My Treat: Eat All You Can Korean Buffet

January 20, 2016

My Treat: Eat All You Can Korean Buffet

One fact that I want to share to you is this: I do not eat Kimchi. (Shhh...)

I was a bit scared going to Korea, because I am not really a fan of Korean food especially Kimchi. I've tried eating Korean cuisine once with Mivi, Rexy and Kiko, when we went to Tagaytay. Mivi and Kiko love Korean food and they taught me how to eat lettuce with the pork. The food was ok. I mean - ow-ok. :)

So I was scared, I mean I do not know if I could survive eating Korean food in Korea. (I know I am redundant but food is my...phresshious.) I am not sure if it would give me the same reaction when I am hearing Vietnam. (erase erase erase, I do not want to compare.), or the same reaction that will register my face when I am imagining pasta of any kind. (I am hungry now.) Anyway, I brave myself not to bring any cup noodles or baon from Manila not even skyflakes. I told myself that I will try to eat kimchi again in Korea, maybe I would like it better. As they say, love is lovelier the second time around. (#whogoat) Let's see then.

This post is about the food that we ate and cafes that we dined into. Sorry guys because I won't be able to create article for each one of the restos. For one good reason: I do not understand Hangul. We just most of the time go inside the cafe without knowing what to eat and then we will decide from there. Sorry! But everything will be covered here.

Here's the start. We then arrived in South Korea. We survived our travel from Manila airport to Hyewha by eating Rebisco given by Nanay Irene, whom we met at NAIA and became our companion during our medium haul travel. So just imagine how hungry we were.

First Stop:

Our first Toppoki and Odeng

These two are their best known street food. Toppoki is made up of soft rice cake with red chili sauce. On the other hand, Oden or Odeng is a fish cake paired with a soup. Both can be easily found around the streets of Korea and usually sold via cart. They consider odeng as their winter food. If there's one thing you should remember: soup can be requested unlimited. Just do not overdo it. Ok?

Churros

Churros is popular in Korea and I do not know why, even along the streets churros can be found and considered as street food. It became our comfort food when we first experienced snow in N Seoul Tower. Hahahaha!!! I know it's weird...but we are.

And so a lot of our adventures with food happened. One good thing about our travel is we met several people we know, including the family of my friend Andreah who is now residing in Seoul. We learned more about different Korean cuisine and how to drink soju. Below were their treat. The place was somewhere in Hyewah.

First Soju

Seafood Noodles

This really tasted good. The seafood noodles and the seaweed soup.

The seafood noodles is one thing that I am missing now when I came back here in the Philippines. I just could not forget the taste and I know that I will definitely go back in Korea for this seafood noodles. This noodles can be match with soju.

One of my favorite experience in Seoul was when we we're lost because the bus driver did not allow us to get off when it stopped, for the reason that we do not understand. Hmm, we just accepted the thought that when you get off the bus you should not exit the main door it is best to exit at the back door or the bus driver might scold at you - in Korean.

We were lost in transition and we get off at the next stop without knowing where we were. All we knew was it was the next stop after Hyewa. We were just aiming for food.

Have I introduce to you to Rowe?

We met Rowe during our visit to the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace. She was all by herself taking selfies using her dslr so we approached her, offered to take pictures of her and then history happened - we became instant friends. After the visit to the palace and our tour along the alleys of Bukchon Village we get to know each other over dinner... and orange soju.

Rowe, Sheena and Myself

I kindda like this place apart from the rest. Simply because this area in Seoul, wherever this is, depicts life in South Korea especially during winter. I just knew then that time, that after a long day, people from Seoul would love to have a great talk with friends or partne while eating or drinking soju. I love looking at them and I was really happy experiencing the same. I myself could not believe how important soju is in Korean's life because we actually needed it when we were there, during our battle over cold night. WARNING: Don't get too much of soju ok? FYI: The average soju per week is 13. (that's according to the postcard I bought)

Takkalbi

This meal could be either chicken meat or pig's intestine. We chose the latter but was given the chicken meat. (IKR,it is part of traveller's experience.) Anyway, I think either of the two taste good. So it's not at all important. As long as it is not beef then I am fine. It includes green veggies, noodles,

mixed with chili sauce. The meal was good for 3 hungry individuals and it is really best to share.

Unlimited Lettuce

Orange Soju - I like this better

Takkalbi in the making

The result (Yum!)

Culture can best experience through food. In this modern time, one of the best way to experience this during your travel especially if you're just staying for 3 days or overnight is through the market or street food like banchetto. (Hihihi!!!)

In Korea, if you're in Seoul, the popular is in Myeongdong and Insadong but believe me, you can never be hungry in Korea. :)

The banchetto - like in Korea is located along the street of the Cheonggyecheon Stream. See what we saw and notice how this place turned into a complete cultural experience.

So you want a food trip? Have a feast, I've got everything covered for you.

Another Odeng

The many variants of fish cake

We got to try 2 variants here in Insadong.

Cotton Candy

Snails

Churros

Jelly

Our dinner - Grilled Octopus was Sheena's choice.

This tasted really good. :)

And this made me cry. If I am to define the taste, this is my love at first bite. I tell you, when you pass by the Cheonggyecheon Stream, forget everything except this Korean Barbeque. I highly recommend this food stall. Imagine a marinated barbeque with carbonara sauce. That's exactly what it is.

Koreans love to eat. The word diet is not really important to them and yet, they maintain their fit figure. One reason for that is because their meal consist of kimchi every meal. If you want to live in Korea you must love Kimchi. It's true that they are the Kimchi Nation. (If they're kimchi - I am pasta. More carbs!) Hehe!!! We learned that when we went to my friend's place that they even have a stock of kimchi.

In this restaurant also in Hyewa, we realize that we cannot compete with Korean girls when it comes to eating galbi.

Dakgalbi (Extra spicy plus spicy please)

stir fried marinated chicken with vegetables, chili paste and rice.

If you're in search for rice. (Which I know most Filipinos would crave for.) Look for dakgalbi.

Mandu Dumplings

There's this restaurant in Hyewah dong that we enjoyed eating dimsum.
Dimsum in Korea is known as Mandu. It is best paired with Ramyeon. Later on you will see a restaurant that specializes Ramyeon.

Mandu could either be in veggies or kimchi.

Teumsae

Teumsae is known for Ramyeon. Ramyeon is a noodle soup/instant noodle that is sold even outside of Korea. This restaurant is popular and they have a lot of branches too. The most popular branch is the one in Myeongdong. The one that we went to is the branch in Hyehwa just across the street from Bong's . The price is affordable. So when you visit Korea, I hope you find one of their branches. I am sure you'll keep coming back during your entire stay.

The area is filled with colorful post its.

Spam Rice

Ramyeon

Well Made Dessert Cafe

One thing that I learned from my friend, Pat, who went here first in Korea is not to miss their Bingsu. I haven't heard of Bingsu before but the number of Bingsu or Kakigori (Japan) cafes in the Philippines opened around the area of BGC.

Even if it's snowing in Korea, Bingsu should be part of your must eat food in Korea list. Forget the weather as all of the establishments even trains have boilers to keep you warm.