager

Today was just another one of those days in the office where I was so caught up in work and meetings, that I had an extremely late lunch. Gratefully, my favorite quick pick up Pret is right downstairs. Today’s pick me up was a large $6 chicken noodle soup, I upgraded from a medium because I am just so hungry. I wish they would give me another piece of bread since I love bread so much, but the difference in size should fill me up.

I absolutely this place because there are always fresh sandwiches prepared. It’s perfect those who are busy like me and just cant afford to have a lunch since it’s always packed and ready to be picked up and paid for. They offer a variety of other foods that are extremely tasty and the lines are never so long that I stay in the store for more than five minutes. Be sure to pay them a visit next time you’re in a rush back to the office, just be careful not to burn your tongue like I just did!