Eat the best Korean style dumplings in Seoul at Bukchon Kalguksu

The mandu at Bukchon Kalguksu is the most famous in Seoul.

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The chefs are making the mandu right in the entry way.

    There is always a line out the door at Bukchon Kalguksu where everyone wants to get their chopsticks dug into giant dumplings (mandu in Korean). Bukchon Kalguksu was the only restaurant that my Korean friends and I ate at twice during a two week scholarship program I was part of back in 2009. We simply couldn't stop talking about those dumplings and with such a convenient locations beside Gyeongbukgong Palace we headed back  a second time to pig out in one of their private rooms upstairs.

Don't let the size of the mandu in the picture fool you, its giant.

    Now that I am living in Korea I have had plenty of chances to sample mandu. Even the famous Sikdorak pork mandu street vendors since 1969, that people line up for over an hour on Saturdays in Namdaemoon can't compare to Bukchon's. The restaurant specializes in giant dumplings filled with pork and tons of vegetables. Upon entering the restaurant you can see the mandu being made fresh on a table directly across from the cashier. The giant bucket of pork magically disappears as the cooks quickly stuff giant teaspoons of filling inside of fresh dough.

This soup is perfect on a cold winter day!

    Don't bother ordering anything else on the menu. The dumpling soup costs 9,000 won and is enough to feed two people. One person can finish it alone, I have personally done so, but I couldn't move for about an hour and was in a complete food coma. I truly think the fresh dough and the perfect blend of ingredients is what makes the mandu so delicious. These are Korean style dumplings with thin dough, not the Chinese style with that are thick and more bread-like. In addition to the dumplings, the kimchi is some of the best I have tasted in Seoul. It is truly homemade fresh everyday, which is something to be said because I never eat kimchi.
    Ideally the best time to go to the restaurant is during the week between normal meal times. So at 2pm the lunch crowd should be gone. Otherwise plan on waiting for up to an hour in line. If you do end up waiting it will be worth every second, or you can complain about it on my blog!
    Getting there is really simple, take exit No. 2 out of Anguk Station and walk straight about 6 minutes until you see the palace walls across the street and a pagoda-like structure in the middle of the road (pictured below). Turn right here and you will see Hank's bookstore on your right hand side. Walk straight until you get to the first big intersection. Take a right on this street and you will see the restaurant on your left. For a detailed picture map of the restaurant's location visit the maps page of iTourSeoul. Or Exit Gyeongbukgong and walk straight. If you are looking straight at the palace turn right and you will see the giant pagoda-like structure straight ahead. Then cross the street where you will see Hank's Bookstore ahead and turn left.

If you have any questions or comments about "Seoul Food Girl: Eat the best Korean style dumplings in Seoul at Bukchon Kalguksu" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com
  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

The entrance of the restaurant on a snowy day.

The pagoda-like structure where you should turn down the street.

Mad For Garlic in Korea has a completely garlic menu

The Garlic For You Steak is one of the signature dishes on the menu.

This article can also be read  at www.Koreataste.org and www.goneseoulsearching.com

    I'm simply mad for garlic! Upon moving to Korea I am trying to live a healthier lifestyle by including foods like garlic, green tea, and ginseng in my everyday diet. That's why when a friend told me about Mad For Garlic, we decided to spend our New Years Eve toasting with fine wine and bad breathe! Yes everything on the menu has tons of garlic in it, there is even garlic gelato for dessert. You may be just as surprised as I was to find out that the franchise is a Korean chain that has recently become international with locations in Singapore, Indonesia, and Hawaii to name a few. The Italian Wine Bistro first opened in Seoul in 2001, and now has 11 locations in Korea.

Try the steamed mussels in tomato garlic sauce for an appetizer.

     Plan on spending alot of money at this restaurant. Between my boyfriend and I we managed to spend around 100,000 won, but we also ate enough for four people! This is a great place to spend a romantic date, or celebrate a special event. The atmosphere is extremely romantic, there are dim lights and wine glasses dangling from beautiful wooden beams in the ceiling. The garlic theme is also represented in the decorations such as a garlic wreath, and garlic ornaments on the restaurants Christmas tree in December.

The crab and lobster pasta comes with plenty of seafood.

For an appetizer try out the garlic steamed mussels in the red sauce. There is always a great debate between my friends and I about whether or not red or white is better with this dish. However, at Mad For Garlic the red sauce is clearly the winner. Order some extra bread to dip in the bucket of extra sauce. This dish is humongous and will be enough to share with others unless you are stingy with your seafood!  The garlic tower bread is also a must, and comes literally packed full of garlic which is then smashed down into the tower by the waiter right in front of you.

