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.

Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama, Japan

Minao Mirai dubbed as the “Harbour of the Future” is a large urban area in the central Yokohama. It is blessed with great location therefore a lot of attractions can be found here. Myriads of Yokohama’s tourist attraction, hotels, shopping, museum and theme park are well placed in this area. No wonder it is one of the most sought after district in Yokohama.

On our recent trip in Yokohama last February, my mom and my uncle booked our accommodation in two of the luxurious hotels situated in Minato Mirai 21. To ensure that we have the most comfortable and memorable stay in Yokohama and spoiled as we are we are lucky to experienced the luxurious feel of Pan Pacific and Intercontinetal Hotel.     

Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

We were initially booked at Pan Pacific Hotel. I’ve noticed that hotel lobby in Japan is simple and has a  minimalist design and not as grandiose as the hotels I’ve seen in Macau and in Manila. Well, this is just based on my own observation only J

and this is the lobby of Pan Pacific Hotel I am referring

and this is the room booked for us 

and the spectacular view of the Minato Mirai and Cosmo World from our room veranda

Pan Pacific is a one minute walk from Minato Mirai station and  connected to  a mall near the station. What I simply love about this hotel is the balcony overlooking the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel illuminates at night and changes its colors and effects every 15 minutes.

Cosmo World

Cosmo World is an amusement theme park in the center of Minato Mirai. Unlike any other theme parks in Japan entrance to the Park is free of charge. You pay only per ride or the attraction of your choice. Distinct of this themepark is the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, the underwater Roller Coaster and other rides and gaming attractions for the whole family.

Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel

The hotel has a unique blend of architecture with a unique boat-shaped like outside structure is also situated within the central district of Minato Mirai. 

our room here is a lot bigger as compared to Pan Pacific  

and here's Intercon's perspective view of Minato Mirai

Since we have overload tour schedule at Mt. Fuji, Yeti Resort and Tokyo Disneyland, we have only limited stay at both hotels and were not able explore some of the hotel's luxurious amenities and more so with the hotels nearby attractions such as the Landmark Tower, Red Brickwall, Nissin Museum etc. :( We hope on our next visit we will have a relax more itinerary and get a chance to explore the area.

Over-all we truly have the most pampered and comfortable stay at Minato Mirai 21. Our heartfelt thanks again to our generous sponsors. Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu   

Date of Visit: February 2013