Hanmiok Cheongdam • 한미옥 청담동

One of the Korean dish that went viral on social media last year was Hanmiok’s Chadol Gujeolpan (차돌구절판) because of its unique presentation that undoubtedly makes a good content for travelers who were visiting Seoul. And so last spring, I went to Hanmiok Cheongdam (한미옥 청담동) with @munchandsnap.jkt to try it out.

We arrived at the restaurant at 4:30 pm to avoid the dinner rush, but apparently there were 7 other groups who have the same idea as us so we still had to wait in line for our table. We put our name and phone number on the machine for the waiting list and waited around for an hour before we finally got seated at our table.

When the server came, we ordered the medium Chadol Gujeolpan (차돌구절판 中) for us to share. Now what exactly is a Chadol Gujeolpan? Gujeolpan (구절판) itself is the traditional Korean Platter of Nine Delicacies that is plated in nine divided sections in an octagon shape or the plate itself. Hanmiok’s version of this is served with Korean beef brisket (the chadolbaegi) on a black pan.

10 minutes after we placed our order, the server came back with our food and started setting up to cook the Chadol Gujeolpan. The first two ingredients were the Korean beef brisket or the chadolbaegi (차돌백이) and water parsley (미나리) that were already placed on the pan. They cooked these first before adding more ingredients to the pan.

The next six ingredients were (see photo below in clockwise direction) kimchi (김치), bean sprouts (콩나물), bracken (고사리), scallops (관자), octopus (문어), and buckwheat pancakes (메밀전병) in the middle.

After the beef brisket and water parsley were cooked, they used the oil from the beef to cook the scallops, octopus and buckwheat pancakes before adding the kimchi, bracken, and bean sprouts in.

And lastly, after all of that were cooked and neatly placed in a circle, the server pour egg (계란) from a golden aluminum teapot into the middle part of the pan to complete the ninth ingredient of the dish. The egg is then cooked with a blowtorch until it’s done with a silky smooth finish.

Chadol Gujeolpan (차돌구절판 中) ₩59,000 | 9/10

Chadolbaegi (차돌백이), Water Parsley (미나리), Kimchi (김치), Bean Sprouts (콩나물), Bracken (고사리), Scallops (관자), Octopus (문어), Buckwheat Pancakes (메밀전병), Egg (계란).

I have to say I love this kind of food. The ingredients themselves are not fancy, but each components are well-seasoned and the flavor of everything works together. For me, the best way to eat this dish is to mix up the ingredients in every bite because each combinations gave me a different flavor profile. So mix two, three, or four things in a bite. Or if your mouth could fit everything, the whole 9 things in a spoon (although that might be a bit too much honestly). But one thing that I would recommend is to at least mix one meat with one veggies and the egg. You’ll get that nice juicy bite where the meat is balanced out by the acid from the veggies and everything kind of just bursts in your mouth. So satisfying.

The portion of the medium Chadol Gujeolpan (차돌구절판 中) is more than enough for two people. Although I did order a bowl of rice just because I wanted to have the dish with rice and me and my friend were fully stuffed at the end of the meal.

Service was okay at this place. The servers weren’t the friendliest, but they weren’t rude either. The food came out pretty quickly though. But overall, the meal was really satisfying and I really like it.

If you want to come to this place, be prepared for the possibility of waiting for your table. It helps if you have a Korean phone number since you can input them into the machine and you can walk around the area while waiting (they’ll call/message you when you’re table is ready). But if you don’t have a Korean phone number, you’ll have to wait around the store at least when your turn is near.

Will I come back again to this place? I already did actually. Went back in the fall with a different group of friends, although my second visit was to their Yeouido location and the food was as good as this location.

 

Hanmiok Cheongdam • 한미옥 청담동

Address: 서울 강남구 선릉로 822 지하 1층
Telephone: 02-545-4622
Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00-22:00 (Break Time: 14:30-17:00) | Saturday & Sunday 12:00-22:00 (Break Time: 15:00-17:00)

Instagram: @hanmiok0616

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Mibbedong Yeonnam • 미쁘동 연남

Early last year when kaisendon went viral among travelers who visited Japan, I tried something similar in Seoul at a place called Mibbedong (미쁘동) in Yeonnam-dong (연남동) that sells Japanese food that’s mainly focusing on donburi, soba and sashimi. Their signature menus include their famous Uni & Salmon Roe Mibbedong, Cold Tomato Salmon Soba, Kani Miso, Cold Salmon Soba, and Red-Banded Lobster Sashimi. This small restaurant has limited seating and usually has a (quite long) line during lunch and dinner rush since it’s pretty popular among locals as well as tourists due to the fact that a number of Korean celebrities went to this place.

