Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kangnam mafioso]

I've been back in North America a few months now and I find myself really missing the sasheemi in Seoul. You can get sushi in any city in the states, but it seems so boring now. It's bland and frozen and not the same at all. Sushi in the states is all Japanese-style. I miss the places in Seoul with the tanks out front. Does anyone else frequent these places? Where you order a plate of raw fish and they serve it up with endless side dishes and you finish it off with a steaming bowl of meyan-tang and soju shots? Side dishes include, but are not limited to, quail eggs, omelettes, pajang, raw marinated crab, whole baked mackeral, ad infinitem. I also miss the Japanese-style frozen Tuna sushi places that serve up really cold slices of different tuna varieties with rice gruel and dry sea weed (kim). After a healthy dinner of raw fish, treat yourself to one of the dong dong-ju hofs in Shinchon. You can't beat the digestive qualities of a big bowl of rice liquer and aju-tang? Fish egg stew. I can't remember the name. The crab stew is also a winner -- Goekay-tang. It's hard to find any of that stuff in the states -- even in Korea towns.
Hot picks: -Sinsa station (Gokay-tang)
-Naranjin station -- biggest seafood market in Seoul with on-site eating areas
-Sinchon (near Jamsil) -- big variety of seafood restaurants that serve everything
- Shinchon (near hongdae) -- best dong dong ju in Seoul
Gonbae!

[Harin]

where are you? I am in seattle....there are a few that serve a plate of raw fish with tons of side dishes. last time i spent about 60 dollars, but my girlfriend and I couldn't finish all the food they gave us. too much...,but darn good

[Cthulhu]

I hear you, Kangnam. I had sushi today at a cheaper place in Toronto but it didn't go down nearly as well as the seaside sashimi places near Busan I used to frequent. And I miss having the choice of gochujang, kanjang or makjang as the dipping sauce. Having only soy sauce&wasabi available gets boring!

[turtlepi1]

Blech...I HATE it...give me the flash frozen fish anytime...
Aside from the parasite problems with fish that hasn't been flash frozen it just doesn't taste as good either...I like Korean food, but this is one dish I can do without..

but to each his own...

[Cthulhu]

The difference in taste I can understand, turtlepi, but don't worry about the parasites. Recently in our province the gov't almost passed a law banning serving raw fish that isn't pre-frozen. One of the chief concerns was the parasite issue, to which opponents of the measure brought up the fact that no cases of parasites had been reported in hostpitals in the province in over 30 years. The legislation was watered down shortly thereafter.

Ontario may water down new sushi rules

I think the parasite issue is a bit overblown, though the occasional case is sure to get attention. Catching it is no more likely than getting mad cow disease from beef, I'll wager.

Speaking of beef, ever try yuk-wheh (raw beef) in the restuarants, especially the fancy buffet places? Great stuff...and maybe some yummy parasites too!

[turtlepi1]

Hey..I'm not a germophobe or anything...

It's just that before I came here my doc (friend of the family) was flashing around the pics of parasitic worms that had burrowed into the sinus cavity and brain of a patient....blech...

(and I do eat sushi occasionally here. Maybe it is mental, knowing it hasn't been frozen and thinking back to thepics but I don't enjoy the taste nearly as much as Japanese sushi.)

[Cthulhu]

I love Japanese sushi because they put a nice slab of fish on top--it actually hangs over the rice instead of barely covering it.