End with garlic gelato.

   The sweet potato pizza is a huge let down. The only cheese on the entire pizza is about 4 little balls on each slice, and it comes served with a mayonnaise like sauce all over the top. Its pretty much like ordering a thin crust pizza with salad on top. Don't experiment on any other types of pizza, and simply order the Gorgonzola pizza $16.90 which is perfectly cooked with a thin crust and lots of garlic and cheese. If you want a little seafood in the mix try out the crab and lobster pasta. The sauce isn't to die for, but the seafood is definitely fresh and they give you plenty of succulent lobster.
    The steak on the menu is all from Australia, and so the cuts are some of the most expensive items on the menu. The Garlic For You Steak comes served on a sizzling plate with sauteed bell peppers, onions, garlic cloves, and an entire head of garlic on top, stem and all just in case you didn't get enough! The steak was cooked to perfection, and is a reasonable price of $32.90 which is very reasonable for this cut in Korea.
    For dessert ordering the garlic gelato is a must, and don't forget to top off the meal with a nice glass of wine. The house red wine from Chile is a great choice that compliments almost any dish with its light and sweet aromas. There is a little bite to it, but it wears off immediately with a smooth after taste.
    Visit The Mad For Garlic Stores page to see the nearest locations to you. You can also view a menu, but it is not the most updated version. With all of the locations throughout Seoul you are bound to find one close by. Good luck and enjoy your garlic!

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  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Eating live octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market

Bargaining for your live octopus at Noryangjin is half the fun.

You can also read this post at www.goneseoulsearching.com
  
    Eating live octopus in Korea is a delightfully scary and delicious experience. The best place to experience eating raw fish (sannakji hoe), and especially raw live octopus (낙지) is none other than the famous Noryangjin Seafood Market in Seoul.
    Noryangjin is one of Korea's largest fish markets with a raw fish market operating 24 hours a day 365 days a year. After arriving at the Noryangjin market from subway line No. 1, I was overwhelmed by the amount of seafood that this enormous building houses. Just looking at the billions of pounds of sea food got me wondering if there are any fish left in the sea at all (and I am no animal rights activist)!

Huge tanks of clams are among hundreds of types of seafood at Noryangjin.

  Once at Noryangjin you will see hundreds of tanks of fresh octopus. Simply wander up to one of the stalls and ask how much (Eolmayeyo). A medium size octopus about the size of your hand should run you about 10,000 won. If you want to bargain with the fish dealer simply hesitate alot and then say gga gga ju se yo , which means discount. The "gga gga" is pretty much pronounced "ka ka" like poop, with a strong emphasize on the first "ka." The fish dealer will be very impressed that you said this, and will most likely drop their price immediately

A view of Noryangjin seafood market at 1:30 am on a cold Friday morning.

   After purchasing your octopus, head on over to one of the many hidden and often underground restaurants in the market. Sometimes the fish dealer will take you right there which happened in my case. At the restaurant, they will wash and serve up the raw and wiggling octopus with some tangy sauces and lettuce for a cheap price.

If you have any questions or comments about "Eating live octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Enjoy pastry perfection and a weekend brunch at Amandier in Anguk-dong

Freshly made pastries and desserts are Amandier's specialty, and hudreds of macaroons are made daily.

 This article can also be read at www.goneseoulsearching.com.

The pastry shop/restaurant has a lavish interior to suit its upscale menu.

    Nestled between historical Insadong, grand Gyeongbokgung palace, and cozy Samcheongdong lies a little slice of European heaven called Amandier. According to Ten Magazine, Ruben Jan Adrian is a Dutchborn 29 year old pastry chef. With experience working in locations such as Paris, Singapore, and Brussels, Adrian had plenty of experience before opening Amandier just three short months ago.
     Just looking through Amandier's upscale storefront will make your eyes grow wide. There are hundreds of colorful macaroons, decadent chocolates, and pastries so beautiful that you will truly be afraid to touch them. Of course there are fresh bakery items offered each day, and Monday-Friday you can order a lunch sandwich with a free coffee.

The eggs benedict: poached eggs, fresh ham, and sinful Hollandaise sauce.