Because of that reason, the day I went to visit them I purposefully arrived past lunch hour at the restaurant at 2:30 pm to avoid the queue. But despite of the odd hours, I still had to wait for a table in front of their store. While waiting, the staff gave me the menu to choose from before telling me to order and pay at the counter. I did and after I paid, they told me to wait in the small waiting area inside the restaurant.

Since I ordered their signature Uni & Salmon Roe Mibbedong and Kani Miso, they gave me these two cards on how to eat the dishes. The Mibbedong card is in English, so it’s very foreigner-friendly.

The Kani Miso card was in Korean so if you don’t read Korean, you have to google translate it to know what it says. But it roughly translates to:

대게 딱지장 맛있게 즐기는 방법
How to Enjoy Kani Miso Snow Crab Innards

가나미소 대게 딱지장은 다 익힌 채로 화로 휘에 올라가기에 바로 드셔도 됩니다. 너무 익히면 딱딱해지거나, 딱지가 타버리니 조심하세요!
You can eat the Kani Miso Snow Crab Innards right away because it’s already cooked on the grill. Be careful not to overcook it because it could harden or get burnt.

토핑은 섞어드시기 보다는 각각의 토핑과 함께 내장을 떠 드시는 것을 추천드립니다.
We recommend to eat the innards with each toppings rather than mixing it all together.

추가 주문하신 대게 딱지장 공기밥은 부족하시면 언제든 더 제공해드립니다.
If you don’t have enough rice for the Kani Miso Snow Crab Innards, we will provide more rice at any time.

그럼 즐거운 식사되세요.
Enjoy your meal.

KanI miso snow crab innards (가니미소대게딱지장) ₩25,000 | 8.5/10

대게내장과 대게살을 전통방식으로 숙성시킨 장입니다.
Crab Innards Topped with Crab Meat, Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe and Egg Yolk.

The snow crab innards has deep rich flavors. The toppings are all fresh and goes well with the Kani Miso. I ate each of the toppings separately with the Kani Miso per the card’s recommendation and each spoonful gave a different flavor combination which made eating this dish pretty fun for me. Overall, I really enjoyed the Kani Miso and would definitely order this again if I come back.

Uni & Salmon Roe Mibbedong (제이타쿠동) ₩23,000 | 7/10

참치,우니,연어알,연어,딱새우등 9가지 재료들을 아끼지않고 사용해 만든 해산물 덮밥입니다.
Mibbedong Signature Mixed Rice Bowl with Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Squid, Red-Banded Lobster, Tuna, Capesante, Salmon Roe, Flatfish, Crab Meat, and Uni.  

Their signature Mibbedong is actually a bowl of rice topped with different kind of sashimi stacked in a mountain-like shaped, which is similar (if not the same) concept as kaisen don. It’s served with soy sauce, seaweed, pickled onions and circular pate-like shaped side dish that I wasn’t exactly sure what. I poured the soy sauce into the bowl and mixed them before taking my first spoonful. Tastewise, it was alright for me. It’s not bad but I think I still prefer the texture of sliced sashimi to chopped ones. I think personally, I’m just not too into mushy food in general.

When I’m almost done with my bowl, I left some of the mixed rice and sashimi to try eating it with the miso-based ochazuke. The soup is well seasoned and there’s a bit of a kick in the flavor. Having the rice with the soup definitely created a deeper flavor and it’s very comforting. 

Overall, I think the food was good. For me personally, out of the two dishes I ordered, I enjoyed the Kani Miso more. Is it worth waiting in line more than an hour for? Probably no. Under an hour? If you’re not too hungry to wait, I think yes. I also think the price still make senses with the quality of food that I got. Will I come back to this place again? Yes, but I would probably try their other menus such as their Cold Tomato Salmon Soba since that is also one of their popular menu and the presentation looks interesting. If not, their Kani Miso is good enough for me to put this place on my let’s-go-there-again-next-time list.

