2012 Makgeolli Festival (우리술대축제)

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2012 Makgeolli Festival (우리술대축제)

Posted October 13, 2012 by Aaron

If this year's Makgeolli Fest is even half as good as last year's, it is not to be missed! There were dozens of booths all offering free samples of makgeolli in the hopes that you'll buy. It's like wine tasting, except all in one place and all free. However, the site is mostly Korean (and some of the English bits aren't so great), so I thought I'd translate parts of it and add a bit of explanation based on last year's experience.

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Restaurants/ 레스토랑 추천

Donburi (돈부리)

Donburi (돈부리)

There are lots of things on the menu, mostly okay, but just skip past it all and go straight for the salmon dishes!

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In-N-Out in Seoul!

In-N-Out in Seoul!

When I heard that In-N-Out was coming to Seoul, I wondered if it could really be true. Well, it was, but just for one day. One glorious day!

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麵屋 三代目/멘야 산다이메 (Menya Sandaime)

麵屋 三代目/멘야 산다이메 (Menya Sandaime)

This is my current favorite ramen place, the perfect way to beat the winter cold.

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A Taste of Hawaii

A Taste of Hawaii

Hawaii is often described as a cultural melting pot, and nowhere is this more evident than in the vast array of traditional and fusion food in Honolulu, where Annie and I have spent most of our lives. We visited Honolulu for two weeks in November 2011, and over those weeks, we revisited our old favorites and found some new ones, including a few food trucks. We also made sure to fill up on a things that are expensive or difficult to find in Seoul, yet plentiful in Hawaii (like sushi and pie).

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Recipes/ 레시피

콩나물밥 (Soybean Sprout Rice)

콩나물밥 (Soybean Sprout Rice)

A simple Korean comfort food that you can make in your rice cooker. It's a bit like bibimbap, except that the ingredients are cooked together, so the vegetable and meat flavors actually infuse the rice.

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Vatos Urban Tacos

Vatos Urban Tacos

This just-opened taqueria is my new favorite, featuring incredible tacos at great prices, paired with excellent drinks. Located in Itaewon, it is bit of a trek for us, but it is worth it! As a bonus, for those of you still struggling with ordering in Korean, you can definitely use English here.

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Eating our way through San Francisco

Eating our way through San Francisco

We didn't forget! Here's the promised blog post on our food adventures in San Francisco. Better late than never!

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Time for a little vacation!

We have been posting continuously like clockwork since April! But sadly, there will be no restaurant review today, and indeed, for most of this month we will be on hiatus.

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Seafood Dynamite Casserole

Seafood Dynamite Casserole

We tried something called "Sushi Pizza" at a Japanese fusion restaurant in Hawaii years ago. We really loved this dish and made our own version at home. But over time, I realized that the nori (Japanese seaweed) lining the bottom sometimes made it difficult to serve and eat... and thus the casserole version was born!

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울트라麺 (Ultramen)

울트라麺 (Ultramen)

Wintry winds got you down? A hot bowl of ramen will warm you right up.

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Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna

Sadly, we still can't find reasonably-priced ricotta cheese to make real lasagna, but this Tex-Mex version is just enough to keep the cravings at bay.

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캘리포니아피자키친 강남점 (California Pizza Kitchen)

캘리포니아피자키친 강남점 (California Pizza Kitchen)

Oh CPK, what happened to you? CPK Korea is not nearly as good as CPK in the U.S., but there are still some bright spots. Read on to find out.

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Thai Red Curry with Shrimp

Thai Red Curry with Shrimp

I missed the Thai curries we used to enjoy in the U.S., but in Korea, restaurants charge a lot just because they are made with imported products. So I decided to make my own!

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새마을식당 논현본점 (Saemaeul)

새마을식당 논현본점 (Saemaeul)

This 70s-themed restaurant (Korea's 70s, that is) rocks great food and casual drinking atmosphere.

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닭갈비 (Dakgalbi)

닭갈비 (Dakgalbi)

The bold flavors of curry powder, chili pepper, garlic and soy sauce combine to form a wonderful base for this chicken and sweet potato stew.

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소노야 신논현역점 (Sonoya)

소노야 신논현역점 (Sonoya)

If you're hungry, you've got 5 minutes and 5000원 and it's 5°C outside, I strongly recommend you hit up 소노야 (Sonoya)!

