Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hater Depot]

This March, finally, the veggie club will have two get-togethers! The first will be on March 10, a Saturday, and the other on March 25, a Sunday. The poll above will be used to choose the locations -- the top two vote-getters will be the chosen spots.

Some info about the locations:

New Start is a buffet in Gangnam. They close on Saturdays so this would be for Sunday only.

Country Life was a big hit the last time we met there. It's got a huge buffet.

SoSim is a sleepy little jongshik place in Insadong. After eating there you can shop in Insadong, hit a traditional tea place, or -- my choice -- head over to the palace or temple nearby.

Ashoka is a pretty good Indian place in Itaewon.

SM Ching Hai is another popular buffet, where if you've got fair weather you can lunch outside. This one's run by some nutty Vietnamese cult, but the food is good. It's in Yangjae.

[Rteacher]

I voted for SoSim - partly out of guilt (because I once cancelled a big reservation at the last minute...) They're in the 10,000 - 15,000 won range...

The only other ones on your list that are open on Saturdays are the Ashoka (in Hamilton hotel) which I think is the best of the Indian restaurants (buffets only on weekends, 25,000 won lunch, 28,000 dinner) and SM Ching hai - which might be better later on (they're 13,000 won)...

Country Life - not currently listed in your poll - is also closed on Saturdays (I think it's still 8,000 won...)

The Vege-love buffet (affiliated with SM Ching hai...) is open both days, though, and is on the top floor of a Lotte Department store in the Bundang area, Hanti station (9,500 won...)

I've never been to "New Start", but I think it must be similar to "Country Life" and is probably a good choice for some Sunday ...

[Hater Depot]

[Rteacher]

Since most veggie club members on the mailing list never post here, I wouldn't be surprised if my one vote holds up.

New people on the the forum should feel free to vote (even if they don't have a clue what they're voting for ...)

It's probably worth repeating that one need not be any kind of vegetarian to come to these gatherings, and details about exactly where and when to meet will be given later ...

[Flash Ipanema]

I know Hater is in Anyang, so if you want to help me figure out where to go I'm up for it. I'm not vegetarian, but I don't eat a lot of meat.

I'll vote, but I don't know what I'm choosing!

[i_teach_esl]

please can you post what subway station each place is by? XX stop on the pink line 8 or something?

[Rteacher]

SoSim is in the Insa-dong area, and it's right near the Anguk station (328) on the Orange line 3 (exit 6 ...) It's right around the corner from the main Insa-dong street (which is much mellower than Itaewon and has a lot of nice shops and galleries...) On a subway map, just follow the Orange line way up north, one stop past the Jongno 3 station which some consider to be the "center" of Seoul ...

The Ashoka Indian restaurant is at the Itaewon Station (Brown line 6, exit 1 ...) It's on the third floor of the landmark Hamilton Hotel... (If coming from the south up Orange line 3, transfer at Yaksu to line 6 heading toward Eungam. Itaewon station is 630 - three stops from Yaksu (633) Itaewon is the main English speaking area because it's near the Yongsan army base (which is relocating ...)

The New Start is somewhere in the Gangnam area ("Hater Depot" knows better than me the exact location...) Gangnam station is on the Green line 2 (way towards the south part of the subway map) and it's one stop to the east of the Seoul National University station on Orange line 3. Gangnam is one of the most affluent and modern areas of Seoul ...

Using Orange line 3 again as the reference point, if you go three stops up (heading toward Daehwa) from Seoul National University station to Sinsa station(337) you can find the Country Life restaurant near exit 3...

Going back south on Orange line 3 (toward Suseo) 5 stops to Yangiae Station (342) exit 5 you can get a short bus or taxi ride to the SM Ching hai restaurant...

For future reference (it's not on the current list...) the Vegelove restaurant is also in that area on the yellow "Bundang" line right between the Green line 2 and Orange line 3 at the Hanti station...

The Ashoka , SM Ching hai and Vegelove restaurants are open both Saturdays and Sundays.

SoSim is open on Saturdays, but not on Sundays...

Country Life and New Start are closed on Saturdays but open on Sundays.

[whitelotus]

Hi!
I vote for 'New start' yet, I'm interested in Ashoka too. Sosim's easy to reach. I can make it if it's on Saturday but on Sunday, I can't.

[Rteacher]

Hey, "White Lotus" voted for "New Start", but she can only make it on a Saturday. If "Hater Depot" is not mistaken (there's always a first time... ) New Start is closed on Saturdays.

I think that her vote should probably be changed to her second choice - Ashoka - in case it's a tight race that goes down to the wire (and may have to be decided by the Korean Supreme Court ... )

[Dev]

If Indian is your taste, you should consider eating at Wazwan (see restaurant sticky thread) in Itaewon. They have no less than 25 vegetarian items on their menu and their food is damn good.

I can't speak for Ashoka because I haven't eaten there. I just know they're a bit pricey. 32,000 won for the buffet I think.

[Hater Depot]

[freethought]

i'm going to try to make it to one of the two, maybe both. anywhere is good. i like indian and thai, but i can eat other things as well.

[Rteacher]

I read the whole restaurant sticky for Itaewon and Indian restaurants, but I didn't see "Wazwan" mentioned (and I've never heard of it...)

Although most of the Indian restaurants list apparently vegetarian entrees, my experience is that the Muslim-run ones are less concerned about preparing and cooking vegetarian items separately from their meat dishes.

As far as I know, the Ashoka if the only Indian restaurant around Seoul owned and run by Hindus, and it's an attractive place featuring chefs well trained in various styles of regional Indian cooking.

Their weekend buffets are actually 4000 won cheaper (25,000 for lunch, 28,000 dinner...) than they were a few years ago...

I have a question for "Hater Depot" (club president and also one of its clients...) - Will the poll on this thread actually be the only votes that count - or will you also factor in "write-in" ballots emailed to you by other club members who haven't registered to post here?...

[Hater Depot]

Yes, I'll take write-in ballots if people really don't wanna register here.

[whitelotus]

Thanks for the info Dev. I will go have a look when I drop by Itaewon which I occasionally do. And thanks to Ron for the correction. I'm trying to eat food containing as much energy from our Sun as possible, the uncooked ones.