If you ask me what my favorite dish is, my answer will always be Korean!
After a long day of work, I always go to my favorite restaurant Korean Village or eat Ghalbi and Samgyeopsal at Mak Chang. Ask me about the best Korean restaurants in town, I'll probably give you a list or two.
When I was invited to joan the #LadiesSpecial Tour arranged by Korea Tourism Organization, Cebu Pacific and JG Summit Holdings, I got excited to see Korea again in a different light and dine in restaurants as approved by the KTO! Seriously, the best person to guide you to the best restaurants in town would be people living there! Thanks Alice, our Tour Guide, for arranging everything!
I'm sure some of you have plans to visit Seoul anytime soon! So please check out my short list of "Where to Dine in Seoul"! Enjoy!
I'm sure some of you have plans to visit Seoul anytime soon! So please check out my short list of "Where to Dine in Seoul"! Enjoy!
Palsaek Samgyeopsal
Address: 1-65 Dongsung-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul (서울시 종로구 동숭동 1-65번지)
Tel: +82-2-766-8006
Hours: 11:00-23:00
This restaurant serves pork belly meat in eight different special sauces. A perfect way to try out various flavors in ONE order.
Flavors: Ginseng, Wine, Pine Leaves, Garlic, Herb, Curry, Miso Paste and Hot
I personally liked Garlic and Curry but after several tasting, I can't seem to know the difference but enjoyed eating them all!
The set costs around 43,000KRW (approx $43.00) a set but this is definitely worth it because you get side dishes, wraps, and a lot of sauces and condiments.
Our guide also ordered a soup dish were ample amount of seafood and vegetables were dunked inside. As the soup lessen, they create a "fried rice" for you which means, they cook the plain rice on the remaining soup which was extremely flavorful!
I personally enjoyed dining there, it was a bit crowded especially during dinner time when we had our first Korean meal on Day 1 but the servers were very attentive and helpful! I will definitely recommend this place to whoever's going to Seoul!
Andong Jjimdak
Myeong-dong
Address: 2ga, 2-2 Myeongdong, South Korea
Tel: +82-2-310-9174
When we were told we are going to a Korean Chicken Place, I originally thought of something similar to BonChon. It was a lovely surprise when we arrived at the restaurant during lunch time because as I looked onto the table of other customers, there's no similarity of the dishes between Andong Jjimdak and BonChon. Yes guys, there are different types of Korean Chicken dish and this one is close to our Filipino Dish --- ADOBO! But, the similarity ends on how the 2 dishes look alike because flavors were very different to each other!
If you like meat, noodles, potatoes and vegetables in ONE dish and you are the type of person who loves sharing your food, this is a great place to bond! The big platter is meant for sharing and I can't imagine dining here without a cup of rice! (or 2!)
The place is very cozy, you see wooden everything! (From tables, chairs and even the color theme of the restaurant is "wood". The place gets crowded so it is better to come early!
Let's talk about the dish! This is a platter of seasoned and simmered chicken. The dish is very Chinese (in my opinion) as my mom adding different variety of ingredients in a usual dish!
This dish is soy-based (that's why it is very Adobo-Like), yet it is sweet and spicy and extremely flavorful!
Just when you thought vegetables, potatoes and chicken is enough to fill your tummy, this dish comes with chewy glass noodles that brought me Pluto then back to Earth!
For a price of around 30,000-35,000KRW, you can order Chicken, Boneless Chicken or Chicken + Seafood! Definitely worth the visit too!
LeeGa Chon Restaurant (IGa Chon)
Address: 19-3, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동10길 19-3 3F)
Tel: +82-2-754-0223
Hours: 11:00-23:00
Okay, I know I said must-visit or must-try to all the restaurants I posted here but Leega Chon is definitely my TOP among all the great restaurants I've experienced! Why do I say so? Let's just say, I was extremely full and almost skipped dinner with the rest of the girls but upon putting the Ghalbi inside my mouth, I forgot my hunger and ate the most during the trip!
The restaurant is a family-run business with extremely friendly staffs! Doesn't hurt that the young man serving is good-looking and speaks good amount of English!
The restaurant looks like regular Korean restaurant you see even in the Philippines. Once seated, you get served with appetizers and fresh vegetables to go with your Ghalbi.
