Heritage of the past is never far from a bowl of rice (or noodles) - Seoul Edition

M.Fam Photography

Sep 5, 20233 min read

Welcome to the 1st of this 2-part K-Food series #HeritageOfThePastIsNeverFarFromABowlOfRice! 🥗 Warning: this blog features cooked & raw meat.

# PRELUDE

"Mai, we're heading to Seoul in August, join us!". That was how we embarked on a K-foodie holiday.

Featuring: Mai🇻🇳, Justine🇳🇿, Dasom🇰🇷, Irina🇳🇿 & Guest appearance: Seoul-based Mariana🇺🇸

Let's start with a Dasom-Production's Preview: https://youtu.be/9TODMUKDPC4?si=mVyHgfWQh5dFdvWO

# AN EXPRESS K-FOOD ADVENTURE IN SEOUL

🥬 Kimchi

Without kimchi, no K-food review would be complete, even for an express one! Kimchi is a stable element of the Korean cuisine. You will quickly spot these bright chilly-red chunks of fermented cabbage in many meals we had.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, no kimchi tastes the same. We came across heavily fermented kimchi that brought tears to my eyes 🥹, super crunchy freshly made kimchi, and other kimchi with slight variations in texture and taste.

🥤Cafe Culture

You know you're in South Korea when almost everyone around you have an iced Americano with them (even in winter ⛄).

The so called "national beloved" drink Ah-Ah (the 'ah' sound when saying "iced" and "Americano") - this refreshing but slightly toned down palate is an addictive solution to the Korean craving for the earthy rich taste of acidic bitter sweet coffee, against a growing caffeine sensitivity in the population.

A versatile drink like iced Americano can go with anything, including cream-filled donuts 🤤

Three glasses of drinks (brown iced americano, green melon matcha latte, pink watermelon) and 2 donuts with a croissant on a plate

Café Knotted (Notideu) Songnidan Gil 서울 송파구 백제고분로45길 3 2층, https://naver.me/5R8kg9qd Donut (Earl Grey, Corn Flavour) | Croissant (Kaya Flavour)

🇰🇷🏙️ Heritage of the past is never far from a bowl of rice (or noodles) 😉

Great food comes in all shape and style - from traditional, often simple looking restaurant, to modern fusion of dishes once made for royalty.

Oryun Myeongdong Noodle Soup 서울 송파구 오금로11길 61-22 유강빌딩, https://naver.me/5ewmNI3n Northern Mandu 만두 (Dumpling) | Kongguksu 콩국수 (Cold Soy milk noodles) | Kalguksu 칼국수 (Knife-cut noodles)

Jokbal Shop (Ground floor - not on Naver) 서울 중구 퇴계로20길 15, https://naver.me/xn6xjhiV (approximate address) Jokbal 족발 (Braised Trotters) | Bibimguksu 비빔국수 (Spicy mixed cold noodles)

Hott Pott (Heart Part Lotte World Mall) 서울 송파구 올림픽로 300 롯데월드몰 6층, https://naver.me/x95pPvuk Truffle Salchisal 살치살 (Chuck flap steak) | Tteokgalbi 떡갈비 (Minced short ribs) | Hot Chicken

BBQ (Ground floor - not on Naver) 서울 송파구 오금로11길 10, https://naver.me/F8bxVHqR (approximate address) Beef tartare | Pork & Beef cuts (plain & LA marinated style)

Dookki Tteokbokki NC Garden Five 서울 송파구 충민로 66 NC백화점 송파점 패션관 7층, https://naver.me/GQN0zcNd Tteokbokki 떡볶이 (Chewy rice flour based dish)

Tongin Market 서울 종로구 자하문로15길 18, https://naver.me/Fm2Kc4oO Raw Mullet | Gimbap 김밥 (Seaweed rice roll) | Various savoury fried bites | Sikhye 식혜 (Sweet rice drink)

Home-cooked Feast by Dasom's Parents Jeonbok 전복 (Abalone) - raw/ grilled | Meongge-hoe 멍게회 (Raw Sea Pineapple) | Bulgogi 불고기 (Stir-fried marinated beef slices) | Haemul-pajeon 해물파전 (Seafood Scallion Pancake) | Deodeok-gui 더덕구이 (Grilled bonnet bellflower root) | Deodeok muchim 더덕무침 (Spicy seasoned deodeok) | Chui namul 취나물 (Sauteed aster scaber vegetable) | Deodeok-ju (더덕주) (Deodeok-infused liquor)

# FROM BUSTLING URBAN SEOUL

The best remedy after a long haul flight is a visit to the local sauna house 😌 백제불한증막 인삼사우나, 서울 송파구 백제고분로 293 백제24시찜질방인삼사우나, https://naver.me/xT7DjgW8