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Molten Chocolate Banana Muffins

Molten Chocolate Banana Muffins

The weather is cooling rapidly, and that means it's baking season again! Ease back into baking with a quick and simple treat.

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버드나무집 서초본점 (Budnamujip)

버드나무집 서초본점 (Budnamujip)

The picture says it all: melt-in-the-mouth kalbi. A wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion with your favorite meat lover!

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Steak Bibimbap

Steak Bibimbap

Bibimbap can be difficult to make, so I created a version that is simpler, yet still healthy-tasting and full of flavor.

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bibigo (강남 삼성타운점)

bibigo (강남 삼성타운점)

For a fast, fresh, and even healthy lunch, try this bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl. While the dish itself may be familiar to many, the bibigo experience is worth a try.

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Yaki Udon

Yaki Udon

This quick, Japanese-y dish is a favorite in our house, and also serves as an excellent fridge-clearing dish. Make it even quicker by cheating a little and use a premade sauce. We won't judge.

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Suji's Restaurant & Bar

Suji's Restaurant & Bar

This weekend, enjoy a classic American brunch at Suji's, complete with bottomless coffee and, if you can handle it, a selection of cheesecakes! (And of course, they also offer lunch and dinner during the week.)

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Announcement: Seoul Survival Guide

Seoul Taste and K4A Press present: The Seoul Survival Guide, authored by Seoul Taste contributor Aaron Namba.

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Photos: Gil-dong Market (길동시장)

Photos: Gil-dong Market (길동시장)

A few days ahead of 추석 (Chuseok), we went to visit my mom's uncle's house. As it turns out, he lives literally right next to a traditional market, which operates daily, offering fruits, vegetables, and even fresh fish and meat.

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감자전 (Potato Jeon)

감자전 (Potato Jeon)

Chuseok (추석), also known as Hangawi (한가위), is Korea's harvest moon festival. It is one of Korea's two major holidays, and it is coming up soon! This year it falls on September 12th. As sort of a pre-celebration, try making some potato jeon this weekend!

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해피소뿡이 (Happy Soppungi)

해피소뿡이 (Happy Soppungi)

These "toast" shops have been popping up lately in the subways. While their product is almost certainly not very good for you, it does make a tasty and filling (occasional) snack when you're in a rush!

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Easy Homemade Bingsu

Easy Homemade Bingsu

When the calendar says fall, but the thermometer says summer, try this simple and cheap treat made at home. So easy it can hardly be called a recipe. All you need is flavored milk and a resealable bag. (And a freezer, of course.)

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김대감봉평메밀촌 교보타워점 (Bongpyeong Memil Chon)

김대감봉평메밀촌 교보타워점 (Bongpyeong Memil Chon)

Naengmyeon, the chewy Korean cold noodle dish, does a great job of beating the summer heat, but by now you may be looking for something new. If you are looking for a similarly cold lunch and like the taste of buckwheat noodles give this makguksu a try!

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김치불고기버거 (Kimchi Bulgogi Burger)

김치불고기버거 (Kimchi Bulgogi Burger)

This is more of a sandwich than a burger (although it is served on a hamburger bun), but as this recipe is actually our attempt to revive a menu item from a now long-gone restaurant in Hawaii, we thought it'd be nice to retain the original name as well. Bulgogi + kimchi may seem odd at first, but it sure tastes great!

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갓덴스시 강남점 (Gatten Sushi)

갓덴스시 강남점 (Gatten Sushi)

Expats in Korea know how hard it can be to find decent sushi. This looks promising: one of Japan's famous conveyor belt sushi chains has opened its first location in Korea.

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김치 순두부찌개 (Soft Tofu Stew with Kimchi)

김치 순두부찌개 (Soft Tofu Stew with Kimchi)

Did you know? 순두부찌개 (sundubu jjigae, soondubu chigae) is a simple and delicious stew you can make at home!

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Taco Rico

Taco Rico

Back when I attended college in Southern California, tasty, cheap Mexican food was everywhere. In Seoul, 10,000km from Mexico, we are not as lucky. When you do find good Mexican fare, the prices take some getting used to! Still, when I need my taco fix, Taco Rico is it!

