What makes a good mom and pop restaurant?

This meal was filled with 정 and deliciousness. 

Recently I was asked this questions, "What makes a good mom & pop restaurant in Korea?" When I first arrived here it was one of the most perplexing things for me and I never thought I would ever be good at it. Everything looked the same and I couldn't deduce what was good and what was bad. I felt helpless when it came time to pick a place to eat. My solution, just start walking into any place I saw and just eating there.  After years of this I've finally developed that sixth sense that tells me a shop is going to be magic. It feels good to have crossed that barrier of entry.

Of course, trying to put this into words is harder than it sounds. Today I'm going to do my best give a few pointers that might help you get more comfortable deciding where to eat.

1.  Are their hand written signs in the window for special dishes? I've found that busy windows full of specials are a good sign that the people in the kitchen care about making delicious things and not just a menu list. They are cooking for season and not just what's pre-decided. These specials are usually fantastic as well.

2. How busy is the restaurant at meal times? The number of cars in the parking lot or the number of people in seats is always a good sign. Especially if those seats are filled with grandmas and grandpas. If the seats are only filled with construction workers than maybe it's just cheap.

3. Is the word 고향 (hometown) in the name? Mom & Pop restaurants offering hometown cooking really do have a higher rate of deliciousness and better side dishes. Also, if they specifically mention a region of Korea.

4. It's not a brand or a chain. Although many brands and chains are individually owned and can have great things, their side dishes are often boring and lack a distinct flavor. To find chains or brands that do have a good mom and pop flavor, refer to rule number one.

5. Lot's of side dishes in the pictures. Side dishes are my jam. I LOVE a good 백반 (look for this and order this) option. This means that the meal is primarily side dishes.

6. Boxes of fresh veggies piled around. When I see piles of cabbage, radish, and greens stacked outside the shop or just inside the door, I know it's going to be a good meal.

7.  Warn out but also clean. Great places often look tired, but also really loved. Families often grow up in these restaurants. They are as much homes as they are businesses.

We aren't done yet though, once you have found what feels like the perfect place - how do you know the food is top notch? Let's look at that now:

1. Rice. This is a BIG deal.  It also should never be dry or taste stale. The rice that comes to your table should be so delicious you can enjoy it by itself. The best restaurants also don't serve just white rice. They serve bean rice or a mixed rice because it's more nutritionally balanced. No self-respecting mom and pop shop servings bad rice. This is often where restaurants near the military bases let you down. They buy the cheap rice and it truly ruins the meal.

2. Lettuce. It shouldn't be wilted and it should be bitter. If you are in a meat restaurant where the lettuce is sagging, that's just a no.  It's a real deal breaker for me.

3. Vegetable quality. The veggies should be fresh and rich in flavor. In the states we are now used to our fruits and veggies being flavorless, but that should happen here. Carrots should be sweet, cucumbers fresh and juicy, tomatoes sweet and tangy, etc. If there are bowls of things everywhere being washed, you've nailed it. It's going to be great.

4. Depth of flavor. The broths shouldn't be one dimensional. The majority should be dynamic and carry a wide variety for flavors. There are simpler dishes, but you usually add dynamic flavors to them on your own to bring out their full personality. They are like a blank canvas with the base paint added but you get to do the rest.

5. Diversity of side dishes. Pyeongtaek is bad about this, but ideally you want there to be diversity in your side dishes. A balance of nutrition and taste. If there are three dishes it's ideal if they aren't all similar. Sometimes I let this pass when the main dish is extraordinary but I'm always a little bitter about it.

6. You eat it and even though you don't understand it you still think, "OMG! Where have you been all my life?" 

7. Finally, beyond the food you want to feel 정 (Jeong). Which sounds super crazy, but after you are here for a bit you start to know what it means and how important it is. It's a particular feeling. A sense of warmth, a kindness extended across the divide. It might be a soda given as service. A special side dish brought out after they see you eat all the others. It's usually reserved,but emotionally palatable. It's also a part of the Korean experience and once you start to see it or recognize it you know you are on the road to understand not just the food but also the hearts of Korea.

