Korean Job Discussion Forums

articulate_ink · Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: Restaurants in Suwon (etc)

I'll be moving to Suwon in July. Not quite sure where yet. Possibly Suwon Station area, possibly Hwaseo. Any interesting restaurants, cafes, etc over there? My overall impression of Suwon is that it's reasonably lively -- it has a pulse -- but I'm not sure about the food options. There seems to be plenty of the usual K cuisine, which is fine. Any variety? International stuff, other than the Western chains? Cool places to chill with a beer or a coffee? The most recent thread on this was on the old side, and I'd enjoy hearing more recent comments on what's over there.

Also, any good gyms in the vicinity of the subway stations?

Thanks in advance...

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

Whatever you can get, be thankful. When I lived there in 1996, I had to take a 20 minute bus ride to NamMun just to have a fast food hamburger at Lotteria. I'm sure its changed since then.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Suwon is great for Korean food. I'd hate to be a vegetarian there though. I can't recommend any places because I don't know their names. Just experiment and find places for yourself. You'll make a lot of great discoveries.

Chamchiman · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: Digging the Grave

I'm curious about this too. Along the lines of "Jeonju is famous for bibimbap" and "Chuncheon is famous for ddalkgalbi", Suwon is famous for galbi. Is it really better than the galbi elsewhere? Can anyone recommend a particularly good galbi joint in Suwon?

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

I just want to warn you against World Cup Kalbi. Overpriced and just not good.

quicksilver66 · Joined: 11 May 2006

There are many good restaurants in Suwon Station, although some of them are a bit pricey, but they're a good alternative to the "Korean" food you'll find anywhere on the streets as they are more international. (I'm just learning about them myself). All the department stores seem to have restaurants or eating areas and there are many dumpling and kimbab stands all over the place.

Good luck and good eating.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject:

If you're ever in the Ajudae area, look for a place on the main drag (if you can call it that) called ?? and some Chinese character. Has the classic "traditional Korean bar" look to it. ???? there is great. You get a big slab of meat wrapped in aluminum foil put over a low flame. Takes maybe an hour to cook, but it's fantastic. Pretty cool and different atmosphere as well, and they give out these odd old Korean snacks that are the equivalent of Dum Dums or Tootsie Rolls or something for us.

There's also one of the best ??? shops around right by the front gate of Aju. It's called Hasurabi if I'm not mistaken, and they offer bar none the best overall tonkatsu kit. It's actually even better than other Hasurabi joints (it's a chain).

The ??? shop in the area is also a solid feed. There's a steamed chicken shop which is quite nice as well, and a couple of fried chicken joints that are good.

Unfortunately, Ajudae is a good 30 minutes or so from Suwon station, so not many people make it out there.