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Green Tea Muffins

Green Tea Muffins

It's always convenient to have matcha (powdered green tea) on hand, as you can make hot or cold tea in an instant. As it turns out, it also makes for some delicious and colorful muffins!

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The Great Patbingsu Roundup 2011 Part II

The Great Patbingsu Roundup 2011 Part II

Better late than never! The follow-up to the first half of our patbingsu roundup is finally here. (Although it is late for a dozen reasons, I choose to blame Meal Top. Heh.)

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Burger B (Apgujeong) (버거비 압구정점)

Burger B (Apgujeong) (버거비 압구정점)

Great burgers and great beer (pale ales and IPAs!), served in a relaxed atmosphere. Almost feels like home!

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Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi

Hawaii has acquired a (deserved) reputation for consuming an incredible amount of spam per capita, in a variety of forms. Of those, spam musubi is probably the most popular (for good reason!), and we'd like to share this tasty snack with you. We make it from time to time to enjoy a little taste of Hawaii's local food.

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Restaurants/ 레스토랑 추천

교동전선생 (논현점) (Jeon Seonsaeng)

교동전선생 (논현점) (Jeon Seonsaeng)

While the name "Fritter Teacher of Gyodong" is a bit comical when translated, sure enough, this 막걸리 and chain store does seem to make the best jeon in town.

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KBS World Radio Interview

This might be more embarrassing than enjoyable (we were a little nervous), but here is our KBS World interview on Seoul Scene with Matt Kelley!

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김치볶음밥 (Kimchi Fried Rice)

김치볶음밥 (Kimchi Fried Rice)

I recently found out that people go out to eat kimchi fried rice, and I couldn't believe it! This is an easy one to make at home.

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교촌치킨 (Kyochon Chicken)

교촌치킨 (Kyochon Chicken)

Kyochon Chicken is one of the largest fried chicken chains in Korea, with over 1000 locations. They even have a few in the U.S. and China. They're a bit more expensive than the rest, but in this case, you get what you pay for.

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Making sandwiches the hard way

Making sandwiches the hard way

Every now and then we like to make sandwiches. However, we haven't found a sandwich bread we like, so I make my own, with whole wheat flour, oatmeal and flaxseed (a recipe borrowed from a book called 올 아바웃 브레드. I have to start mixing up the dough around 6am in order to have the bread ready in time to have lunch around noon... hence, "the hard way."

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Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are common in American malls, but can be hard to come by in Korea. Making them at home can be challenging, but if you get a friend or two to help it'll be easy. It's worth it!

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Vapiano (강남점) (바피아노)

Vapiano (강남점) (바피아노)

You can get good Italian food, including fresh pasta and the right cheeses, at a reasonable price! As long as you don't mind the dining hall-esque self-service system.

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닭볶음탕 (Spicy Chicken Stew)

닭볶음탕 (Spicy Chicken Stew)

Got some chicken and vegetables? Try this easy to make dish, found more often in Korean homes than in restaurants.

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The Butcher's Cut

The Butcher's Cut

It wasn't love at first bite, but this Gangnam burger joint (with ties to Smokey Saloon) has been getting better and better since it opened last year. Its back-to-basics burger almost satisfies my burger craving. Almost.

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돼지불고기 (Spicy Pork Stir-Fry)

돼지불고기 (Spicy Pork Stir-Fry)

A classic Korean home-cooked meal. Delicious, healthy and simple to make to boot.

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땅 (Tang)

땅 (Tang)

Not your average Vietnamese restaurant! They aren't authentic, but then, they don't claim to be. Call it Vietnamese-Korean fusion.

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Classic Pancakes

Classic Pancakes

Pancakes, hotcakes, flapjacks, griddle cakes... whatever you call them, they are a (North) American breakfast classic, and are surprisingly simple to make at home, without a mix.

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텟펜 강남점 (Teppen)

텟펜 강남점 (Teppen)

Celebrating a special occasion? Or just having a bad week? Live it up at Teppen! The lively Japanese atmosphere and great food are sure to brighten any mood and create happy memories.