You can download the South of Seoul App from:

항토 보리밥집 Video Menu

Pro tip: (2인분) means it serves two people. Can't order for an individual.

식사류 = Food Menu 

보리밥 = BoriBap

제육뽁음 = jeyugbokk-eum

된정찌개 = doenjangjjigae

동대찌개 = dongdaejjigae

부대찌개 = budaejjigae

라면사리 = Ramon noodles

공기밥 = Rice with beans

삼겹살 = Korean bacon

소고기벗건골 = sogogibeosgeongol

닭도리탕 = dalgdolitang

주류 = Drink Menu 

소주 = Soju
맥주 = maekju (Beer)
청하 =cheongha (low alcohol soju type)백서주 = baegseoju (rice alcohol flavored with herbs)
산사춘 = sansachun (wine made from the red fruits of the sansa)
막걸리 = maggeolli (rice wine)

Zip (delicious meat near AK Plaza)

For years now, I've been looking for a samgyeupsal restaurant near AK Plaza that made me want to come back. I'm not saying I haven't eaten meat downtown town and thought it was fine, but none made me dream of a return trip. (Yup, I'm a meat snob now. I never even saw it coming.) Not until now.

Which is why taking a vacation is so important. With more time to meet up with friends and just chill out, I found the motivation to give the city center one more try. While prepping for dinner with Jennifer and Sue of Pyeongtaek Korean tutors I did a bit of research on Naver and found this new gem.

Zip (as I'm going to call it since that's what is in English) is located next to the cute little park with the water feature a few blocks from the AK Plaza. The place is newish, bright and clean with tables and chairs so no sitting on the floor was required. Their grills are big and spacious with plenty of room for all the different items included in their affordable set menus. Since I like my kimchi and my garlic well grilled this system works for me.

The meal itself boasts a variety of balanced flavors, fresh ingredients, and quality meat cuts. The samgyeupsal is thick cut and gorgeous. There is only one other place in Pyeongtaek that I have round comparable meat quality (for a reasonable price) and it's not well vented so most folks wouldn't feel comfortable eating there.

One thing I can't remember.. if anything was in English. Don't worry though, any set you order will be delicious so just order for a price range and dig in.

As an added bonus, it's a great place for an evening date. You can finish up dinner and then go watch the water and lights dance out front before a stroll along the river walk a few blocks away.

*** This listing and all other restaurants reviewed by South of Seoul can be found in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. ***

For the address and a map CLICK HERE for the MollaKorea.com Listing.

Soy Crab & Sushi Bibimpap

This is for the most adventurous of you eaters out there. This right here is ganjang-gejang (간장게장)which is raw crab marinated in soy sauces. Nom, nom, nom.... oh right, I'm writing a review not thinking about food.

On Sunday I NEEDED to eat this so I went on a hunt for a place with my friend, trying to find a few places Naver had recommended. All of them had been torn down to make way for progress.  I found this one completely by chance after we tossed our plan aside to go hangout at Pyeongtaek Lake Park.

We ended up splitting the crab and then each having a bowl of sushi bibimpap which was really delightful.  The restaurant has huge sashimi meals as well, for those with groups of 4 or more, so it's a nice old fashioned place to grab a dinner. It's not cheap though. Expect to pay at least 20,000 per person without drinks.  Delicious though, and right near the lake so no problem at all for me.

The restaurant is older and run in the traditional style, but the menus do have simple, mostly accurate English translations. They also had both floor seating and tables with chairs. Parking was also very easy.

After we finished dinner we were able to take a beautiful walk, enjoying the lake, and grab some coffee. It's an amazing way to spend a day with a friend or an adventurous date. 