    Although the restaurant is limited to salads and sandwiches during the week, there is a small and affordable weekend brunch menu offered on Sat-Sun from 10am - 4pm. Don't miss out on this menu! There are only four items and they're all made with perfection: the belguim waffle with maple syrup and butter, a waffle with cafe Americano, waffle with ice cream and cafe Americano, and eggs benedict. The eggs benedict has perfectly poached eggs and a sinful Hollandaise sauce. The spinach added as a layer in between, is a much needed healthy and fresh addition to the buttery concoction. And don't worry, you can get this perfect dish for only 8,000 won!

Chef and owner Ruben Jan Adrian working hard in the kitchen on a Sunday.

    The coffees and teas at Amandier are a little pricey at an average of 5,000 per cup. I recommend skipping the caffeine, and putting that money towards an extra pastry item such as the fresh raspberry macaroon, or a freshly baked carrot multi-grain muffin.

Directions: 

Walk across the street from Insadong Station Exit 6. If your looking at Gyeongbokgung Palace simply make a right on the main street and the restaurant will be a two minute walk.

If you have any questions or comments about "Enjoy pastry perfection and a weekend brunch at Amandier in Anguk-dong "  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Seven Springs features green dining at its best

 

The salad bar is buffet style in includes hot food items.

This article can also be read at www.goneseoulsearching.com

A bowl of chicken porridge accompanied by a sweet potato.

   Seven Springs has a deliciously health conscious menu and everything in the restaurant is homemade. With vegetables delivered every morning, the salad bar has the freshest ingredients you will find in Seoul. Just picture long and lean pieces of asparagus that snap and have a perfect crunch with each bite. Seven Springs has a menu for ordering, but I suggest paying the standard salad bar fee which is just like a buffet. The price is only 16,700 for the lunch salad bar (buffet) and 22,700 for the dinner salad bar. The word salad bar is misleading, because with the one fee you will get access to not only the enormous salad bar, but hot food dishes, appetizers, dessert, and drinks.
    Yes I know what your thinking, buffets are disgusting. But buffets in Korea are usually fantastic, and Seven Springs is one of the top tier buffet style restaurants around. The salad bar options are always changing from afternoon to night. But here are a few of your options around lunch time.

I couldn't resist loading a little bit of everything on my salad!

    Start with an enormous salad; grab one of the individual wooden salad bowls and load up on more fresh veggies than you can possible imagine. There is also fresh lox available, nuts, capers, chicken, shrimp and several types of dressings. The possibilities are almost so overwhelming I suggest making a few different small salads so that you don't overload one salad and have a mismatched smorgasbord.

    The salad bar is hard to get over, but make your way to the hot food sections. The sweet potatoes are perfectly cooked and are topped with a light cheese on top that is irresistible. Get two, because you will want more. Also try out the grilled vegetables. The pumpkin I had was a little tough, but the eggplant and zuchhini were perfectly seasoned and grilled in extra virgin olive oil.

The sea food pasta came with fresh mussels and tomatoes.

     There is also a wide range of sea food and meat dishes. You can choose from standard chicken fingers, which are the most unhealthy item offered in the restaurant, to giant bowls of steamed mussels. The mussels are delicious, but be prepared for an Asian peppery taste, rather than a Italian garlic taste. Also try out the different soups and porridge's. The chicken porridge goes along great with a side of olives and kidney beans.

The green tea cookies are a crunchy treat.

    The dessert can be a little disappointing depending on what items you choose. Stay away from  all the cakes (except the cheese cake), because Korea simply doesn't know how to make real icing or cake batter. The green tea cookies on the other hand are a nice crunchy snack and go along great with a parfait. The plain yogurt clearly tastes homemade with its smooth and sweet qualities. There are also individual bowls for ice cream, pecan pies, brownie pieces, and small carrot cake pieces.
 

Make a fresh yogurt parfait or add granola to your ice cream

    A definite must is trying out the honey lemon tea. This is not standard dry tea that comes in a tea bag or with a filter. This tea is thick and has whole pieces of lemons floating in the bottom of the pitcher. There are seven locations in Seoul. One of the largest and most beautiful is the location in Jongno. Simply exit number 1 from Jongno 3 Sam-ga and walk straight. At the end of Topgol park, (Pogoda will be across the street) turn left at the cross walk. Cross the street again so that you are outside of Giordano clothing store and turn left. Seven Springs will be only 20 seconds away on your right.

    Seven Springs looks surprisingly deceiving from the outside. You will only see a small entrance with a green awning and brick. But once you enter you will go down a beautiful brick corridor which will lead you to an expansive open and friendly atmosphere.