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Chocolate Mochi Cake

Chocolate Mochi Cake

Years ago, I had a piece of this chewy, chocolatey cake from a little saimin shop in Hilo, Hawaii and have craved it ever since. I figured it would be years more before I'd find myself back there again, so I tried to make something like it at home. I believe the original uses coconut milk, but my version uses a more basic set of ingredients.

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사보텐 (강남점) (Saboten)

사보텐 (강남점) (Saboten)

Yes, it's a chain, but no, I haven't found anything better, and actually, I'm not sure I need to! Saboten's katsu is excellent, as is just about everything else I've tried there.

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Sorry, patbingsu followup on hold...

Sorry folks, the patbingsu followup article is on hold for a while. Annie has been fighting a cold for almost a week now and tragically, has not been able to smell or taste anything.

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Vietnamese Summer Rolls (with peanut sauce)

Vietnamese Summer Rolls (with peanut sauce)

Not being a big fan of the Korean-style summer rolls at local Vietnamese restaurants, I decided to roll up my sleeves and make my own version. These rolls do not contain any pickled turnip!

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The Great Patbingsu Roundup of 2011

The Great Patbingsu Roundup of 2011

Summer in Korea brings three things: heat, rain, and my personal favorite, 팥빙수! Every cafe and restaurant offers their own version, which varies from year to year, so we've taken up the challenge of trying as many as possible, and presenting a roundup of the best 팥빙수 of the season.

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Quiznos

Quiznos

If you are looking for sub sandwiches, there are many Quiznos locations all around Seoul. Somehow, though, it feels like a waste if I go out to eat and end up at a sandwich shop. But if I'm sitting at home and want delivery? Oh ho, now sandwiches are fair game!

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떡볶이 (Ddeokbokki/Tteokbokki/Topokki)

떡볶이 (Ddeokbokki/Tteokbokki/Topokki)

떡볶이 (ddeokbokki, often translated "spicy rice cakes") comes in many forms in Korea. But when you have some time, this home-made version is the best!

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부일갈비 (Bu-il Kalbi)

부일갈비 (Bu-il Kalbi)

This is a kalbi restaurant, but actually, we have only tried their kalbi once. Rather, we go for the 냉면 (cold noodles)!

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Braised Pork in Soy Sauce

Braised Pork in Soy Sauce

I used to make this dish in Hawaii with choisum instead of green peppers and mungbean sprouts. This dish is hearty slow food with melt-in-the-mouth pork and eggs, with a little kick from the peppers and crunch from the mung bean sprouts, all tied together by the sweet soy-based sauce. I can eat this any time!

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차이란 (삼성점) (Chai-ran)

차이란 (삼성점) (Chai-ran)

When Koreans say "Chinese food" they usually mean 자장면 (noodles with black bean sauce, often spelled 짜장면 these days). And if you are looking for the best 자장면, give 차이란 a try.

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미역국 (Seaweed Soup)

미역국 (Seaweed Soup)

Traditionally known as “Birthday Soup” in Korea, 미역국's blood-cleansing properties is also thought to be beneficial for new mothers. Seaweed soup is a must on birthdays, but it's also a healthy and delicious meal any time of the year.

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Welcome to Seoul Taste!

Okay, so our site has been live for over a month now, but since we are launching our blog today, I thought the first post should still be a welcome. So here we go...

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Restaurants/ 레스토랑 추천

아비꼬 (강남역점) (Abiko)

아비꼬 (강남역점) (Abiko)

Abiko says spicy Japanese curry is their specialty, and after trying it, we agree - it's perfect! Here, we review their newest location in Gangnam.

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김치참치덮밥 (Kimchi and Tuna over Rice)

김치참치덮밥 (Kimchi and Tuna over Rice)

This is a simple one-bowl lunch, and can be prepared quickly, especially if you already have cooked rice on hand. All you need is kimchi and a can of tuna.

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강남교자 (Gangnam Gyoja)

강남교자 (Gangnam Gyoja)

Located in Gangnam, but at the end of a less-than-inviting side street, you won't find this restaurant unless you're looking for it. But this is my "mom-approved" place to get a taste of the famous 명동 칼국수 (Myeong-dong hand-made noodle soup) without braving the crowds (and stressed-out servers).

