Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Billy Danze]

anyone know where it is or have a GREAT one to recommend?

I've obviously eaten a lot of galbi, and it all tastes the same, pretty delicious, but not that different from each other.

I've asked a number of Koreans this question and they seem baffled when hearing it, as if it's impossible for there to be different grades of galbi or a restaurant with a better reputation than the standard ones you see all over town. I even asked a korean chef if he could recommend a place, and I got nothing in return.

So, anyone have a great place to recommend that stands out far from everything else they've had?

[Fishead soup]

Most of the best ones are in Suwon south of Seoul. Suwon is famous for it's beef Kalbi. I usually eat pork kalbi because it's much cheaper. The best meat places have the Oil drum makshift tables with lots of ducking to remove the CO2 from the room.

Don Valley in Iteawon is an awesome meat restaurant that caters to foregners. It's on the main intersection near a Japanese style California roll place.

[Bloopity Bloop]

You know... I've often wondered about this as well. Not just galbi, but Korean food in general. I like Korean food but I don't love it. So I've spent a considerable amount of time trying to locate the AMAAAAZING stuff. Like you are now with galbi. Where's the best soups? Where's the best stews? Where's the best bbq? Where's the best jjimdakk/dakkgalbi?

So far, I've found that it's seriously the same at almost every "good" place. I keep expecting that I'll encounter that "next level" of Korean food, but I never do.

That's been my experience so far, and I'd love for anyone to change my thoughts on the matter with a recommendation.

I'm wondering if anyone here LOVES Korean food. Sometimes I think that you can only truly love Korean food if you grew up with it. I've enjoyed most of the food I've had here, but nothing has blown my mind.

Maybe it's just me. Who knows.

[eamo]

Same as Bloopity Bloop......I've had great galbi in a hundred different restaurants in Korea.....it's all good but you do kind of hit a level where it can only get so good.

Probably my most memorable meal in Korea was a pig backbone stew restaurant near Mia Station.......boy, that was good.

Some of the country-fied restaurants outside Seoul do great galbi.

[seoulsucker]

I don't know if it's the best, but Moong-chi on Kyungnidan is the place I eat at the most. They have great cuts of US galbi for 12,000/serving and offer unlimited side dishes and soups. They have outdoor seating and a friendly family staff. Nothing luxurious, but I'm there once a week.

[Underwaterbob]

I'm not sure about galbi, or Seoul, but there are a few restaurants I've been to that are above the nigh omnipresent average:

"White Christmas" (I know, lame name) just outside of Chungju has the best (or at least fanciest) food I've ever had, anywhere. It's also over $100 a plate, reservations mandatory. The chef trained somewhere in Europe. It's not Korean food though. I've also heard rumor that it closed...

There's a fusion place in Downtown Cheongju on the second floor across from the movie theater. I can't remember the name. The guy spent time abroad and knows how to cook interesting food. The best ddonggas and bokkeumbap I've had, the pasta wasn't bad either.

In Suanbo, there's a recently renovated, ex-dive called the Hyang Na Mu Shik Dang. They make their own tofu and get their produce, meat and fish locally. Their traditional Korean lunch is great, awesome biji jang, cheong gook jang and really fresh, flavorful veggies, fish and pheasant side dishes.

[Billy Danze]

[Bloopity Bloop]

[akcrono]

This may sound stupid, but I've only been here a few months. My best korean food experiences are those restaurants with the food cooking in an open fire outside. There's both a traditional korean chicken and a sum kyeop sal (SP?) place within walking distance from me that are a legitimate step up over most restaurants. If you've never done it before, and you know a place where food is smoked over wood outside, I would higly recommend that. Best SKS and some of the best chicken i've ever had. For reference, I'm located in Seongsan-dong near Sangam and Hongdae.

[samd]

The best galbi I've had is at a place called Mapo in Seongnae-dong near Cheonho Station.

Walk towards Lotte Cinema from Cheonho Station. Opposite the road from the cinema is a building with a Sorrento in it, turn left after this building, walk fifty to a hundred metres or so and you will see Mapo on your right. There is usually a queue, and the ajummas will be a stoking a bunch of those red hot cylinders with holes in the top outside. No English signage, so look for 마포 and there is also a similarly named one a bit further down, so go to the one closest to the cinema.

It's just simple pork galbi, but the marinade is delicious, as is the banchan, and they give you some congealed cow's blood soup with your rice, and an iced rice dessert also.

Be prepared to wait a while, up to an hour if you're in a group, but it's worth it.