*** This listing and all other restaurants reviewed by South of Seoul can be found in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. ***

(For a map, Click HERE for the MollaKorea.com Listing)

Tofu Restaurant: 두부마을송탄점

One of the culinary surprises I experienced when eating in Asia, and Korea in particular, is that tofu is not a meat substitute. It has nothing to do with being vegetarian. It's just something people like to eat. This revelation was of great delight to me because I love tofu but I also love meat and I was always annoyed that I wasn't allowed to eat them together.  

To my delight, in Korea, when you go to a tofu restaurant it isn't just tofu. Instead, they feature homemade tofu as part of the over all landscape of the meal. The result - for us foreigners - is that tofu is re-imagined as delicious flavor clouds you can eat (or at least that's what they are in my mind) along with many other substantial flavors. It's hard to explain, but I feel like I finally understand what tofu is and why it became so popular. My taste for it has continually grown and now I crave it on a regular basis.

This particular restaurant is my favorite tofu restaurant in all of Pyeongtaek, not only because of the delicate tofu, but also because to the extensive seasonal side dishes that come with the meal. It's an affordable feast for the senses. Seriously, I eat here all the time.

Name: 두부마을송탄점

Address: 경기도 평택시 중앙동

Telephone: 031-611-1321

Nolboo Hangari Galbi

MollaKorea.com Listing: Click Here 

Nolboo Hangari Galbi has officially reopened in Songtan on the main shopping street in front of Osan Air Force Base. If you are new to Korea and new to Korean food, this is an excellent place to get your taste buds acclimated. The side dishes are mild, the meat is excellent, the menus and staff use English, there is a stalked bar, it's easy to find, and the owners are lovely. In my opinion, it's the best place for BBQ on strip.

If you love meat, there is really no way to go wrong with this meal. If you want simple you can just order un-marinated meat, grill it and eat it. If you are more adventurous you can try a marinated meat topped with all the garlic, Korean sauces, etc. It's a meal for everyone, unless you are vegetarian, then you want to stay very far away. 

Korean BBQ is simple to order. You will chose a few delicious cuts of beef or pork which will come with various pre-set side dishes. These side dishes are refilled for free, so if you love them you can just ask for more. Once you are used to eating here other meat restaurants will be a piece of cake. 

The one important thing to note is that Korean BBQ is a meal meant for two more more. However, during lunch time individual soups and stews are available at Nolboo Hangari Galbi.

Name: Nolboo Hangari Galbi

Address: Pyeongtaeksi  Shinjangdong 315-8

Phone: 031-665-3737

4 Fab Shabu Shabu Restaurants

Shabu Shabu (샤브샤브) is one of the most delicious things you can eat. Originally from China, but also famous in Japan, it is often called "hot pot". In Korea it has many delightful variations that involve a fusion of different cultures. 

In the Pyeongtaek area we have eaten almost as much Shabu Shabu as we have eaten Budaejjigae so we've done our research. These are our favorite styles thus far, as well as our favorite place to eat each one. This list is in no particular order and summarizes our favorite places and styles.  Click through to the full blog for additional information and addresses. We are too lazy to put it all here.

1.CLOSED: Vietnamese Shabu Shabu

with fresh rolls.

This is what we eat when we are craving crazy amounts of veggies. At this particular restaurant, you not only get veggie but you also have unlimited meat. So come hungry.

Click here for full review.

2. Pork Shabu Shabu

with Duck Roasted in Pumpkin.

Go here hungry because the side dishes are a meal in themselves. You will be feasting on shaved pork and duck cooked in pumpkin. Then you will be left wondering how you lived before eating this meal.

Click here for full review.

3. Seafood Shabu Shabu

with Udon

Sometimes we aren't feeling like a lot of meat, so we choose seafood shabu shabu which is lighter... well, it would be lighter if we didn't our body weight in side dishes. This particular restaurant is nice because the pot is split in half. So you can actually order pork and seafood at the same time and cook them separately.

Click here for full review.

