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/

soh-gong-dong ddook-bae-gi jip (소공동 뚝배기집)

soh-gong-dong ddook-bae-gi jip (소공동 뚝배기집)
서울특별시 종로구 새문안로3길 30 대우빌딩; also at 서울특별시 종로구 내수동 167
tel: 02-737-1962

what was consumed: spicy pork bbq! served with a slew of side dishes and to be eaten with rice, steamed soy bean sprouts, and a ladle filled with spicy tofu soup.

just a short walk away from the office is 소공동 뚝배기집. they serve spicy pork bbq, family style, along with a slew of side dishes. after you've eaten a round (or two) of side dishes (or maybe that's just me), and when the spicy pork comes out, you put a spoonful of it into your bowl that contains steamed soy bean sprouts and maybe a bit of lettuce. add the rice (i usually add only half) and top it off with a ladle filled with spicy tofu soup (note: this spicy tofu soup should also be enjoyed separately. hahaha). mix it up and devour.

funny, this is also where bjl went to lunch (with mjk, of course) after getting paper-married at jongno ward office. hahaha ...

if 소공동 뚝배기집 is your lunchtime destination, be sure to make a quick beeline out the door because, much like other delicious places around the office, the restaurant fills up quickly. the turnover is pretty fast, but when you're hungry, you're hungry (or if you're me, some major hangry-ness can take over).

and for those of you who are looking for non-spicy options, not to worry! 소공동 뚝배기집 also has bulgogi (a favorite especially for those who are new to korean food) that is also delish.

refresh 5.7

refresh 5.7
서울특별시 종로구 새문안로5길 37; also at 서울특별시 종로구 도렴동 60 도렴빌딩 지하1층 39호tel: 02) 720-5757

what was consumed: salad! i like the hello santorini ... YUM.

there was a time, in seoul, where getting a really good salad was difficult to come by. they've come a long way from their iceburg lettuce or the shredded cabbage with ketchup and mayonnaise (both of which i still enjoy, of course), but sometimes i just want a fancy salad with fancy greens. so, when BLA introduced me to refresh 5.7, i was overjoyed.

the location we visit, near korea's ministry of foreign affairs, is super tiny (only about 10 seats), so we raced over to nab a spot so that we could eat on location. good thing, too, because within a few minutes, there was a line down the hall of folks who were either waiting for a seat to open up or to put in a take-out order. it's also important to note that while they have a take-out option, i'm fully convinced that my salad is bigger when i eat in versus when i eat out. at least it feels bigger.

the posters in refresh 5.7 tell me that their veggies come from CSA-like programs, so they are able to provide a variety of interesting greens to fill your salad bowl. all of the different dressings are made for refresh 5.7 and the ingredients are all swap-able (e.g. i order my hello santorini with chicken instead of shrimp for no other reason that i just want to eat the chicken). they can also make totally veggie options by subbing tofu for whatever other protein may be on the menu.0 each salad also comes with a piece of bread (which i frequently decline. if you do so when you order, they'll usually put a few more greens in your bowl. yes!).

thank you, refresh 5.7, for being in existence. i love you so much ;D

online: https://www.facebook.com/refresh57