Korean Job Discussion Forums

Kiwi Tart · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: Seoul

I visited the steak restaurant "VIPS" because my Korean co-teachers said they had REALLY good food. They also said that the restaurants were very expensive.

Well, I found the establishments to be a little pricey, but the food was completely disappointing. The salads at VIPS were miserable piles of mushed and mashed vegetables slathered in mayonnaise and ambiguous dressings. (I think it was all the same things that are found at PizzaHut or Mr.Pizza) The main dishes (my friend and I ordered a steak and some pasta) were of poor quality. My steak had to have been a very low quality cut, small in size, and the texture was something else completely. The pasta sauce tasted like something that could have been poured from a can.

I don't understand the hype about VIPS. (One male friend even said he wanted to take his girlfriend there before proposing to her!?) Was VIPS made famous though a TV Drama? Am I just missing something on the menus? Why are they so famous? Why do so many Koreans see it as the top place to go, and so so so expensive?

On a side note: I am definitely not a food snob. This place just baffles me. I don't mind paying a bit of money, but I would like to get what I pay for. It's the same price as Outback, but lacking even their quality.

Kurtz · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Location: ples bilong me

Can't give you the specifics on VIPS but I've noticed in general that Koreans have no idea when it comes to quality when dealing with all things foreign, and high prices are usually charged as well.

It's a steak restaurant, so that means it's a little exotic for them so it's something special so for some reason that means high prices.

Steak really isn't part of their normal diet, so they have developed their own tastes which might not suit a Westerner's taste.

For example, there is a steak restaurant back home that you have to book months in advance for, the steak is only cooked by the owner, so that is what you call a high class dining experience. Now compare that with VIPS or OUTBACK or whatever chain that's the cool place to go to. Sadly I'd think Koreans would prefer their VIPS as that is what they are used to as they'd be wondering where the crappy salad and side dishes are.

Same thing with these coffee shops. Starbucks, Angel In Us Coffee, they are all the same boring crappy places but Koreans love them as that's all they know.

To sum up, most Koreans have no idea about non-chain/franchise establishments and have their own tastes in what's good and bad in comparison to a foreigner.

Buy some Aussie beef and cook it yourself at home next time.

youtuber · Joined: 13 Sep 2009

For eating in Korea, VIPS is pretty good. The service there is also quite good. I ordered a steak, and it wasn't cooked right. So they cooked me another one and gave me the previous one "to go" as well.

And I really like the variety there. The salmon was the most popular among the koreans. They did have stuff for making tacos there, but the meat was really weird. There is also a place to make your own sundae.

All in all, not too bad. Outback is far better though.

Ah, and I like how they also have a self serve drink (non alcholic) bar.

I think one of the best places for value and taste is Sorrento. Great pasta for under W10,000.

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

I don't know about where you are, but VIPs went under in Ulsan, and I saw quite a few have closed down in Busan.

IMO, in general, Koreans dont "live to eat" but "eat to live," so quality just isn't that important to them. It is qyite rare to find a restaurant where it is obvious that the owner has a real passion for their food.

rainbow brite · Joined: 14 Nov 2009

I've always been fond of the VIPS salad bar. I'm okay with going there just for that. The steaks are pricey, but the one that you finish cooking at the table (on the stone) is pretty good.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

VIPs used to be really good - when it first started it was fantastic.. then things went downhill.
Evil or Very Mad

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

Since I love to cook and eat good food at home, my philosophy is that if I am going to go out and spend my hard earned money at a restaurant, it has to be for either a)something I can not prepare as well as the restaurant, b) a nice atmosphere for special occasions, or c) sometimes just for convenience.

I would never go to VIPs if it was back in the states. If I am going to shell out $20 for a lunch time salad bar, I don't want to be drinking out of small plastic "kid" cups, or wiping my mouth with small paper cocktail napkins.

Having said that(if you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm you might get a kick out of that term), I will go to VIPs about every 3 months for the salad bar smoked salmon alone. Nothing else is exceptional, though most things are fairly adequate.

On a side note, they have a lunch special where for a few thousand won more you can add an entree like ribs, steak, or chicken to the cost of the salad bar. I used to order the ribs, fill up on the salad bar, and take the ribs home. Last time I did this however they informed me it would be the last time. Now I fully understand that one can't take out salad bar items. But the ribs are a one time item that you pay extra for. Oh well, it is what it is.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I had a bad impressoin of VIPS until this year. The one near my home is decent. It's not a place I seek out though.

And to the guy who mentioned Sorrento as being good....come on now. I'd eat ramyun noodles with spaghetti sauce on them before I would say that place is good!

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

do you honestly think Koreans know anything about fine dining?
do you think they know the difference between a lamb chop and a pork chop? for them a salad with corn and mayo on it is a good sald!

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

seonsengnimble · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:30 pm Post subject:

seonsengnimble · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

I also don't really understand VIPS. They have a salad bar. They also have really mediocre steaks. If I want a "nice" steak, I'll just go to Bennigans or Outback, get a much nicer steak and spend 10,000 less for it.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

I like VIPS, and have never had a complaint about them. The crappy salads and other stuff you mentioned is actually the style that Koreans like to eat.

I agree, the average Korean has no clue what good food really is.

In general, Koreans tend to eat low-grade cuts of beef. They order the cheapest cuts from USA or Australia and then say 'Hanwoo is the best'.

UknowsI · Joined: 16 Apr 2009

I think you have to be a little careful with what you order at VIPS. I would generally not advice anyone to order thin steaks or pasta because the steaks will probably be cooked in a different fashion than what we're used too, and Koreans usually make pasta sauce quite different as well.

I have found the thick steaks to be much more tasty, and some of the chicken dishes they also do very well. I've order a couple of different thick steaks at VIPS and they have been very juicy, while the thin ones I've ordered have been disappointing. Pasta I've simply realised I have problems enjoying Korean style. But overall I think VIPS is very good, and considering how it costs almost the same as Burger King in my home country I can't really complain.

Sergio Stefanuto · Joined: 14 May 2009 Location: UK

Outback and VIPs are appalling. Eating Korean food every time you eat out is boring, certainly, but even so there's no excuse for eating that crap. Since hoffs serve all sorts of fusion food that in many cases has fried things that could pass for Western, I'd eat in those. Craving a steak? Cook at home.