 

Mibbedong Yeonnam • 미쁘동 연남

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로38길 33-21 2층
Telephone: 0507-1350-1881
Hours: Everyday 11:00-22:00 | Last Order: 21:30

Instagram: @mibbedong_official

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My Blood Type Is Coffee • 마이블러드타입이즈커피

Asking for your blood type is a fairly common thing that happens in Korea for someone to get to know you because it’s closely associated with your personality. But have you ever associated your blood type with coffee? A cafe in Yeonnam-dong (연남동) does exactly that with their coffee. My Blood Type Is Coffee (마이블러드타입이즈커피) offers a range of coffee blend that are inspired by the blood type personalities. On top of selling coffee they also also sell a variety of cute stationery that are designed in-house following the theme of their cafe’s name. 

What’s unique about this place is that you can customize your own coffee blend from the available bean options that they have in store. After you’ve picked your beans, they’ll brew a cup for you and give the rest of the beans in a tin can for you to take home. You can also request to grind your own beans at the cafe with the machine available at the coffee bar (reservation might be required).

Menu

Type A 룽고 (Rungo) ₩5,500
그윽하고 여운이 오래가는 젠틀한커피.
A gentle coffee that lasts for a long time.
예멘 모카 하라즈 자디 피베리 내추럴
Yemen Mokha Haraaz Jadi Peaberry Natural.

Type B 리또 (Ritto) ₩6,000
꽃과 과일 맛이 나는 귀엽고 매력적인 커피.
Cute and charming coffee with flower and fruit flavors
에티오피아 아바야 게이샤 G1 내추럴.
Ethiopia Abaya Geisha G1 Natural.

Type O 머핀 (Muffin) ₩5,500
다양한 개성이 느껴지는 천방지축한 커피.
A generous cup of coffee with a variety of personalities.
멕시코 핀카 라스 치차라스 마라고지페 워시드.
Mexico Finca Las Chicharras Washed.

Type AB 망키 (Monkey) ₩6,500
호기심을 불러 일으키는 시나몬롤 맛 커피.
Cinnamon roll-flavored coffee that arouses curiosity.
코스타리카 코르디예라 데 푸에고 아나에어로빅.
Costa Rica Cordillera de Fuego Anaerobic.

Type C 코히 (Kohi) ₩5,000
아메리카노에 지쳤다면 균형있는 블렌드 커피.
If you're tired of americano, it's a balanced blend coffee.
브라질 + 예멘 + 에티오피이
Brazil + Yemen + Ethiopia

Type S 스트로베리 캔디 (Strawberry Candy) ₩6,500
딸기쥬스 드실래요? 딸기 향 가득한 블렌드 커피.
Would you like some strawberry juice? Blend coffee full of strawberry flavors.
콜룸비아 + 에티오피아
Columbia + Ethiopia

Type D 드리밍 (Dreaming) ₩5,500
디카페인같지 않은 디카페인 커피.
Decaffeinated coffee that doesn’t look like decaffeinated coffee.
콜룸비아 후일라 디카페인 슈프레모 슈가 게인.
Colombia Huila Decaffeinated Supremo Sugar Gain

딸기 에이드 (Strawberry Ade) ₩6,000
청량하고 가벼운 맛의 귀여운 에이드. 
Cute strawberry ade with a refreshing and light taste.

누구가 만들 수 있는 My Blender (Custom Blend 80g) ₩12,500
4종류의 원두 중 3가지 원두를 내 맘대로 섞어 나만의 블렌드 커피를 만들 수 있습니다.
You can make your own blend coffee by mixing three of the four types of beans (Type A, Type B, Type AB, Type O).
20g 현장 시음 (20g for On-Site Tasting) + 60g 틴케이스 포장 (Tin Case Packaging) = 80g total

Strawberry Ade (딸기 에이드) ₩6,000 | 8/10

Since I don’t drink coffee, I ordered their Strawberry Ade. Just like the description on their menu, it’s light and refreshing. I actually quite like it because it’s not too sour.

 

My Blood Type Is Coffee • 마이블러드타입이즈커피

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로52길 20-4 1층 101호
Telephone: 010-6447-0717
Hours: Tues - Fri 12:00-19:00

Instagram: @mybloodtypeiscoffee.official

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Eun & Jeong Myeongdong Dak Galbi • 은앤정명동닭갈비

I went to Eun & Jeong Myeongdong Dak Galbi (은앤정명동닭갈비) because a friend of mine who’s staying around Myeong-dong are was craving Dak Galbi (닭갈비). Did some quick research on Naver before finally decided to come here and try the place since I never been before.

