Korean dining, top floor of Hyundai Dept. store

Got on the top floor of Hyundai Dept. store.  Found this decent place for some local dinner set.  This could be the better Korea meal I have tried.  It reminded me of the old City Super and City Plaza food court where I used to take this kind of Korean dinner set.  The shop's name is a bit too board with Korean Dining.

Han River, Seoul

It's been interesting to see the Chinese name of Seoul used to be 漢城  (Han City) because of this river named as 漢江 (Han River).  So when the city expanded to the south of Han River, the newly developed area is called 江南 (River south) or Gangnam in Korean (quite many Korean words sound like Mandarin or Cantonese).   When the song Gangnam style got hit, people recalled this chain as well as while the city is called Han City.  Furthermore, when there are more and more ancient stories being transcript into Korean TV dramas, the locals started to trace back the Han culture.  One important note is that the last 3-400 years of China was ruled by the Manchu race (滿族) from the north.  Perhaps it's time to study more about Han culture.

Korean snowy ice

Just like their own claimed deep fried chicken, this one is another one many locals claimed it's invented by them.  I believe Taiwan isn't a small place though and haven''t anyone ever tried the renowned Taiwanese snowy ice.  At least I have known the Taiwanese version over 20 years and it should have been there long before.  Back to this one, the ice isn't that melty snowy as those of Taiwanese snowy ice.  Just like putting potato chips on rice can be a dish, this one won't let it go alone.  They just put those brown rice sweet powder in it and that's it.  I believe next time they would make green tea ice cream as their own version and claimed the best of its all time.  No kidding - they already claimed green tea from Je Ju Island is the best finest one.  To be posted later.

Hawaiian kimchi fried rice

It seems like going back to 30 years ago of HK, when lots of western food flushing in.  Almost no local tea restaurants could survive, until in the late 15 years when those artistic movies showing how nostalgic scenes of those tea room era.  So this scene in Seoul with many Hawaiian and American east coast restaurants are almost in every corner.  As I was in a rush for something quick, I had no choice but got this Hawaiian food.  Ended up it's so-called century boring term "fusion" with chopped kimchi and chicken fried rice and some stir fried bean sprouts and 2 hard pan fried eggs on top.  If it's not more than US$10, I wouldn't say anything but it's US$20.

Seoul, after another 20 years.

Photo 1: it's been almost 20 years their airport bus still hasn't changed.  When this city claims to be a tech. and design eccentric, some basic things like this kind of basic infrastructure told another story.  

Photo 2/3: many local brands but not appealing at all.  Boring fashion for men wearing long sleeves (even it's 35 degree celsius) and shorts with sport shoes and a square back pack, and girls wearing loose layers clothes.  One thing wasn't changed - pushing and talking loud.

Photo 5: Litter bins - hope they can have some better looking ones.

Korean deep fried chicken - at my opportunity cost.

Have tried quite many different Korean deep fried chicken shops but not to my palate.  The deep fried technique isn't too impressive to me.  The flavour is quite toyish with quite some artificial flavouring. Got a salad and the yoghurt dressing is also too artificial flavouring.  I simply can't appreciate all of these.  I have to excuse from any more of this kind of Korean chicken.  Deep fried food isn't healthy; so if the taste is good, I'd take the opportunity cost to go for it.  However, if it isn't good, I have to switch this opportunity cost to other unhealthy food.

Grand Intercontinental Parnas Seoul

It was almost 20 years ago when I tried the other intercontinental on the same block; whereas the 2 hotels are on the opposite ends of the Coex World Trade Center area.  The hotel room is very ordinarily classic 5 star.  The bed mattress is a bit too sloppy to sleep.  Almost every 1-2 hours I got up.  The air-conditioning reminds me of Peninsula Bangkok that only one area is cold and the other is pretty warm, and yet the temperature control is just a decoration.  It's either on or off.  The quilt is a bit too thick that you can have a very hot sleep.  The gym and swimming pool are for complimentary use but if you use their sauna, it's charged.  It's probably because this facilities is outsourced by a third party company.  The only plus is the location as down below is the big shopping mall Coex and the city air terminal is also in the complex.

SM Town, Coex Mall, Gangnam district, Seoul

They could easily spend a whole night here...

Incheon (仁川) Int'l Airport, Seoul, South Korea

Don't know why I still remember the old Seoul Airport Kimpo Int'l Airport and it's probably the name Kimpo is more representational to me. This one Incheon is far more safer than Kimpo since it's a sea reclaimed man-made island; whereas Kimpo had the similar problem as Kai Tak (old airport of HK) - the mountain concern on the landing/takeoff routes.

1-4. the Airport.



5-8. KAL Korean Air lounge.

Dragon Fruit at a dragon price, Seoul, South Korea

I noticed one thing in Seoul that it's not common to have fresh fruits served as a dessert or something common like we have in other SE Asian countries. So I got to check on their local market and found out some fruits like apple/orange are at a selling price of US$2-3. So I further checked on this Dragon Fruit and it's US$4 for 100g. Then this one is US$32. So next time if you are in Korea and served with a slice of Dragon fruit, then you are treated as a VVIP. :) FYI, in HK I spent US$1.2 to 1.8 for 3 dragon fruits from Thailand and US$1.2 for 3-4 Sunkist oranges...etc.

Starbucks in Korean

Ready for learning Starbucks in Korean?

Korean meal set by a traditional family

Got brought to a restaurant run by a whole family from grand ma to kids - very warm-hearted. So the family already set the meal set for you and you just needed to choose "beef", "fish", "pork" for your main course. The chef would just cook the main course in his way.

1. When we sat down, the table was put with all these big and small dishes, and so occupied. 2. Then a flat wok was placed next to the dishes, with some rice on the bottom, various veggie and a semi-pan fried egg on top. Just seeing all these is already an eye-candy.

3. Kimchi tofu pot. 4. mini-burger with tomato/veggie sauce. Both are good and not too spicy.

5. OK, the main course - beef casserole. The stone pot kept boiling the food inside and by the time it got cool, the soup was almost gone, leaving the food inside very tasty and aromatic. 6. pan fried yellow fish - very nice too!

7. I somehow thought of Paela. It's quite a big portion and moreover you are given another bowl of steamed rice. 8. Miso soup with veggie. Very nice aroma of miso!

9. Korean pan cake. Almost a must for a traditional meal, and this one is pretty good. 10. the restaurant is actually an old style house with a patio in the middle getting the light and as a place for the wood burner.


11. See the stone pots on the top of this wood grilling stove. I could tell why the food has a sort of grilling smell and also why it's so hot and burning for half an hour. 12. See this wood for the grilling.

13. the patio. 14. the shop entrance - kind of ancient Chinese.