jin mee restaurant (진미 식당)

jin mee restaurant (진미 식당)

서울특별시 마포구 마포대로 186-6 선화의원

지번 서울특별시 마포구 공덕동 105-127

tel: 02-3211-4468

what was consumed: soy sauce crabs

one of my favorite korean dishes is blue crab that has been marinated (pickled?) in soy sauce. i love the spicy version as well, but there's little like the salty taste of the sea found in these delicious critters.

jin mee restaurant is located near gong-deok station, off the mapo (i think) police station. they have some online presence (thanks to food bloggers), but not a website of their own. but sometimes these "hole in the wall" places, wrought with photos of the owners on family holidays and autographs from the celebrities that have dined over the years, are worth looking out for.

per person, you will be allotted 1 large-sh crab. the crab has been marinated in soy sauce, topped with a few other things like sesame seeds and chilis. don't worry, though, those who fear the spice. this crab dish is definitely a salty one, not a spicy one. the combination of the salty soy sauce combined with the meaty and sweet (raw) crab meat is just delicious. each crab is pretty decent in size (good thing, too, because each serving you pay for includes just 1 crab) and the large body shell is served separately from the body/legs. the soy sauce has gotten a chance to reach the insides of the crab so that each bite might have a bit of crab and a bit of salt. delish! and don't forget to take the soy sauce that has marinated the crab and pour a bit over your rice so that the delicious flavor might last just a little bit longer.

and, of course, the meal would not be complete without varied side dishes (bon-chon) that accompanies the meal. various kimchees, some dwen-jang soup, and some delicious seaweed varieties. to note is the one that looks like a series of seaweed strings that have been pressed together into sheets. i might have asked for quite a few plates of this - i could have eaten sheets and sheets of this for days upon days. YUM. 

other blogs i've read recommended reservations; good tip! jin mee's tables are reserved for those who called earlier, unless you're friends with the owner (which is always the case, i've found. then there's always a table waiting for you). and so, until i get to that level, i will call ahead and ensure that a table is waiting for me. oh, jin mee. you are not cheap, but definitely worth the visit and the taste. i can't wait to visit you again!