Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Starla]

Okay, so I came back from my local Eastern European food store here in New York and I plan to eat only food that I will not be able to find easily in all of Korea...hummus, kefir, liverwurst, meat blintzes, solid and spreadable cheese, crusty rye, sesame bagels, Polish ham, cucumbers in brine, etc.....all the good stuff I can't live without that seems to gross out my American friends.

I heard there are Russians in Korea but I looked all around while I was on vacation and maybe saw one or two babushkas aka the closest Russian equivalent of ajummas. I grew up on this food and I don't think I could make it a whole month without it let alone a year. Where are most of the Russians/Eastern Europeans located in Korea and do they have supermarkets? I don't want to socialize with them necessarily...I just want to eat their food. Thanks!

[wylies99]

There are plenty of Russians in Korea, but they didn't come to Korea to open restaurants. They seem to have "other interests."

[peppermint]

There's a Russian neighborhood somewhere in Dongdaemun in Seoul. I believe there are restaurants there. Texas Street in Busan is notorious for its Russian atmosphere, but I'm not sure you'll find Russian food there.

[nomad-ish]

last i heard, canada buddy in bucheon (between seoul and incheon on the subway line) had perogies, but i've never tried them so i don't know how good they are. and although i looked, i've never found kubasa. i think i remember seeing hummus in a foreign food store in itaewon. i haven't looked for any russian restaurants

just on a side note, many (?) russians are in korea on entertainment visas which appears to include prostitution. if someone asks you if you're russian, say no.

[peppermint]

I used to get asked if I were Russian quite often, sometimes by Russians, in Russian. That question certainly can have a sleazy intent behind it, but certainly not all the time.

[Starla]

Peppermint, you made me laugh. I get asked a lot if I'm Russian by Russians too but that's because I look it and so I always say no right away since I'm Polish anyway...well a Polish/Ukrainian mix. It might be because you bear a resemblance but most of they time, they're just hoping you speak Russian. Russians tend to like to speak in their native tongue even if they know English...total opposite of Koreans I think who sometimes barely know English but will try anyway.

I already got asked by a Russian woman when I was in Korea if I'm Russian and I jumped to say no because I knew the deal about Russian women in Korea. I thought she was a Korean woman passing judgment on me as some slutty Westerner but she turned out to be a very Asian looking Russian woman...probably some Mongolian ancestry going on there. She was with her Korean boyfriend and she claimed to be a student. They acted like a couple but I only met them briefly so who knows? All I know is it would be horrible for me to be a Russian in Korea because I would have to lie all the time about my ethnicity. The only entertainment I'll be doing though is in the classroom. It will only be PG games and activities for the kids.

I guess nomad-ish had an inkling I'm Polish since she mentioned pierogi and kielbasa. I've never had to cook this food before but I guess I'll have to dig up some recipes and buy the right herbs and spices to Korea. I know how to make the meat blintzes, liverwurst and cucumbers in the brine but the rest will be not worth the effort. I might have to talk to the Russians when I'm there to find out where they get their food. Thanks for all the advice and I think I'm going to eat my food now.

[mrgiles]

i had some ok uzbek food last night in dongdaemoon, if that helps. just out of exit 5 of dongdaemoon stadium station, there's a bunch of uzbek cafes and restaurants.

[oldfatfarang]

[some waygug-in]

There are several Russian restaurants along Texas street in Busan. Some of them double as night/dance bars but there are several restaurants that serve good Russian food. I don't know the names off-hand as I'm not so good at reading Cyrillic script, but there's one upstairs that I like.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Cheers.

[dannylelievre]

There are a lot of Russian and Uzbek places in Dongdaemun now, across from the Lotteria fast-food place. Just get out exit 12 at Dongdaemun Stadium Station, make a u-turn, and take the first left. There are two blocks or so of places crammed in there.

[Captain Corea]

[endo]

[Starla]

[Scamps]

I know where to get all of that stuff in Seoul. Dongdaemun Statium and Itaewon. They have all kinds of Russian food from Russia and the ex-Soviet countries. Russian bakeries too. Remember me when you arrive. I love looking for hard-to-find things. Especially in the food area. I will take you around so your tastebuds will be happy in Korea.

[Guri Guy]

There are a couple of Mongolian restaurants near to the "Russian street". Exit 5 Dongdaemun stadium. They are always friendly and the food is good. I like their hamburger steak. It comes with a fried egg, coleslaw and real mashed potatoes. Really nice. ^^