Tag Archives: eating

Jun16

$5 lunch-ee!!

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Boyfriend and I have been living quite cheaply the last few weeks.  We have our Thailand trip in a few weeks and we’re soooo excited!  Saving every last won to make sure we can do whatever we want when we’re there!

We have been eating a LOT of ramen (instant noodles) and it’s actually been really fun!  We get to try out all different kinds of flavors and styles.  We have added mandu (dumplings) a few times, some meat another time… fun stuff! :P

This afternoon we felt like something other than noodles!  We found some awesome marinated meaty-stuff on a stick at the local supermarket for 1,500won each.  A few weeks ago we discovered a new “restaurant” in Gumi, called “Kong’s Riceball” (*giggles*).  Since the slogan reads : “Get some FUN – Fast Unique Nutritious” we decided to try it out.

Kong’s Riceballs in Okgye-dong, Gumi.

I think the rice balls are similar to the triangle kimbaps, it’s literally a stuffed rice ball rolled in shredded dried seaweed.  They have a variety of flavours – all pretty Korean-ish.  Boyfriend settled on the “Hot chilli pork” rice ball and I had the “beef salad” rice ball.  Most of the rice balls were 2,300won(about $2), with the exception of the fried kimchi one (1,500) and a few others were 2,000won.

All kinds of plastic rice ball goodness – they were much smaller in size though.. I’m guessing that’s what the post-it says…

The rice balls are quite small but coupled with two of the meaty sticks, we were both pretty stuffed.  I quite liked it! The beef salad one was, well… beef & broccoli… but it was very tasty.  Boyfriend’s hot chilli pork was most definitely hot and spicy, but also delicious!

If you see a Kong’s rice ball anywhere, be sure to try it out.  It’s small enough to be a snack when you’re on the go too.

Lunch! Meat-on-a-stick & rice balls.

Look at our balls!
Left: Hot chilli pork rice ball.
Right: Beef “salad” rice ball.

Apr12

Dragon Dream (Cave Bar) Busan

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Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she’s still alive.  :)    I hate February/March in Korea!  The winter gets too long, the weather is crappy, everything outside is dead and ugly.  I hate it.  This morning I woke up to a gorgeous spring day! The sun is shining, cherry blossoms are coming out nicely, birds are chirping.. aaah bliss!  So it’s time for me to get out of this winter hole and start blogging again!

A few weeks ago I went to Busan with some of the newbies from the February 2012 intake.  After a few bumps — bronchitis, slooow taxi and seeing our train depart without us, we finally got to Busan at around noon.  After meeting up with everyone and having lunch and a few drinks, we set out to find the Dragon Dream cave bar.   We took the subway to Seomyeon station on line 1 and took a taxi to the Beomildong District office, across from the Han Sang Green Apartments (about 3000won).  From there we followed the directions as on the City Awesome website.   (Start at picture 6)   “Take the first RIGHT after you see the Borim cinema bus stop.  Then take your first LEFT. The bar/restaurant is on your RIGHT.”  We had a tough time finding the place, but I realize now that we might have made an extra turn…

Dragon Dream cave bar

Before making your way, you should know that it’s not a huge place and it’s more like a magkeolli (Korean rice wine) bar than a restaurant / proper bar.  It really is in a cave though so super cool bonus points there!  We went on a rainy day, so the walls of the cave were wet.   The place is much bigger than I thought.  When you enter, they have a few Korean style tables for bigger parties.  From there you enter the cave.  They have tables along the wall right to the back.  There’s a big dragon statue in water in the corner and if you turn to your right, they have even more tables down that way.  The tables are small – about 4 per table and since everything is rather solid, you can’t move them to add more people if you have a bigger party.  We had to use two tables and it was a bit antisocial, but it was still something new to experience.

 

We ordered the dongdongju, which is similar to Makgeoli and it’s their specialty.  I  personally don’t like magkeoli, but I quite enjoyed the dongdongju!  If you like makgeoli, you’ll definitely like the dongdongju!  It was served in the traditional way – a big pot with smaller bowls for everyone.  We ordered the haemulpajeon (seafood Korean pancake) and it was honestly the best pajeon I’ve had in Korea!   We also got a side dish tofu and kimchi which was amazing!   I can’t remember the exact prices, but we were 7 people, had two pajeons, two bowls of dongdongju and two ciders and paid less than 5,000 each.  Definitely worth it!

Dongdongju served in a big bowl.

Best Korean pancake ever!!!

This is probably not where you’d hang out every weekend, but it sure is nice to get out of the Gwangalli vibe for a bit.  It’s very different and very laid back, but definitely had fun going there.  I would probably go back for the pajeon!  Do it!

Nov1

Braai Republic… The Republic of Happy

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We had another awesome time in Seoul this weekend!  Monday is SUCH a drag!  Like my friend, Mike, says:  ”The suckyness of the Monday is directly proportional to the legendaryness of the weekend.”  And it was, indeed, legendary.

Escaping my little city (I’m sure Durbanville is bigger!) and living the Big City Life in Seoul for a weekend is always fun!  Subways, finding food that you’ll NEVER find in your little Si (city)… aaah and the shopping… glorious hours of shopping!

The highlight of my weekend, however, was on Sunday.  We made our way to Itaewon to do some last minute shopping (at all the big-sizuh shops, because almost every South African is a giant monster with huge feet….).  And then we went to one of the most awesome places for a homesick Saffa to get cured.  Braai Republic.

Braai Republic is a new South African restaurant & pub in Itaewon. I got excited before I even entered the place!  The wooden stairs excited me! :)  We were greeted in *Afrikaans* yaaay and the warm SA welcome was felt instantly.

You can't compete with this, Starbucks!

We had the brunch, which included, eggs, bacon, toast, baked beans, a banger, hashbrown and coffee.  It really felt like I was back in SA.  The coffee reminded me of Mugg & Bean (yay for coffee that doesn’t come in a plastic stick!!) and the Ceres guava juice completed this total foodgasm.  Seriously, I wanted to cry.  We finished off brunch with Amarula Cheesecake!  These puppies are baked by Vanita Swart (Remember the Spaza Shop??) Deliiiiicious!!!

I loved the vibe at Braai Republic.  Even though it was noonish and we were one of 2 groups in the restaurant, the vibe was awesome -Afrikaans, lots of jokes between patrons and staff, American guy being introduced to “Broffie”.. overall happiness!

Nothing wrong with drinking REAL brandy, before REAL coffee.. Ne, Napolianna?

The Braai Republic menu includes some awesome boerewors dishes (pap en wors – yeaaah!) and they often advertise some special dishes like potjie!!  The new “Garage Pie Wednesday Nights” also promises to be something spectacular – Pie and Beer for 8,000won.

They are currently working on getting some HUNTERS for us hungry Saffas!  We’re hoping to see them late November or early December – as Chris says “If the Somalian Pirates leave the boat alone.”

You can find brunch at a lot of places in Seoul, but the atmosphere and friendliness and true SA spirit is something you’ll be assured of when going to Braai Republic.  (Don’t forget to buy some freshly sliced biltong on your way out!)

***No, I have not been paid to write this… I just freaking loved this place so much and I want to go back!***

To get to Braai Republic, head down to Itaewon (Line 6 on the subway).  Take exit 4 and walk down towards McDonalds.  Before you get to McDs, turn left at the Corner Bag shop.  Go straight and pass the coffee shop on the right.  You’ll see the Braai Republic sign on your left.