4. Beef Shabu Shabu 

with Homemade Noodles

The full blog for this restaurant will come along in a few weeks, but it needed to be on this list. This restaurant does not serve side dishes with their shabu shabu, instead they rely on one of the most delicious broths I've ever tasted. This particular restaurant is a chain, but they are not all created equal. The one in Anjung-eup is one of the best meals I've ever had and non of the other versions of this chain come close. Since there isn't a bigger blog for this yet. Here is the name and address.

Name: 등촌칼국수

Address.안중로18번길 - 경기도 평택시 안중읍

Nave Map: http://me2.do/5PqAbmnV

Mandu Restaurant: 엄정 자신있는 만두

If you are in downtown Pyeongtaek near the KB Bank intersection and need something fast, I heartily recommend this little "fast food" joint. It's one of my favorite spots to grab something cheap and fast, usually the galbi mandu or the fried mandu - or both. The food tastes fresh, and if you are really busy to can just grab it to go and eat it on the road.  A wonderful thing when you are feeling hangry.

Sorry that I don't have a photo of my actual meal as I was in a hurry and almost forgot to take any photos at all this time.

Pyeongtaek City Center about 5 minutes from Ak Plaza

Located near the KB Bank Intersection across from It Plate.

Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 48-1

Naver Map: http://me2.do/xq41AEp9

숯고개부대찌개: Budae Jjigae

In our lives, when it's rainy or cold, there are two things we eat: Budae Jjigae and Kimchi jjigae. Thankfully, Songtan is one of the best places ever for Budae Jjigae / 부대찌개 (also known as soldier stew) since it's where it all started.  

We have eaten this dish everywhere we go, but one of our all time favorite places (maybe our favorite ever) is at the end of the shopping street in front of Osan Air Force Base.  It's on the left and you will miss it if you blink.  The restaurant is two stories, very small, with seated tables on the first floor and floor seating on the second.  We recommend ordering at least one round of ramon noodles with the stew as they soak up the flavor perfectly.

If you don't know what Budae Jjigae is, it's a spicy stew made with sausages, spam, and ham, onions, scallions, and deliciousness. 

It's a lot of food so come hungry!

Name: 숯고개부대찌개

Street Address: 경기도 평택시 신장동 325-12

Driving Address: 경기도 평택시 쇼핑로 39-1

Telephone: 031-666-2768 

Farm To Table Traditional Korean

Are you a foodie who thinks Pyeongtaek doesn't really have much to offer?  Well, you are wrong and this place will prove it.  Tucked away in the hills behind a university, it will seem like you are lost just about the time you find this place.  Completely unassuming on the outside, inside is small bright space where reservations are often needed if you show up after 11:00am.  Many guests at this lovely destination come from far and wide to eat this exquisite food. 

The pictures in this blog do not do it justice.  You would think that I would have a zip drive full of good pictures because a) I go here all the time and b) the food is stunning.  Instead, however, I have failed each and every time to take good photos because I am too excited/overwhelmed by the food.  The presentation is just delightful and I get wrapped up in how lovely it looks and can't really think about anything else. So check out these Korean food blogs to get a better idea of the awesomeness.

http://m.blog.naver.com/jinsung6788/220351508686

http://m.blog.naver.com/gasumi00/220243220871

http://m.blog.naver.com/gluvc/40211103715

(Arg. Looking at the photos is killing me. Want - to - go - now!!!!!)

There are only two set options and everyone will need to order the same one.  They are between $14 and $18 if I remember right. To be honest, I am always thinking, "Here take all my money. I love this too much" so I don't remember exactly what I spend. That said, I have only order the cheapest option because it's always too much food and I'm not ready to level up.  The basic meal is something like 16 courses so pace yourself please.  Just when you think you are finished more is going to show up.

The food here is indescribable and everyone I have ever taken here has been in awe.  The flavors are fresh and each plate very unique.  If you are going with kids, there are also kids plates you can order like fried pork cutlet so that you can keep the best parts for yourself.

