|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
detourne_me
Joined: 26 May 2006
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Actually it's not uncommon for Korean uni students to go to VIPS for a late lunch and stick around there for an early dinner. Actually a few years ago I stayed at a VIPS for about 5 hours with an ex.
I couldn't believe it...
VIPS is ideal for a birthday party though, or for a large gathering of people before going out on the town.
Todai is another of the buffet places, but I have to say that although the food quality is much superior, the clientele is lacking. Just wait for them to put out the snow crab legs and witness the devolution of humanity. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
hockeyguy109
Joined: 22 Dec 2008
Location: Daegu
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| How would you compare VIPS to Elena Garden (in Home Plus). I haven't been to VIPS but have gone to E.G. It was pretty good (compared to the Italian food here). They have pretty good cream pasta but their tomato sauce pasta is horrendous. Not bad pizza and appetizers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Greekfreak
Joined: 25 May 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
VIPS is brutal--mostly seafood (and mediocre seafood at that), and wayyy overpriced.
I tend to think that most foreigners in this country have had their taste buds destroyed by the first swig of soju. I'm far from a food connoisseur, but unless you're going to a proper international restaurant run by management who cares, you're going to be paying way too much for crappy food.
Interestingly enough, when I tried to contact Bennigan's, TGIF, and Outback as to the reason for their ever-shrinking menu, I only got one reply:
I am sorry that our menu choices are not entirely satisfactory to your dining decisions. We do have a fairly broad menu with a large amount of steak offerings as well as Pork Ribs, Chicken and Salads and we continually offer promotional steak items and limited time offers.
The majority of our Korean consumers do of course have a high preference for various types of seafood and we might have the perception of offering a slightly larger amount in that direction. For that I apologize. I would suggest the Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Alice Springs Chicken / Any of our numerous steak offerings and beef short ribs / BBQ Baby Back Ribs / Grilled Chicken and ribs, fried and grilled chicken salad and so forth on your next visit.
The Bloomin Onion was discontinued due to extremely poor sales. We eliminate or add certain items in all of our International markets based on core customer preference.
Once again we really appreciate your patronage and hope that I have been able to answer your questions/comments in a satisfactory manner.
Please let me know if I can help or assist in any matter.
Warm regards,
Kevin L. Crippen
Vice President
Outback Steakhouse International |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Greekfreak wrote: |
The Bloomin Onion was discontinued due to extremely poor sales. We eliminate or add certain items in all of our International markets based on core customer preference.
|
Well, you need to keep a little stash of them for foreigners. After reading this I want a GD bloomin onion! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
definitely maybe
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| hockeyguy109 wrote: |
| How would you compare VIPS to Elena Garden (in Home Plus). I haven't been to VIPS but have gone to E.G. It was pretty good (compared to the Italian food here). They have pretty good cream pasta but their tomato sauce pasta is horrendous. Not bad pizza and appetizers. |
I'd say VIPS is far superior to Elena Garden, but more expensive too. I was somewhat pleased with Elena Garden when it first opened, much like I was with VIPS, but the quality and selection at Elena Garden have dropped at a much faster rate than VIPS. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| definitely maybe wrote: |
| hockeyguy109 wrote: |
| How would you compare VIPS to Elena Garden (in Home Plus). I haven't been to VIPS but have gone to E.G. It was pretty good (compared to the Italian food here). They have pretty good cream pasta but their tomato sauce pasta is horrendous. Not bad pizza and appetizers. |
I'd say VIPS is far superior to Elena Garden, but more expensive too. I was somewhat pleased with Elena Garden when it first opened, much like I was with VIPS, but the quality and selection at Elena Garden have dropped at a much faster rate than VIPS. |
It happens to all restaurants in Korea eventually. One way of doing everything. Back when I lived in Pohang there was a nice little fusion restaurant that opened up downtown in a space previously occupied by a chinese restaurant. The first time I went they had an "all you can eat" western salad bar and free soda (not watered down stuff (too much CO2)). The next time I went most of the good stuff on the salad bar had been replaced with crap. Soda was still free and good though. Third time I went you weren't allowed to access the salad bar by yourself, the waiter/waitress got you a single plate of lettuce and a single baby tomato with the kind of dressing you wanted (if you were lucky). The soda was one refill only and it was obvious that they'd been screwing with the mixture (thinning it down). That was my last time to eat there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
youtuber
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Greekfreak wrote: |
VIPS is brutal--mostly seafood (and mediocre seafood at that), and wayyy overpriced.