The restaurant is located on the second floor and I almost missed the entrance when looking for it honestly. But the easiest way is to look for their red and blue chicken logo on the signage above the entrance and walk up the stairs leading up to the restaurant. The place is pretty spacious with a good number of tables available and they provide tourist-friendly menu books with simple translations so you can easily order even if you can’t speak Korean. Just like any other Dak Galbi restaurant in Korea, the Dak Galbi menu requires a minimum order of 2 servings and this rule also applies to other dishes that they serve in the big pan (see the menu pictures below for details).

Cheese Dak Galbi (치즈 닭갈비) ₩26,000 (2 portion) | 7.5/10

We ordered the Cheese Dak Galbi and it was okay. The chicken was juicy and tender. The sauce was good. The portion was definitely sufficient for two people (we were stuffed by the end of the meal) but we did add ramyeon to our Dak Galbi. They also have the fried rice option which we ordered at the end of the meal and it was alright.

If you are looking for a Dak Galbi restaurant around Myeong-dong and want to try something other than Yoogane, I think this place is worth trying. They serve a solid Dak Galbi and foreigner friendly if you’re visiting Seoul.

 

Eun & Jeong Myeongdong Dak Galbi • 은앤정명동닭갈비

Address: 서울 중구 명동7길 19 2층
Telephone: 0507-1444-1988
Hours: Everyday 11:00-22:00

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Dang Ok • 당옥

Dang Ok (당옥) is a small Japanese dessert cafe tucked in one of the alleyways of Garosugil (가로수길). They sell a variety of dessert selection ranging from cakes, mochi, tarts, ice cream, bingsu as well as a couple of savory sandos (Japanese style sandwiches). The cafe has about 12 indoor seatings and a communal table in front of the store that could fit about 6 people.

Matcha Bingsu (말차빙수) ₩19,000 | 8/10

Milk Shaved Ice, Matcha Powder, Korean Red Beans, Mascarpone Kiri Cheese, Matcha Condensed Milk.
우유빙수, 말차 가루, 국내산 팥, 마스카포네 키리치즈, 말차연유.

The matcha bingsu is not too sweet and the portion is a bit on the bigger side (definitely enough to share between two people). They use Japanese matcha powder that has pretty strong flavor and is spread in layers inside and around the bingsu along with the matcha condensed milk. It’s nice because I got the matcha in every spoonful of ice that I scoop from the bowl. There are also chunks of sweet red beans in the center of the mountain of shaved ice which added a little bit of sweetness to the matcha and they serve the bingsu with a side of matcha mochi. If you like a not-too-sweet matcha bingsu, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Chestnut Montsil Tarae (밤 몽실타래) | 7/10

Roasted Chestnut, Mascarpone Cheese, Kiri Cheese, Chestnut Cream Cheese, Chestnut Jam, Castella with Korean Rice Flour (Coffee, Chestnut Milk).
구운밤, 밤 몽실타래, 마스카포네 치즈, 키리치즈, 밤 그림치즈, 밤 쨈, 쌀 카스테라 (카피, 밤우유).

The Chestnut Montsil Tarae is essentially the Japanese version of Mont Blanc. The spaghetti-thin strands of chestnut cream definitely make this a very visually appealing dessert. It’s very easy to cut into (which surprised me a little because I thought it’s going to be at least a little firmer) with the wooden knife they provided. And when the cake split open, I can see the different layers inside the cake. As for the taste, although I do like chestnut, I think the overall flavor was a bit too much chestnut for me and it was a little too sweet for my taste. But I think for those who love chestnut or Mont Blanc in general will like this one.

Black Sesame Warabi Mochi (와라비모찌 흑임자) | 10/10

The Black Sesame Warabi Mochi was the bomb. This was my most favorite thing out of the three desserts we ordered. They really nailed the texture, just like the warabi mochi I had in Japan. And the black sesame flavor is really nutty and earthy with the right amount of sweetness to it. They served it with kuromitsu syrup (which is made from a mix of dark brown sugar and white sugar) on the side for you to dip your mochi into or pour it over if you prefer. Will definitely go back again for this next time I’m in Garosugil area.

 

Dang Ok • 당옥

Address: 서울 강남구 강남대로162길 22 1층
Telephone: 0507-1379-1276
Hours: Tue-Fri & Sun 12:00-21:00 | Saturday 12:00-22:00

Instagram: @dangok_sinsa

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