Korean cuisine with a twist

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This is the 63rd in a series of articles highlighting tourism spots in Seoul. The guide for planning weekend trips in the capital city will help readers rediscover Seoul. - Ed.



By Jung Bo-sang



When travelling abroad, most Koreans prefer a bowl of rice to a piece of bread. Some struggle to find a Korean restaurant, only to find the dishes somehow altered, even if people seem to really enjoy it. As the proverb says, "A tangerine becomes a hardy orange once it crosses the Yangtze River."

Korean dishes are easily altered, and it may no longer be avoidable to change Korean food into a more "globalized" form. The idea in this is to find common denominators in the taste that everyone can enjoy. In this context, this article will introduce several Korean restaurants in Seoul trying to make alterations.

Meet fusion Korean cusine at "Mingadaheon (Min`s Club)"

David Robert and Kim Mi-young are a married couple who met at the Summer Jazz Festival in Montreal, Canada in 2003.

They received an invitation from Min`s Club in Insa-dong to provide their views on the globalization of Korean food as they have different tastes and cultural backgrounds. Min`s Club is a restaurant in a traditional house. The house was once owned by Min Ik-du, the nephew of Empress Myeongseong, and then renovated by Park Gil-ryong, the architect who designed the old building of Hwashin Department Store during the Japanese occupation.



Min`s Club is a great place to entertain international guests and try the latest fusion Korean food. It also provides a chance to see some of the history of the later Joseon Dynasty.

The appetizer of the A course includes mushroom puree and baked scallops. They have a clean and mild taste that Robert said reminded him of his travels in Italy. Robert, who was born in the historical French city of Sinon, said that the sweet pumpkin soup was similar to one the French enjoy in winter. Robert added that, unlike the usual way of offering several dishes at once, Min`s Club provided dishes in sequence which had him looking forward to each one.

For the main course, Kim ordered "samgyeopsal" (pork belly) with soy bean sauce and herbs, while Robert chose the Korean tteokgalbi beef steak, and a traditional wine brewed with hawthorn and Cornelian cherry. He said the wine had a mild aroma and neutralized the slight spiciness of the steak. He recommends this type of liquor for people who are new to Korean liquor, because it refreshes the mouth and has a fruity taste.

Korean dishes offered by Min`s Club have milder taste than usual because they try to create as much flavor as possible from the main ingredients. The service was also great, and staff even provided explanations of the dishes in French.

Over dessert, Robert said he started to like Korean food when he first tasted bibimbap. While the two rarely make Korean dishes because of their busy schedules, Robert and Kim said they made Kimchi fried rice and dishes using tofu or kimchi when they had time.

While in Montreal, Canada, the two of them would visit "Maison de Seoul" a local barbeque restaurant. Montreal has a lot of immigrants from different countries, but the couple guessed that there were only around 10 Korean restaurants in the city because Korean food was not well known.

"The unfamiliar names of representative Korean dishes are difficult for international people," said Robert.

He said that words like bibimbap and bulgogi were unfamiliar when written in English. A good approach to globalizing Korean food would be to have names that are easy to pronounce, clear images and information about the background of the dishes, he said.





Restaurants leading globalization of Korean food





`Rang`





"Rang," gets its name from "Hwarang," the name for the educated youth of the Silla Dynasty (BC 57-AD 935). The restaurant prides itself on the presentation of its dishes.



One of the most popular dishes with foreign diners is the five-colored steamed langouste. Under the philosophy of "Rang" that food should be beautiful, the prawns are colorfully arranged with painstaking effort. Rang is one of the best places to entertain guests with high-quality Korean food.





Comment from manager Lee Sun-mi





Rang has a lot of visitors from nearby foreign companies rather than tourists. Our secret lies in utilizing various and unique plates and various ingredients such as pomegranates and balsamic vinegar. The globalization of Korean dishes requires more specialized personnel who will develop and improve Korean dishes. But the number of training institutes that provide personnel with such training is not sufficient.





Information



Location: 2nd floor, 78, Gangnam-gu, Seoul



Transportation: Subway Line No. 7, Cheongdam Station, Exit 1 (2nd floor, Saman Building, near Gyeonggi High School Sageori)



Open: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.