I tend to think that most foreigners in this country have had their taste buds destroyed by the first swig of soju. I'm far from a food connoisseur, but unless you're going to a proper international restaurant run by management who cares, you're going to be paying way too much for crappy food.
Interestingly enough, when I tried to contact Bennigan's, TGIF, and Outback as to the reason for their ever-shrinking menu, I only got one reply:
I am sorry that our menu choices are not entirely satisfactory to your dining decisions. We do have a fairly broad menu with a large amount of steak offerings as well as Pork Ribs, Chicken and Salads and we continually offer promotional steak items and limited time offers.
The majority of our Korean consumers do of course have a high preference for various types of seafood and we might have the perception of offering a slightly larger amount in that direction. For that I apologize. I would suggest the Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Alice Springs Chicken / Any of our numerous steak offerings and beef short ribs / BBQ Baby Back Ribs / Grilled Chicken and ribs, fried and grilled chicken salad and so forth on your next visit.
The Bloomin Onion was discontinued due to extremely poor sales. We eliminate or add certain items in all of our International markets based on core customer preference.
Once again we really appreciate your patronage and hope that I have been able to answer your questions/comments in a satisfactory manner.
Please let me know if I can help or assist in any matter.
Warm regards,
Kevin L. Crippen
Vice President
Outback Steakhouse International |
It's funny that you wrote them. Obviously, you won't be able to change anything. Their market in Korea is Koreans. You are barely a blip on their financial statements.
Here's an idea - cook for yourself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The cultural filter again at work: Koreans don't want authentic Western, they want a Koreanized version of it. They want the APPEARANCE of exotic foreign international but in reality not so much, eg., sweet cream as a substitute for sour cream on a baked potato.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| You have to expect things to be a little second rate...it's like going to an Asian chain restaurant back home run by locals rather than going to China town and expecting great things...most western folks like it, but you'll never see an Asian eating there. |
This would be a good parallel if non-Asians actually cooked Asian food in Asian chains back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| VanIslander wrote: |
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| You have to expect things to be a little second rate...it's like going to an Asian chain restaurant back home run by locals rather than going to China town and expecting great things...most western folks like it, but you'll never see an Asian eating there. |
This would be a good parallel if non-Asians actually cooked Asian food in Asian chains back home. |
Maybe not a perfect parallel, but I get the point. After going to Chinatown in NYC the first time I found that even the cheap take out was way better than any Chinese restaurant back in Florida. How could this be, I wondered, as the Florida restaurants were also run by Chinese? The difference, I was told, was that in Chinatown they are cooking for the Chinese, and in Florida they are cooking for the westerners. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sector7G wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| You have to expect things to be a little second rate...it's like going to an Asian chain restaurant back home run by locals rather than going to China town and expecting great things...most western folks like it, but you'll never see an Asian eating there. |
This would be a good parallel if non-Asians actually cooked Asian food in Asian chains back home. |
Maybe not a perfect parallel, but I get the point. After going to Chinatown in NYC the first time I found that even the cheap take out was way better than any Chinese restaurant back in Florida. How could this be, I wondered, as the Florida restaurants were also run by Chinese? The difference, I was told, was that in Chinatown they are cooking for the Chinese, and in Florida they are cooking for the westerners. |
I know what you mean. The Korean BBQ in my hometown was not truly Korean food. If it were they probably would have went out of business. I think they had two menus - one for the Koreans and another for the rest of us. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Faunaki
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| VIPS is disgusting. Where's the Keg already? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
skim234
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
I didn't realize so many ESL teachers were accustomed to eating at Smith & Wollensky. If that was the case, why do you move to a country with horrible food?
The ignorance on this board is hilarious. Is South Korea the only foreign country you Smith & Wollensky-goers have visited?
Italian food in Italy is far different than the garbage served in America. Does that makes us Americans completely asinine when it comes to food? It's obviously Americanized which means toppings like pineapple, anchovies, etc. get piled onto pizza. Try ordering that in Italy and see what kind of response you draw.
You can pretty much say this for any country that is serving food that is from a different culture or country. You are in South Korea. If you want a great steak, move back home and be sure to RSVP at S&W. Don't forget to tip your server 25% on your $130 tab. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Greekfreak
Joined: 25 May 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| youtuber wrote: |
| Greekfreak wrote: |
VIPS is brutal--mostly seafood (and mediocre seafood at that), and wayyy overpriced.