Address:

 Name: 산말을명가  

Address: 경기도 평택시 장안동 92-17

Never Map: http://me2.do/5aNFlluS

CLOSED: Vietnamese Fusian Shabu Shabu

Pyeongtaek: To Eat

Vietnamese Shabu Shabu

One of the first meals I really fell in love with in the Pyeongtaek area was a fusion Vietnamese shabu shabu.  The best place I have been for this so far has been in Anjung-eup which is in the western part of Pyeongtaek.  

Last night, however, we ended up at one of these restaurants on the edges of Pyeongtaek City that took the whole thing to the next level because it was all you can eat beef, pork, and veggies.  It was possibly the best choice you could make for a large group of hungry, thirsty people.  It's one of the few meals that everyone can be happy with.  All spicy or unusual flavors can be completely avoided or totally embraced, you get to choose.  If you love meat, you can just eat meat.  If you love veggies, you can just eat veggies.  If you like spicy, dump on the sauces. 

It's simple, healthy, and filling.

Is this THE BEST Vietnamese Shabu Shabu fusion I've had? 

No, because it's not as great as Anjung-eups. 

Is it it the best I've had in Pyeongtaek City? 

Yes, because it's all the veggies I want and a good quality of meat.

From what I could tell there were options ranging from 9,000 - 26,000\ depending on if you also wanted to order additional seafood items (seafood not all you can eat).  Since I wasn't paying, I have no idea what our meal cost per person.  If I would guess, it was the 9,000\ option, but I have no idea.

As usual, the restaurant had private rooms to facilitate large groups of people.

Name: 월남 쌈 김상사

Address: 경기도 평택시 동삭동 386-24,

Naver Map: http://me2.do/FoCrQOdx

Pumpkin Duck Shabu Shabu

 

 Pyeongtaek Restaurants

That we love

Where to Go: Pumpkin Duck Shabu Shabu 호박오리

 

This is one of our top three meals to eat in Korea.  Every time we go we think, "Maybe this is the best food ever".  First you eat shabu shabu with numerous fantastic sides. Then they bring out the roasted duck in a bed of roasted pumpkin, at which point you die and go to heaven.  Honestly, just get in your car and go.  Don't even waste your time reading the rest of this, just put down what you are doing and go eat.

 

In addition to being wildly delicious, it’s crazy affordable.  Between $15-$20 per person depending on group size.  If you don't like this place, basically, we can't be friends.  It's as close as you can come to the perfect meal.

 Pro Tip: Go with a group and just order the set.  It will be too much food and you will be delighted. The menús are not in English.  The set menu is on the top left side and there are two options based on the number of people in your party.

Address: Look for a big orange sign with a duck on it.

네이버 지도]
호박오리샤브샤브 031-667-2372
경기도 평택시 장안동 192
http://me2.do/5KTSea9M

  

 

P.S. Now I am hungry 

and desperate for duck. ㅠㅠ

Cabin Shabu Shabu

Pyeongtaek Restaurants

We love

 

So, you need to wow your date with delicious Korean food and an intimate, cozy setting?  This is the place you want to go.  This shabu shabu restaurant is located in a stunning, log cabin on the side of hill. Inside its warm lighting and plants that wind through the space make the wide open room seem intimate and you muck more attractive.  It's by far one of the most romantic restaurants I have found in Korea.  Heck, even the pot you cook in is downright sexy.

 

To top it all off, the food is excellent. The fresh veggies, quality seafood, meat and noodles have impressed everyone we have ever brought here.  It's a rare person who isn't going to love this.  Shabu shabu is straight up fun to eat and at this restaurant the food is only as spicy as you chose to make it. That means even your kids, picky friends, and out of town guests are going to be able to eat themselves sick. As an added bonus, they even serve wine by the glass here.

Address: Big log cabin in the side of a hill.  

Name: 게으쭈루, 

Phone: 031-667-4946, 

Address: 경기도 평택시 이충동 123-4, 

Naver Map: http://me2.do/FOAiajAr