FatManSeoul

Ever thought that kimchi could be luxurious? No? That’s only because you haven’t yet been to Bap (밥.) Tucked into a charming hanok in Samcheongdong, Bap serves up the best kimchi jjim Fatman has ever had the pleasure of eating ~ but first, let’s talk banchan.

Glorious snack food!  Is there anything on earth that can match the gut-filling goodness of bunshik (분식)?  The local snack stall serving up small bites is a gathering place for local students and busy people, and nobody does it better than 삭/Sak. Lots of places will serve up a plate of decent ddokpokki, but very [...]

If you’re really craving the savory delights of the magical chicken, rice, and ginseng soup known as samgyetang, there’s one place in Seoul that rises above all the others: 토속촌삼계탕 (Tosokchon Samgyetang.) This chicken-slinging sanctuary just might be one of the most famous restaurants in all of Seoul, partronized by . . . well, just [...]

When the weather is damp and drear (always in this neck of the woods) people like to head to that most venerable of Stumptown institutions, Voodoo Doughnut. Since I wasn’t headed downtown I headed to their second location, Voodoo Doughnut Too for a little of that voodoo that they do. It’s not every place that [...]

Galbi houses can serve up some great cuts of meat, but not necessarily the most classy atmosphere.  Grease and smoke are everywhere, and you can’t hear yourself think over the noise of the fans – not conducive to impressing important clients or your date for the evening . . . Fortunately, there are some alternatives [...]

Let’s face it: If you’re looking for Mexican food in Korea, you don’t have much territory to cover. Although there’s a number of new eateries that cater to your need for tacos, the cuisine really hasn’t caught on south of this particular border. American chain On the Border has made some big inroads, with two [...]

Chinese food to most Koreans nowadays is cheap jjajangmyeon and greasy fried rice with a side of mandu fried in oil so old you could swear you taste fossilized mammoth. It wasn’t always that way, though.

Suwon (수원) is just a short trip from Seoul, and offers some sweet eats. But first, some history: Let’s not be coy. Suwon owes its historical prominence indirectly to one of the greatest scandals of the Joseon Era.

Samcheongdong has become a major neighborhood for dining delights, and Dal 1887 shows exactly whats right – and wrong – about the restaurant scene here.