Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Old Gil]

Huzzah for Seoul for being one of the only cities in the world without a China town, ensuring that pure pure Seoul is not dirtied by the 되놈. However that leaves us looking for some authentic Chinese a little wanting. I study Mandarin here in Seoul all thru language exchange (actual language exchange, not veiled overtures for coitus) and I've eaten at two pretty good Chinese places deemed authentic by my friends.

First:
There's a hot pot place in Hongdae across from the Vips, in the same building as the Saboten. The name is Xiao Fei Yang (쌰우페양? something like that). It's a big int'l chain but I couldn't find the website. If you walk out exit 5 (towards Hapjeong, south, past the Saporro Lion), cross the intersecting street at the first intersection (there will be a traffic light) and make a left. As I said, opposite side from Vips a little farther down in the same building as the Saboten. 3rd Floor maybe?

Second:
The other is HaoChi China, a lamb skewer place, in Sinchon. This is one is hard to find, a little. If you go out exit 3, walk north, towards Yonsei. You will be on the east side of a northbound street. Walk until you get to the first traffic light. Turn left. The road angles northeast, it will eventually meet up with an eastbound street. Follow the angle. You should be walking past a Mr. Pizza and a Starbucks. After the Starbucks there's a small alley. Look right. You will see a restaurant with 즉석꼬치구이 and 串先生 in Chinese. That's the spot. Basically just lamb, chicken wings and a few others.

You can see pics here of the lamb joint, about 60% down the page:

http://cafe.naver.com/snumi.cafe?iframe_url=/ArticleRead.nhn%3Farticleid=260

Also, if anybody else knows off some good Chinese in Seoul or Korea (NOT jjajjanmyeong and jjambbong knock offs) please post it here maybe we could get a sticky going.

[fermentation]

Thanks for the info. I haven't had much "real" chinese food except for Peking Duck. Would love to try these places out. Do you know the price range of these places?

[Old Gil]

The Hot Pot is a little much, it runs about 20k per person, the lamb skewers are 10 for 8k, which is enough if you get some mandu too (4 or 5k I think). And they both have Qingdao^^

[kangnam mafioso]

wasn't there a beijing duck place in apgujong? can't remember the exit.

[tzechuk]

Sigh...

*authentic* Chinese food is such a misnomer.

Granted, Koreanised Chinese food isn't much, but what is *authenticity*?? Some people say even food in HONG KONG isn't authentically Chinese.

Ding Tai Feng in Myeong-dong does awesome Taiwanese dumplings (Xiao Lung Bao) and other soup based noodles.

But you know - I prefer Chinese food in London

[Fishead soup]

I like Chinese and Vietnamese food in Toronto Spadina and Queen some awesome duck places

[steveinincheon]

There are some pretty decent places in Asia Town near Ansan station. Nothing like you would actually get in China, but not the Koreanized crap you get in Incheon CHina Town, and much cheaper than the places in Seoul.

[Snowflake]

Yum China in the Hyundai building next to Coex does fantastic dim sum (and other stuff), and there's a new Szechuan restaurant at the opposite side of Coex (across from the air terminal) which is pretty swish. Both places are quite pricey but good.
No idea how authentic they are though...

[Trinidad]

[Old Gil]

[Bloopity Bloop]

"Chinese" food here is miserable.

Thanks for the tip about the lamb skewer place. When I lived in China, a group of friends and I would head out to the local Xinjiang style skewer place for meat/bread skewers and drinks every night at 2am. Good stuff. Can't get enough of Xinjiang food.

Someone mentioned Din Tai Fung--there are several locations around Seoul. I often go to the one in the Hyundai Dept. store in Omokgyo. Pretty decent prices. While the Korean DTF is probably one of the inferior locations of the chain, it's surprisingly well-priced. Keep in mind that the food there is milder in flavor than other regions of Chinese food.

All I need now is some HK comfort food. For me, you can't get better Chinese food than in HK. The absolute best--well, maybe alongside Hakka cuisine.

[mayorgc]

DTF has surprisingly good fly lice.

the xiao lung bao were really good according to my parents. But I assumed they were shanghai style, since, they weren't called taiwaybao.

and dtf tangsooyuk was decent too

[redaxe]

Anyone know where to get Sichuan food here?

Like, actual authentic huiguo rou, mapo doufu, shuizhu roupian, gongbao jiding, yuxiang qiezi, fuqi feipian, koushui ji, zhangchaya, deng deng...

I can find that stuff in any major city in the US, but I haven't seen any of it in Korea yet, just that gooey, cornsyrupy version of mapo doufu known as "mapa dooboo bap" haha.

[winterfall]

If you've got time head over to Incheon. There's a very famous Chinatown over there. Take the time to walk around and find the restaurants in places not on the main street.

[Ukon]

a BETTER question is...where can I find american style chinese food which trumps both the original and korean derivitives.