lee's kitchen

lee's kitchen
神奈川県横浜市中区福富町西通48 (48 Fukutomicho Nishidori Naka-ku Yokohamashi Kanagawa Prefecture)
tel: 045-253-3044

what was consumed: lunch menu! yukgyejang and dolsoht bibimbap

as much as i try, i can't hide my korean-ness (at least that's what i've been told, and contrary to what the korean koreans may say). korean food is also my comfort food. so, in my new town of yokohama, i asked my japanese teacher to take me to the "koreatown" of yokohama and asked to eat korean food while on our "orientation tour" (i later had to talk about this adventure, in japanese, to my colleagues, so language learning wasn't lost through this excursion).

yokohama's koreatown is super small, just a couple of street blocks, if that. we ended up at lee's kitchen where the comforting sounds of korean and the delicious smells of hanshik made me feel right at home. as usual, i ordered yukgyejang and lee's kitchen did not disappoint. they had a small banchan selection as well, though i didn't ask to see if refills were included. in japan, smoking is still allowed in certain restaurants; such is the case with lee's kitchen. admittedly, it took me back to my gradschool years in seoul where smoking inside was still the norm. ahh, the memories.

thank you, lee's kitchen, for making me feel at home!

online: http://leekitchen.jp/

bibap

bibap
1730 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
tel: 202) 849-2054

what was consumed: bibimbap!

from time to time you run into a small mom and pop shop that just hits the spot. that's how i felt with bibap. if you're looking for a quick bit of korean food, be sure to make a visit! and while some of the veggies are canned (e.g. the mushrooms - not my favorite way for things to be served), but the meat that is served is seasoned well and deliciously. i also like that you get a slide of noodles along with miso soup when you visit. YUM.

     

chiko

chiko
423 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
tel: 202) 558-9934

what was consumed: chicken spring roll, cumin lamb stir fry (noodles), wagshal's brisket

short for chinese korean, chiko is a welcome addition to the DC eating scene. located near eastern market on barrack's row, this fast casual restaurant can get super crowded (no reservations!), but it is totally worth the wait.

bjl and i head over for my birthday. while this was a more casual meal for a birthday, i'd been wanting to try out chiko for some time. i'd heard that one of the chefs is also the chef/owner of mandu. definite bonus points, imo. we walked over right church, beating the large crowd that almost immediately followed us (great timing!). we were seated at the "bar" (it is a 4-seat bar that is usually reserved for those doing the tasking menu, which i wished we were doing), and that was great because we got to see the kitchen staff put together all the meals.

some of the dishes (like the wagshal's brisket) really reminded me of some dishes i used to eat as a kid (though, admittedly, what i ate was not as fancy as chiko's version!). but the slab of butter that binds the bowl together was not only delicious, but also brought back so many happy memories of yummy dishes my mom would make in my childhood. YUM.

bjl and i gifted one of the "kitchen counter" meals to c and j for christmas and they totally loved it. note that it's a little bit of everything on the menu, so be sure to have an empty stomach and be ready to gorge on some delicious food! i can't wait to go back.

online: chikodc.com/

chego

chego

727 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

tel: 323) 380-8680

what was consumed: chubby pork belly, kung pao noodle bowl

i might have an unhealthy need to support fellow korean americans: i read their books, watch their movies, and eat their food (among other things). but people like roy choi make it easy.

i remember, years ago, standing in line to enjoy kogi tacos (by the time i got a chance, there were already a few trucks, one of which came as far down south as irvine on), where i was one of the last people to order before they cut people off (the line was that long). so happy to follow roy choi's successes and, this time, enjoy chego.

i'd only heard about chego from social media (thank you, instagram!), so i was excited about the thought of finally making a visit.

chego is located inside a small shopping center in chinatown. after a few hours of waiting in line and then enjoying the artwork at 'the broad,' it was an easy drive over, and a delicious one.

we missed lunch hour, so there wasn't a crowd at chego; that said, there was a slow by steady stream of bowls that were coming out of the kitchen (a good sign, right?). we took a quick look at the menu, put in our order, and waited for our bowls to be prepared. once they were ready, we took our bowls and ate at the picnic tables right outside chego's doors.

whether you order rice or noodles, you will not be disappointed. the combination of asian fusion flavors will make your taste buds so happy. we got a healthy serving of the pork belly in our rice bowl which we quickly gobbled up. and while my eyes are always bigger than my stomach, the bowls were definitely filling and a great lunch option. can't wait to go back to chego!!!

online: http://eatchego.com/

osulloc

osulloc
many locations, such as this one in insadong: 서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 45-1; also at 서울특별시 종로구 관훈동 170
tel: 02-732-6427

what was consumed: green tea! and green tea lattes and green tea ice cream. try the citrus lattes ... YUM.

tea seems to be a part of east asian culture, no matter which culture. in korea, green tea is one of the many popular teas and of the many brands, shops, and options that are available, there was always something about osulloc that called my name.

osulloc offers green tea and a slew of other tea beverages a la coffee shops (i.e., tea-based lattes, served hot and cold). their green tea is probably the most well known, and most enjoyed. they also have a slew of other teas, as well as green tea ice cream and a few other baked goods (like the green tea roll cake! yum). and be sure to also pick up some of their green tea spread, which is DELISH on shortbread cookies.

bjl and i went to osulloc's tea fields during our trip to jeju island. it's quite expansive and we could see how much care goes in to all of the tea production, as well as all of the other green tea products that result from osulloc.

also, as my time in seoul comes to a close, i thought it appropriate to end my seoul posts with memories of osulloc green tea. the creamy lattes, the subtle but fragrants scents of the teas, the delish ice cream ...