I tend to think that most foreigners in this country have had their taste buds destroyed by the first swig of soju. I'm far from a food connoisseur, but unless you're going to a proper international restaurant run by management who cares, you're going to be paying way too much for crappy food.
Interestingly enough, when I tried to contact Bennigan's, TGIF, and Outback as to the reason for their ever-shrinking menu, I only got one reply:
I am sorry that our menu choices are not entirely satisfactory to your dining decisions. We do have a fairly broad menu with a large amount of steak offerings as well as Pork Ribs, Chicken and Salads and we continually offer promotional steak items and limited time offers.
The majority of our Korean consumers do of course have a high preference for various types of seafood and we might have the perception of offering a slightly larger amount in that direction. For that I apologize. I would suggest the Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Alice Springs Chicken / Any of our numerous steak offerings and beef short ribs / BBQ Baby Back Ribs / Grilled Chicken and ribs, fried and grilled chicken salad and so forth on your next visit.
The Bloomin Onion was discontinued due to extremely poor sales. We eliminate or add certain items in all of our International markets based on core customer preference.
Once again we really appreciate your patronage and hope that I have been able to answer your questions/comments in a satisfactory manner.
Please let me know if I can help or assist in any matter.
Warm regards,
Kevin L. Crippen
Vice President
Outback Steakhouse International |
It's funny that you wrote them. Obviously, you won't be able to change anything. Their market in Korea is Koreans. You are barely a blip on their financial statements.
Here's an idea - cook for yourself. |
You're a genius--clearly you were handpicked from the ranks of NASA. I cook more than 95% of expats in Korea, but when I'm fed up with cooking, and I want to eat out, sometimes gam-ja-tang and kal-guk-su just don't cut it. My wife prefers to eat out more than I do, and she's deathly allergic to seafood. Hence my letter to the chains.
The whole thread is more of a commentary on how it's rare to find a truly westernized menu with staff that have been trained to deal with western expectations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Greekfreak
Joined: 25 May 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| youtuber wrote: |
| Greekfreak wrote: |
VIPS is brutal--mostly seafood (and mediocre seafood at that), and wayyy overpriced.
I tend to think that most foreigners in this country have had their taste buds destroyed by the first swig of soju. I'm far from a food connoisseur, but unless you're going to a proper international restaurant run by management who cares, you're going to be paying way too much for crappy food.
Interestingly enough, when I tried to contact Bennigan's, TGIF, and Outback as to the reason for their ever-shrinking menu, I only got one reply:
I am sorry that our menu choices are not entirely satisfactory to your dining decisions. We do have a fairly broad menu with a large amount of steak offerings as well as Pork Ribs, Chicken and Salads and we continually offer promotional steak items and limited time offers.
The majority of our Korean consumers do of course have a high preference for various types of seafood and we might have the perception of offering a slightly larger amount in that direction. For that I apologize. I would suggest the Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Alice Springs Chicken / Any of our numerous steak offerings and beef short ribs / BBQ Baby Back Ribs / Grilled Chicken and ribs, fried and grilled chicken salad and so forth on your next visit.
The Bloomin Onion was discontinued due to extremely poor sales. We eliminate or add certain items in all of our International markets based on core customer preference.
Once again we really appreciate your patronage and hope that I have been able to answer your questions/comments in a satisfactory manner.
Please let me know if I can help or assist in any matter.
Warm regards,
Kevin L. Crippen
Vice President
Outback Steakhouse International |
It's funny that you wrote them. Obviously, you won't be able to change anything. Their market in Korea is Koreans. You are barely a blip on their financial statements.
Here's an idea - cook for yourself. |
You're a genius--clearly you were handpicked from the ranks of NASA. I cook more than 95% of expats in Korea, but when I'm fed up with cooking, and I want to eat out, sometimes gam-ja-tang and kal-guk-su just don't cut it. My wife prefers to eat out more than I do, and she's deathly allergic to seafood. Hence my letter to the chains.
The whole thread is more of a commentary on how it's rare to find a truly westernized menu with staff that have been trained to deal with western expectations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
helly
Joined: 01 Apr 2003
Location: WORLDWIDE
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| There was a VIPs in the states where I grew up - a roadside diner, pancake house, etc - the kind of place with crayons for the kids to color their "Vippy Bunny" menu (yes, the menu was in the shape of a rabbit's face and had rubber bands on each side so you could wear it like a mask.) I always thought of that when Koreans talked about this famous fantastic American restaurant. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
