A Taste of Winter Street Food in South Korea

Street Food 101, South Korea Edition

I am a confessed street food addict. Paralleled with our hunger to explore new places is also our gastronomic adventures to try some of the famous street food of the place. Thus, on our visit to South Korea last November of 2012, allow me to share our take of Korean streetfooding. 

NAMPO-DONG NIGHTIME ALLEYWAYS  

Since we arrived past 9 in the evening at Gimhae International Airport and travel from the airport to Sum Guesthouse at Nampo-dong, Busan took almost 1 hour, we were able to reached the guesthouse at almost past 10:00 in the evening. With the recommendation from Jay, the ever reliable and accommodating manager, our feet brought us to the some of the “pojangmacha” or the late night street cart tent at Nampo-dong. Familiar right? We’ve seen this in some of the Korean Telenovela where yuppies  dine and drink their Soju after office hours.

Since Ahjuhma is not English conversant, we just point to her what we want to order.It's a good thing that ahjumma understand our "turo-turo" order method :) 

Kalguksu

For our first order we tried the steaming hot kalguksu or noodles. Since it was already past 11 pm., and the temperature is freezing at 3 degrees temperature outside, kalguksu is our primer pojangmacha choice.

Kimbap

Kimbap or Gimpap is a famous Korean dish which is made up of steamed white rice stuffed with various vegetable ingredients rolled in dried seaweeds with garnished roasted sesame oil on top and served in bite-size slices. Price would range between 1-2 USD per 4-6 slice. Ahjumma even give us free kimchi as side dish and appetizer. 

Odeng Gook

Odeng Gook is a fish cake on a  stick and broiled in broth. This is a must try during winter season. This is the cheapest street food in Korea. All you need to do is grabbed a stick and start eating it as many as you like and ahjumma will count up the skewers before you leave and ask for your payment after. Each stick cost around .46 cents USD.

We even witnessed one male Korean costumer who after eating his number of Odeng ran away and did not even pay for his order. We pity the nice ahjumma as she cannot run after the bad guy as no one will be left on her store cart.

My friends choice of odeng gook :)

Banana/Strawberry Milk

Until now we are still craving for this kind of milk that we had bought in one of the convenience store in Busan.

INSADONG SSAMZIEGIL

After buying some souvenirs at Insadong Ssamziegil area, we walked down the alley and tried some street foods at Insadong area.

Tteobokki

Tteobokki is the most popular street food in Korea. You can see it anywhere be it in Busan or Seoul as majority of the store cart are selling it. It is a serving of rice cakes and processed seafood in a spicy red sauce.   It is sold between 2-3 USD per serving.

Dakkochi

Dakkochi are simple skewers of grilled chicken and vegetable. It has a unique flame-broiled flavor and you can choose your sauce option for basting be it spicy or not. Average price per stick is almost 2 USD

Hoddeok

Hoddeok or sweet pancake with some peanut butter and cinnamon filling is also one of the favorite winter snack in South Korea. The dough is fried up until the caramel in the center is form and it is best to be eaten while it's still hot.

Over-all we enjoyed our street fooding and snacking experience in South Korea. There are really a lot to try but for a beginner like us above foodies are great choices as primer.

Locks of Love at N Tower - Seoul, South Korea

N Tower is one the many tourist attractions in Seoul. It was opened in the public on October 15, 1980 and has become a major attraction since then. It is placed atop of the Namsam Mountain which offers a great panoramic view of the city and the nearby surroundings.

                     

Since we had just taken our lunch, we decided to use the cable car instead of the stairs. Cost of which is around KRW 8,000 roundtrip est. The N Tower is more  dramatic at night as it changes and  illuminates the colors which highlights the tower in the evening.

(Photo credit from T. Ramos Photography)

     

What makes the N Tower more romantic are the locks of love which was placed at the base of the tower. The locks of love is truly one of the most romantic spot at the tower. You can see couples of all ages professing their eternal love for each other.

Love locks of all shapes and sizes are seen everywhere at the designated areas. 

There are scribbled love messages, photos, dates etc.,

There is even love locks trees placed in the area

My friend goofing around this special bench :)

And another friend posing in between couples at the base :)

Love is truly in the air. See a couple having their private moment at one corner of the tower

Till then and Saranghae N Tower!!! It was such a romantic and lovely afternoon for us!!!

                                                                                                                                                                    

Details:

N Seoul Tower

1-3-2 Yongsan-dong Yongsan-gu Seoul, Korea

Directions:

By Cable Car:

Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), exit 3. Use the road to the right of Pacific Hotel and walk 10 minutes up to Namsam Cable Car Station.  

  

Website: http://www.nseoultower.co.kr/

Romancing Jeju Island on Winter

If you are fond of watching Korean Dramas, you’ve heard of Jeju as one one the famous vacation spot among Koreans. Thus, it is one the filming spot of Boys Over Flower, All-In and Lie to Me to name a few.  Many branded it as the “Hawaii of Asia” thus, many couples not only from Korea but all throughout the world regarded it as one the best honeymoon destination.