Ghalbi is marinated and grilled beef ribs. You can choose with the unflavored ones and marinated ones! Our guide enjoyed the grilled ones while most of us enjoyed the marinated version.
Cooked in an oak tree charcoal, the meat is very flavorful and has a unique taste to it!
This may not be mentioned as their specialty but YOU HAVE TO ORDER this Seafood Pancake when you dine in this restaurant! I ate almost half of this plate and forgot about my seafood allergies because it is THAT DELICIOUS!
This tofu bean soup is also a must-try! Spicy yet extremely flavorful and rich in taste!
Cold noodle soup is something unique too! Perfect for mouths-on-fire!
Overall, the restaurant can be packed especially dinner time but the table was set really well you don't feel crowded! You don't have this "smoke" smell too as they have good exhaust system per table.
Dooki Tteokbokki
Address: 20, Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu | 9F, Hyundai City Outlet, Seoul 04563, South Korea
Tel: +82-2-2283-2906
When the guide told us we are dining in a Ttokbokki Buffet, I got a bit nervous! What is there to eat-all-you-can for rice cakes? Won't I ended up leaving the restaurant looking like Garfield? How spicy could it get? Won't I get sick eating just rice cakes inside a restaurant?
All negative thoughts disappeared upon reaching the restaurant for lunch on our last day in Seoul.
"Dooki" means two meals. You get to enjoy a hotpot meal then end with Kimchi Fried Rice. Confused? Let me explain.
You get the liberty to choose ANY type of rice cakes you want and they are even shaped differently. And leave your rice cakes nightmare behind as the restaurant also offers vegetables such as corn, beansprouts, cabbage, fish cakes, fish balls, sausages, eggs and a whole lot more!
Oooohh, glad they included my favorite fish cakes on sticks!
Some crunchy vegetables and seafood just in case your taste buds is aiming for a different texture.
That's not all, you also get different types of noodles! They even offer Instant Noodle packs just in case you wanted something close to home!
Now, here's the very exciting part, you grab a metal bowl and add in everything you want to include in your hotpot from the buffet table.
Also pick "sauce" of choice, our table opted for something not too spicy because we wanted to taste the dish, not burn our tongues!
Our simple choice on metal bowl!
You may ask the server to help you because we had our guide from KTO to whip up this soup base! It tastes extremely yummy when done by experts! Level 1 spiciness with loads of noodles, fish cakes, corn, vegetables! Everything tastes wonderful!
Part of the buffet is 2 servings of "Cheese Rings". Mozzarella Cheese that hardened pretty quickly so you have to enjoy it fast!
Truth be told, I find it a bit stressful for someone who knew nothing about this dish to whip something as yummy and flavorful as those on K-Dramas. But if you are game for the challenge, visit Dooki Tteokbokki because it is really fun and a great way to enjoy talks in between hot soup and fresh ingredients!
Address:
Tel: +82-2-332-0540
Priced around less than 20,000KRW (Less than $20.00). You get to experience Buffet dining Korean style! This restaurant offers wide variety of Meat dishes, Noodles, Salad, Pancakes, Chicken dishes and even dessert (Make your own Bingsu anyone?)
The restaurant offers both traditional and modern Korean dishes and this is a great way to end our last night in Seoul --- stuff our faces with more Korean food!
Located at the top floor of a building where there are department stores and supermarket downstairs, this is like a regular food court back home!
The place is packed but tables and chairs were all strategically placed so you won't end up bumping one another!
Create your own Bento Box dishes.
They have instructions in Korean but you can just do anything you want or follow the photo!
Freshly cooked meat dishes.
Noodles
Meat balls
Chicken with white cream sauce!
More K-style chicken
Soy Chicken
Noodle soup
This is really unique and yummy!
Sweet and Sour Mushrooms .
And as simple as flavored French Fries!
Overeall, the you may skip the Buffet restaurant but if you want to taste a bit of everything this is a great way to jumpstart your Korean Food Tour!
This is my last article on my most recent Korea Ladies' Special Tour! I really had so much fun and I seriously can't wait to go back and visit with my family!
Have you visited Seoul? Have you tried any of the restaurant featured here?
Heading for Korea Soon? Visit http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto
For flights from Manila to Seoul, Korea, check out affordable rates from https://www.cebupacificair.com
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
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