Nearby tourist Sites: COEX, Bongeunsa Temple



Menu in English



Price: 16,000-30,000 won for lunch, 23,000-89,000 won for set menus



Parking provided (Valet parking: 2,000 won per vehicle)



Tal: 02-3446-2674



Website: http://www.rhang.com/





`Min`s Kitchen` Gangnam





The name of "Min`s Kitchen" comes from the owner`s name. This Korean restaurant provides folksy dishes such as bean sprouts salad, black-pig "ogyeopsal" (pork belly) and "Bossam" (boiled pork wrapped in lettuce). The bossam is best eaten with well-ripened kimchi and soybean leaves matured in soy sauce. The restaurant has a modern and simple interior. The charcoal-grilled ribs mixed with balsamic sauce and the roast rib salad with red cabbage, Lollo rosa and chicory are both popular.





Comment from chef Kim Min-ji





They have frequent foreign visitors on business or from nearby foreign companies. The restaurant offers traditional Korean food with a familiar touch. It is more appropriate to call it modern style Korean food is dishes rather than fusion Korean food, because our care for "neat appearance" and good taste is the most important factor.





Information



Location: Min`s Kitchen, 2nd floor, 1-9, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul



Transportation: Subway Line 7, Gangnamgu Office Station, Exit 4



In operation: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5:30-10 p.m.



Menu in English



Parking available



Tel: 544-1007



Website: http://www.minskitchen.kr/







`Insa-dong Guejip`





The restaurant has a lot of foreign tourists, conveniently located in Ssamji street, Insa-dong where tourists frequently visit. Meat lovers enjoy steamed ribs or mushroom bulgogi, while vegetarians often order the strong soy sauce ssam. The vegetarian set menu is composed of freshly cut vegetables, soup and egg-rice.





Comment from Manager Kim Gwang-back





Guejip started as traditional Korean food restaurant, but has developed the dishes that are familiar to foreign tastes. For example, the flavor of their seafood rice has been made more tender and mild. The restaurant is trying to make Korean-style but global cusine by surveying food preferences of tourists from different countries and developing seasonal menus.





Information



Location: 68, Gwanhu-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul



Transportation: Anguk Station, Exit 6



Open: 10 a.m.-12 a.m.



Nearby tourist Sites: Insa-dong, Unhyeongung, Jongmyo, Changdeok-gung, Changgyeong-gung, Gyeongbok-gung



Menu in English



Price: 24,000 won for Soy Doenjang Jeopngsik (two persons); 7,000 won for dolsot bibimbap



Parking not provided



Tel: 737-0575







Myeongdong branch of Gogung





Gogung has specialized in bibimbap since 1966. They have two branches in Insa-dong and Myeongdong in Seoul. The restaurant has offers bibimbap made with elegant refinement. The name refers to bibimbap served at royal tables in ancient palaces.







Information



Location: 12-14, Chungmu-2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul



Transportation: Subway Line No. 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 10, Go straight to the alley of Mini Stop and then turn left. Gogung is opposite "Hwaro Yeohang."



In operation: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.



Tourist Sites: Insa-dong, Unhyeon-gung, Jongmyo, Changdeok-gung, Changgyeong-gung, Gyeongbok-gung



Menu in English



Parking available at the paid parking lot at Migliore



Tal: 776-3211



Website: http://www.gogung.co.kr/





`Odari`





Tteokboki, assorted fried food and fish cake are the most popular street snacks in Korea, but foreign people often avoid street stalls. "Odari" is a franchised restaurant, providing street food in the convenience and pleasant atmosphere of a restaurant. The tteokbokki at "Odari" is famous for its spicy taste and big portions. Soft-bar rice cake hot from the mill is used here. Tthe restaurant now offers Tteokboki, assorted fried food and fish cakes. The restaurant has seen an increasing number of Japanese tourists after it featured in Japanese TV shows and magazines..







Information



Location: Seonnung Station, leave Exit No. 2, turn left at Linko, and walk 40 meters. Odari is on the left.



Transportation: Seonneng Station, Exit 2.



Open: 24 hours



No menu in English



Price: 2,500 won for tteokbokki and sundae, 3,000 won for seafood noodles and udong



Parking: Unavailable (Paid parking in the building parking lot)



Tel: 539-1340



Website: www.odari.co.kr