i love korean food! and if you like spicy, piping hot stuff like me, you'd have a rolling good time in seoul. so, here's recommending some of my favorite dishes:
one. kamza-tang (pork-ribs soup)
pork-ribs with veggies in a spicy soup, served with rice. depending on shops, ramen might not be included and has to be ordered separately and my recommendation is to go for it cuz korean ramen is especially springy! S, M, L- these are sizes of the stew you can order this in and usally S can feed approx two pax. also, most kamza-tang stores are 24hrs, so its a typical hangout for koreans who eat this with soju!
two. budeh-jigeh (sausage stew)
this is my all-time favorite: sausages + ham + tokk (korean ricecakes) + little pork bits with ramen in hot, spicy stew! also usually served in a pot, meant for at least two pax but I can finish one by myself :D this dish can be found in most traditional korean eateries, and is very economical (usually about approx $12 for a pot).
three. kimchi-jigeh (kimchi stew)
if you like kimchi much, you'd like this! served with pork slices and rice, this is one of the most common and popular korean stews, found almost anywhere, everywhere. a small bowl for one pax costs only about $4-$6, and is really filling. its good for quick meals, as this can be found in famous korean 24-hr chain eateries.
four. leng-mion (cold noodles)
known to be slippery and cool, leng-mion is cold noodles served with hard-boiled eggs and sliced cucumbers, a summer favorite among locals. it can be eaten plain (yummy enough), with chilli (which is REALLY spicy), or with barbecued meat, and a bowl is approx $6.
five. sujaebi (flat noodles)
really, this is korea's version of bee hoon kuey! the noodles are similar in shape, the soup similar in taste, except sujaebi is simply served as it is (without the usual mushrooms or pork bits we have), and you'd have to order side dishes to go with it. there is a very famous store in samcheongdong and apparently, there are always queues so go early!
six. samgyeopsal (BBQ pork)
i am literally drooling now (I LOVE 五花肉!) of course you can barbecue all sorts of meat, but i love this 3-layered pork the most!!!! BBQ meals (with soju) is most typical of all korean gatherings, and it's not unusual to see people gathered at BBQ houses till 2, 3am. there's a buffet-style BBQ place near sindang station for only $12 per pax!
seven. bibimbap (mixed rice)
depending on what you pick, different ingredients could be mixed with the usual veggies, beansprouts, raw eggs, seaweed, rice into one colorful and delicious concoction! the portions are usually very large, and i can never seem to finish one alone, but this will serve well for the hungry ones.
eight. samgyetang (ginseng chicken)
most tourists find themselves recommended this, a whole chicken boiled with ginseng in a light, almost tasteless broth, only to be disappointed by its lack of taste. but the specialty lies in the tender meat which must be flavored with a lil' salt, and the soft rice wrapped within the chicken. it gets better with each mouthful, i promise!
nine. solong-tang (beef broth)
beef slices in a clear soup, usually served with rice. it's sweet, light on the palate, and can be easily found in most traditional korean eateries.
ten. talgabi (stir-fried chicken)
a famous dish of chuncheon (a neighbouring city, a few kilometres away from seoul), but this can be found in seoul too. sliced chicken is stir-fried with a special spicy sauce in a huge frying pan, and eaten with makoli, a famous rice wine in korea.
