Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SweetLou]

Man...does this stuff have it's own name?

I've had it twice in Sinchon at a couple of restaurants....and I haven't run across it in Kangnam yet. It's served in the middle of the table in the big heated pan, with tteokbokgi, chicken pieces, some veggies, and noodles thrown all together, with a nice, spicy sauce....all for like W5500 or W6000.

This is easily my favorite Korean meal......and I'm trying to get in a bit closer to home!

Thanks for your help

-SL

[katydid]

Isn't that dak kalbi? Not ddeok, but Dak...chicken galbi.
Nice stuff...

[the_beaver]

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[Zyzyfer]

It sounds awesome. Maybe I'll scout around next Sunday, since I'll probably be chillin' in the Sinchon area. There are some area/restaurant specialties, though...I've found one place that has bibim mandu...totally rocks. Some veggies, some spicy sauce, some fried mandu cases to wrap it all in.

[katydid]

Thanks for typing it in Korean Beaver...I can't type in Hangeul on my computer at home.
Wow, Zyz, what you said abot bibim mandu sounds wonderful. Will have to scout some out in Gwangju and give my take on it later. Thanks for the tip!

[Ryst Helmut]

The Beav is right, though at 3 posts, I am sure you've not enabled Korean on your 'puter....so, he said:

Dalk gal bi (Chicken "ribs" though not really ribs....more so a saying) is what you're looking for <in reference to labels).

Enjoy to flavas!

Shoosh,

Ryst

[Zyzyfer]

Awww man, just when I thought they were giving ddeokbokki a little more flavor besides rice cake and spicy-ass sauce...dak galbi ain't nothin' new to me.

[katydid]

There there Zyz...you still have your bibim mandu!!

[helly]

To answer the original question, yes you can get Ttakkalbi (however you're spelling it) in Kangnam. I haven't been there for awhile but this is where I had it first and most often (in 2 different spots, no less).

If you can't read Korean, you'll have to ask someone or peer into windows but I'll try to give directions.

On the main road of Kangnam Station area, out exit 6 of the station, there is a big Giordano (I think, it used to be the Tower Records. Whatever, there is probably probably a huge crowd waiting out there. Go down the road into the back streets, going about 2 blocks. On your right is a great restaurant. Again, peer in the windows or learn the Korean for it.

Best place in the world for this stuff is Chuncheon. Considered the home of the dish. Quality is usually a bit better and the portions are much bigger, same price. About 2 hours out of Seoul, worth it for a day trip. Just downtown (I believe Myung-dong) is a whole alley with nothing but these restaurants. After a good fill, you can head over to the lake with a nice island in the middle or head up the the resevoir and take a ferry to the temples.

[Bulsajo]

There are Chuncheon-jip franchises all over the place, and most of them are decent enough. You can order extra dok and sweet potato if you wish. Once you've finished off half of what's in the pan, ask for rice to make ttakgalbi bokkum. Wish we had a franchise here, I really miss ttak-kalbi; Hands-down my favorite Korean food.

[helly]

Chuncheon-jip franchises are not the same as getting it up in that city.

But thanks for alerting everyone to the necessity of extra dduk, sweet potato and the fried rice at the end. Just wouldn't be the same without it.

[Toby]

But Chuncheon city is a quite a way if you just want to eat Ttakgalbi.

It is a bit like saying that bibimbap is not as good in Seoul as it is Kyong Ju, the home of bibimbap, or the seafood is Seoul is not as good as that in Pusan. Or Chinese food in korea isn't as good as the Chinese food in China.

Thanks for the observation.

Exit 7. Gangnam. Walk past the Starbucks and take your first right. Walk up the road until you get to a crossroads - about 30 metres. Turn left. Chuncheon Ttakgalbi is on the right - about the third or fourth restaurant I think. Orange and brown lettering and picture - a chicken's head as I recall.

[helly]

OK, Toby, normally I'd let this go but I'm feeling a bit testy today.

Yes, Chuncheon is a bit far just for ttalkkalbi but I'm not suggesting you head out there at 6:30 just because you had a craving for dinner. I suggested, based on common (among Korean) knowledge and my own experiences, that this is where I've found the best stuff and that you can head out there and spend a pleasant day. At the same time, you can have a nice meal of something that you enjoy eating.

Yep, you can go to the Chuncheon-jip in Kangnam but its not the same thing, simply a franchise name.

Why go to Italy when you can have Italian food anywhere. Don't bother. Chinese food in China? Order it in instead!

The difference here is that a trip to Chuncheon is probably a bit more realistic for someone living in Korea.

You'll also notice that I did answer the original question that you can find ttalkkalbi in Kangnam and gave directions to the place I used to go (if a bit fuzzy)

Oh, and I thought that Jeonju was the home of bibimbap, not kyung-ju. No worries, though, I can order jeonju bibimbap at many restaurants of the same name right here in Seoul!

[JackSarang]

If its served with noodles and ddeok and vegetables its not dak-kalbi.

Its Chim-Dak or Andong Chim-Dak depending on the recipe.

Easy way to know. Was the sauce red? If so, its dak-kalbi. Was it brownish? Its chim-dak.

[helly]

I think the basic ingredients of ttalkkalbi (not getting technical here) are chicken, veggies, a bit of dduk, and red sauce. Add-in ingredients, called "sari" are noodles (i've seen udon and ramen styles, could be more) , more dduk, and more sweet potatoes. I'm sure each house has its own specialty. All of this is fried in a hot pan in the middle of the table. The OP mentioned this, I believe.

The Chim-tak I've had is steamed chicken, with a larger variety of veggies, and glass noodles. Already steamed in the kitchen, ready to eat when brought to the table.