Don't be deceived by the small storefront.

    If you have any questions or comments about "Seven Springs features green dining at its best"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Binge at Burger N Shake, the closest thing to a Korean In-N-Out

Burger N Shake is all about their fresh ingredients and exotic burger menu.

This article can also be read at www.goneseoulsearching.com

    There's nothing more appealing than seeing a tiny little Korea girl chow down on a  good old fashioned cheeseburger and shake. If your in the mood to just flat out eat something greasy and terrible for your body, head on over to Burger N Shake located in Sinchon.  Down the street from Megabox, this is a great restaurant to stop at before or after heading to the movies. This restaurant boasts its slogan of 100% beef premium homemade burgers, which are definitely a step up from McDonald's and Burger King. 
    I was not planning on eating at Burger N Shake, rather I stumbled upon its storefront while looking for fattening food to cure a rough Saturday at work. The interior will draw your attention from the street with its giant pictures of fresh burgers and the catchy name blown up in bright red and orange colors.

The mushroom burger comes dripping in tangy BBQ sauce.

    The menu at Burger N Shake is clearly all about the burgers. You may choose from a classic cheeseburger to a  New York steak burger, a bulgogi burger, a whole shrimp burger, a Mexican chili burger, and many more. I ordered up the mushroom steak burger which came piled high with giant oyster mushrooms and dripping in delicious BBQ sauce. My burger was sloppy and wet just like a messy burger should be.

The cheesy fries aren't anything special to celebrate about.

    The french fries look amazing on the pictures, but I'd suggest passing on these. They are not very crispy, and the cheesy fries come with cheap nacho cheese and Parmesan that Italians wouldn't dream of eating. The milkshake was also mediocre as it was more like a vanilla slushy snow-cone. Clearly there was no real ice cream used in the shake and it was much to icy and healthy for my taste buds. Try the mango or kiwi shakes which are much nicer than the traditional milk shakes.
    Overall stick with the burgers at Burger N Shake and you will be deeply satisfied. The quality really is that good, and you can tell that the meat is fresh and pure beef. The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions are stuffed in the middle of a perfectly crisp hamburger bun, which is hard to come by in Korea.
   The prices are pretty reasonable for a nicer burger restaurant. You can order a combo meal which includes a cheese burger and fries from 5,000 to 9,000 depending on the burger type. The New York Steak burger is the most expensive and comes in at an assumed 5,900 for just the burger. The milkshakes are 3,000 won and basic french fries are 2,500. The portions are generous and you will have a bulging stomach by the time you walk out the door.
   Burger N Shake truly reminds me of the family owned chain In-N-Out which is un-arguably  the best fast food burger place located in California, Arizona, and Nevada. The ingredients are fresh, and that's what really counts. Learn more about Burger N Shake at their website www.delishburger.com.

If you have any questions or comments about "Binging at Burner N Shake, the closest thing to a Korean In-N-Out"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Korea's kiwi fixation

Korea has just about any kiwi you can imagine including sweet red kiwi.

This article can also be read at www.goneseoulsearching.com 

   The first time I came to Korea over a year ago I was staying with a Korean host family. Every night after returning home from adventuring around Seoul, my host Mom would set out a huge plate of fruit for her daughter and I. Most of the time there were delicious little slices of golden kiwi, which I had tried for the first time at her home. Never had I tasted such sweet and succulent kiwi in my entire life.
    Now back in Seoul, I found myself craving golden kiwi. Luckily almost every where you go shopping there are tons of kiwis. From the regular green kiwi's that I am familiar with, to the golden kiwi's and even red kiwis. The green kiwis are the cheapest to buy. You can get a huge pack of about 12 of them for around 5,000 won at E-mart or your local grocery store.
    The most expensive kiwi's are the golden ones. They are imported from New Zealand and cost around 1,500 won per kiwi! Although they are the most expensive, the sweet taste is worth every penny. So once in a while I splurge and treat myself to these little golden gems. Often times the box will come with a special treat attached such as a kiwi spoon to help you peal the skin off.
    In the middle price range at 3,200 won for are the beautiful red kiwis. They are very similar in taste to the golden kiwis, because they have a sweeter taste than green kiwis. The middle of each kiwi has a pretty red interior surrounded by a gold color. They are not as sweet as golden kiwis, but are just as delicious.

If you have any questions or comments about "Korea's kiwi fixation"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com
  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.