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찜닭 (Korean Braised Chicken in Spicy Soy Sauce)

찜닭 (Korean Braised Chicken in Spicy Soy Sauce)

While there are many restaurants in Seoul that offer variations on this dish, if you make it at home, you can (1) control the level of spiciness, (2) pick what kind of chicken goes in and (3) control the ratio of noodles to other stuff.

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아키노유키 (논현점) (Aki-no Yuki)

아키노유키 (논현점) (Aki-no Yuki)

That this gem of an izakaya is tiny and hard to find only makes us love it more.

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Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Bananas are great, but once they turn mushy... not so much. You could force yourself to finish them... or, you could make banana bread! (You can, of course, make banana bread with fresh bananas, but it's actually considerably easier with old, mushy ones.)

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타누키 돈부리 (강남CGV점) (Tanuki Donburi)

타누키 돈부리 (강남CGV점) (Tanuki Donburi)

Donburi (like the Korean 덮밥) is a simple meal: just a bowl of rice with toppings. But oh, the toppings! Tanuki Donburi is not only our favorite donburi place, it is one of our favorite restaurants, period.

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Hawaiian-Style Slow-Roasted Pork (Kalua Pig)

Hawaiian-Style Slow-Roasted Pork (Kalua Pig)

In Hawaii, this dish is known as Kalua Pig. Kalua (not to be confused with Kahlua) is a traditional Hawaiian roasting technique, wherein food is buried in underground ovens and cooked for hours by smoldering wood. As the traditional method is not exactly practical here, we've found a different way that still produces tasty results. This dish is great by itself (or with cooked cabbage, the way we usually eat it), but also try mixing in some barbecue sauce to make pulled pork sandwiches and pizzas. Yum!

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백세주마을 (Bek Se Ju Village)

백세주마을 (Bek Se Ju Village)

This restaurant is run by one of Korea's traditional alcohol breweries, 국순당 (Kooksoondang). 백세주 (Bek Se Ju, 100-year wine) is one of their most famous drinks, sold worldwide. Made with 인삼 (ginseng), it could be considered a "healthy" drink.

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무봤나 촌닭 (Mubanna Chondak)

무봤나 촌닭 (Mubanna Chondak)

Although saddened by the disappearance of our local Kyochon Chicken, we were intrigued by the egg-themed chicken restaurant that appeared in its place. The funny name ("Did you see the radish, Country Chicken?") only heightened our interest, until one day, on a whim, we gave it a try. One bite and we knew we'd found a new favorite restaurant. (Sure enough, we've visited many times since then!)

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부대찌개 (Army Stew/G.I. Stew)

부대찌개 (Army Stew/G.I. Stew)

This stew is known as "G.I. Stew" or "Army stew" in Korea as the ingredients in the stew originated in U.S. Army bases during the Korean war. Such ingredients as spam and hot dogs are now well-loved by Koreans. While this stew is kimchi-based, the flavor is enhanced by the variety of additional ingredients. If you like Korean ramen but want to make it into a more complete meal, try this "deluxe version," with many interesting things to nibble on.

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School Food (스쿨푸드)

School Food (스쿨푸드)

A rainy afternoon, a rainy evening... the kind of day you just feel too lazy to cook, and don't want to go out in the rain just to eat something. What to do? Oh right, we live in Seoul! Food is just a phone call away!

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Restaurants/ 레스토랑 추천

678찜 (압구정로데오점) (678-jjim)

678찜 (압구정로데오점) (678-jjim)

갈비찜 (braised beef ribs) is pricey, making "shopping around" an expensive proposition. Fortunately, we scored a half-off coupon for 강호동 (Kang Ho-dong)'s 찜 restaurant, so we decided to check it out.

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Restaurants/ 레스토랑 추천

유랑 (U-Rang [CLOSED])

유랑 (U-Rang [CLOSED])

Not your usual chicken and beer joint! A classy, but relaxed atmosphere, more sophisticated chicken dishes, and fresh draft Asahi that's a cut above any other restaurant.

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Recipes/ 레시피

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ah, great chocolate chip cookies in Seoul... we haven't found any, have you? If you're like us, sometimes you just crave that perfect, just-baked chocolate chip cookie, with crispy edges and a moist, chewy center. (And in the days before lactose intolerance set in, a cold glass of milk was the perfect companion.) Here's how to make them.

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