and so, in celebration, let's go get some ice cream :D

online: http://www.osulloc.com/

yu:k

yu:k
서울 종로구 종로3길 17 디타워; also at 서울 종로구 청진동 246
tel: 02-2251-8686

what was consumed: the weekday lunch special - grilled beef on rice

as though we needed more eating options, here comes all of the restaurants in the d-tower. of course, i welcome them all with open arms. one of my favorites is han-yook-gam aka yu:k.

i've actually only been here for lunch, but when we decide to lunch at yu:k, it's a bit of an ordeal. it's because they have a delicious beef and rice dish that is a must! but they only prepare 50 servings, so you'd better be in your seat and ordered when their doors open (right at 11:30).

while you wait for your meal, enjoy the salad and kimchi. they're refill the kimchi, but not the salad, so savor it! and share! but don't worry, because here comes the beef and rice!

the beef and rice set menu comes with a variety of things on your tray, including instructions. apparently, you're supposed to enjoy a third of the beef with the salad, a third of the beef on its own/with half the rice, and then the final third of the beef with rice after pouring the beef stock in your bowl (or something like that. i wish i had taken a photo of the instructions!). and while there are instructions, you are free to eat your meal however you'd like! just enjoy. and don't forget to grab the complimentary ice coffee on your way out!

imo, the serving size left me a bit lacking, but that's only because i eat like a giant and could have easily consumed two full meals (yes, maybe i should eat less. or not!). but the quality of the meal makes it ALL worth it!

gwanghwamun jjambbong (광화문짬뽕)

gwanghwamun jjambbong (광화문짬뽕)
서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 르메이에르종로타운; also at 서울특별시 종로구 종로1가 24
tel: 02-2075-7565

what was consumed: jjambbong! and sweet and sour pork

language partner ehy and i head out for a lunch of k-chit-chat, gossip, and some good food ... at gwanghwamun jjambbong! apparently, they opened a new branch and before the lines got too long, we raced over.

we ordered a spicy bowl of noodle soup along with some sweet and spicy pork (my usual combination). the noodles were chewy, the broth rich and spicy (with lots of seafood), and the sweet and sour pork was lightly fried (just the way i like it) despite the syrup-y sauce (which was pretty delish on this day). nom nom nom nom nom!!!

kitchen talk

kitchen talk
서울특별시 종로구 종로1길 50 더케이트윈타워; also at 서울특별시 종로구 중학동 19 더케이트윈타워 지하1층 키친토크
tel: 02-730-5672

what was consumed: korean set lunch!

looking for a quick meal, korean style? head over to k-twin towers and kitchen talk. in a sort of upscale cafeteria setting, you'll get all the fixin's of a usual, but delish, korean lunch - rice, soup, banchan, and a main (i chose spicy pork. of course i did). 

and while kitchen talk is a little pricier than i would have paid otherwise, think of the fee as including a "seat fee." no cafeteria seating for this one! just yummy eats in a nice setting.

online: http://www.facebook.com/kitchen5672

song-chu gah-mah-gol (송추 가마골)

song-chu gah-mah-gol (송추 가마골)
서울특별시 종로구 새문안로5길 31 센터포인트; also at 서울특별시 종로구 도렴동 65
tel: 02-6031-6211

what was consumed: their lunch set menu - korean bbq!

looking for a good place for a group/office lunch? consider 송추 가마골! while they have a pretty extensive korean bbq menu, they also have set menus that are easy to order and, sometimes, on sale! hahaha ... my team and i head over for lunch one day. reservations in hand, we were immediately seated (next to quite a few groups of seasoned individuals who looked like they were "ladies who lunch." what does that make us, then? hahaha), and within a few minutes, our orders were in and we were munching on some side dishes as we awaited our korean bbq. YUM.

my recommendation, of course, is to have members of your party get a variety of items. that way, you can try everything, especially as korean style eating is generally family style. 

yay!

online: http://www.gamagoll.com/

han wa dam (한와담)

han wa dam (한와담)
서울특별시 용산구 독서당로 67 1층; also at 서울특별시 용산구 한남동 261-6 1층
tel: 02-749-1105

what was consumed: meat! and grilled cheese. and fried rice.

were we at han wa dam? or we were at han wa dam black? i don't know. either way, whichever of the two we were at, it was super delicious.

so, we walked in, ready to eat some delicious grilled meat. of course, at han wa dam, we don't grill our own; each table has a dedicated dude (usually dude) who will cook your meal at your table (if i recall correctly, one of the draws for ladies is that the dudes are handsome. hahahaha. i don't know why i remember that). anyway, the quality of the meat is so delicious (but you pay for it. expensive!), so be sure to save up and head over to han wa dam! and take me with you!

be sure to also order the grilled cheese at han wa dam. slices of halloumi cheese (which i love. love the salty cheeses!), grilled at your table, enjoyed when they are still warm:

after the meat and the cheese, we of course had to enjoy the fried rice (i think i was looking forward most to this):

tong young oyster rice (통영 굴밥)

tong young oyster rice (통영 굴밥)
near gwanghwamun station (ugh. i can't find the exact address. it's in one of those buildings, on the basement level)

what was consumed: oyster rice! both "original" and spicy. and oyster pancake. and oyster soup!

the koreans say winter is the time to eat oyster. i say it's always time to eat oysters! and so, we indulged with rice, soup, AND pancakes. a nice way to spend a lunch hour.

tong young does a good job with their flavors, and, perhaps most importantly, all of their dishes are chock full of oysters. i wish i had a better grasp of tong young's location near the office (or that it would appear on naver). in the meantime, i'll have to enjoy through these photos. may the search for tong young commence! and then let me know - i'll meet you there!