Eat. Drink. Gwangju.

Veggie Buffet

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:33:31 -0500

Gwangju is full of meat-eateries and barbecue restaurants. This may be a bit intimidating if you’re a vegetarian. Don’t you worry, there’s a place in Poongamdong that’ll give you a sigh of relief. On the top of a hill across from Poongam High School, is a restaurant that looks as though it’s nestled within a tree. The exterior is covered in greenery, and don’t worry, you won’t miss the giant “well-being” sign.

Ja Yun Ju Wi is a vegetarian buffet. Housed in the buffet line are various soups, salads, and some fried vegetarian treats. I am personally not a vegetarian, but I like to come here every so often on an empty stomach. There are some mini veggie taquitos that’ll make you think you’re eating the real deal. Soups, pastas, and a boat load of other veggie treats are on the line. One of the highlights is the fruit section offering good fruits and the delicious Korean rice drink, Shikkae.

The highlight of the buffet, at least for me, is the self-service bibimbap station. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy the fact you can eat as much of it as you like. Unlimited tea and mediocre hazelnut coffee are available too.

Overall, if you’re in the mood to eat veggie and you’ve got 10,000 won, you’ll be in for a treat. The food isn’t spectacular, but there enough things that justify the price.

I believe they are closed Saturday nights and Sundays. They close at 10:00pm week days.

-JD

How to get here: Take bus 59, 71, 45, 74 or 78 to Poongam Je-Soo-Ji (풍암저수지), walk down past the Cabane (log cabin restaurant) and make a left. Walk up the hill until you see “자연주의” on the left side. Or, you can take a taxi to Poongam-dong Je-Soo-Ji.

"The Jungle"

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:00:38 -0500

Greetings everyone. Thought I’d share a favorite place we like to go in upper Yangsan-dong. It is called Cho Yu Gi but teachers past have fondly renamed it “The Jungle.”

Let me start off by saying this is definitely the most unique restaurant in Gwangju, possibly the most unique this side south of Suwon. When you enter you are immediately struck by the ambience, a very soothing and eclectic mix of natural wooden structures, statues and decorations. A few fountains on the ground floor create soothing sounds which match the chirping birds. The whole place has a very organic and natural feel to it. Really. Quite a bizarre little oasis surrounded by industry and farms. There are carved wooden tables (with chairs) on the first floor, the second and third floor have floor seating.

Food wise, The Jungle is as eclectic as the deco. You can get your dwedgie galbi of various qualities or spring for the beef if you’re trying to impress a date. If you’re not interested in the meat there is bokumbap and a few other Korean sides (we had the mandu-guk once and it was okay). Now for the strange part: pizza. That’s right, pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. Legend has it that the (owner? head chef?) studied in Italy and wanted to recreate his experience. Though he may have failed at “authentic,” the pizza is more than acceptable, especially for this part of the world. Your choices are turkey or plain. Before you get too excited the “turkey” is actually “ham”. Regardless, it is not that bad.

Now for the fun part: when you’re done with dinner grab a coffee (free!) and head for the expansive greenhouse. Now is the best time to go because there are multiple fireplaces to warm the place up. If you had enough soju with dinner you may even, if only for a moment, imagine you are back in whatever tropical paradise you last vacationed in. There are various tables and gazebos scattered around the greenhouse so you can chill and savour the ambience. Oh, and don’t forget to say “hi” to the voluptuous wooden statue on the way out.

- Kory

Next to the restaurant is a little tea house/candle shop/overpriced-aromatic-thing place. Pop your head in if it’s open.

Getting there is a little tricky. Head north past the Gwangju Museum for about 5 kilometers. Just when you feel like you went to far look to your left and you will see the sign from the road. Turn left down the dark industrial street and it will be on your left. Perhaps the gracious host of this blog will look up the naver directions and a map? Alternatively you can take bus 95 from downtown (opposite side of YMCA) and that will take you the whole way, about 45 minutes or so.

This place is pretty close to Family Land, so if you’re looking at a map it is ¾ of the way between the National Museum and Family Land. Don’t ever go to Family Land. And if you do, don’t ever go to the zoo. And if you do go to the zoo please discourage the feeding of choco-pies and potato chips to every animal within reach. Everyone will ignore you, but you’ll feel better that you at least tried. Then shed a tear for the hippo in the bathtub. Better yet, just have a nice meal at The Jungle.

Kimchi Ziggae

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:13:54 -0500

Last night I had the pleasure of finally going to Kimchi Ziggae downtown. I have walked past this restaurant a few times, but had since forgotten about it. Pete and I checked out what it had to offer. The interior of the restaurant is like that of any other Korean restaurant in town; floor seating and plenty of it. The menu is short, literally kimchi chiggae, beer and soju.

Within about eight minutes a massive cauldron of boiling kimchi stew was sitting in front of us. We were both a little surprised at how good it actually was. The kimchi was stewed and very tender and the portions of pork were pretty unbelievable. You get your money’s worth here and it’s fantastic.

Come on an empty stomach and leave feeling rewarded. This meal will only set you back 6000 won, and oh yea, it’s all-you-can-eat.

-JD

How to get here: Take a bus to Migliore downtown. Walk past McDonald’s, it’s across from Al-Arab.

Also ask about their other locations.

Tomo

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:37:22 -0500

The weather is getting cold and snow and ice are welcoming the streets of Gwangju. Tonight dinner and review were meant to be had in Sangmu, but for whatever reason I had a change of heart. I walked around my local neighborhood of Poongam-dong and discovered a hidden gem; “Tomo.”

“Tomo” is a fusion restaurant. Before you get cynical and bypass this entry all-together, let me just say, this is the good kind of fusion. Tomo’s sign claims it to be a Japanese restaurant, but their menu says different. Tomo’s menu included sushi, tempura, fried rice dishes and tons of chicken, beef, pork and seafood pots. I was explained by the head sushi chef that “Tomo” is a fusion mostly between Japanese and Chinese cuisine. The menu was all in Korean, and the chef said to me that their full menu wasn’t available until after Christmas. I opted for the sushi which ran me 20,000W.

I was welcome with an interesting appetizer plate. On the left were excellent sweet potato chips, made fresh. The middle were rice balls, flavored with soy and ginger. On the right was a fantastic oyster on the half-shell.

Next, came a big steaming bowl of mussel soup. At first taste I thought to myself, oh God, this is going to be bland. Then it hit me, the garlic, chives, leeks and mussels. It was good; really good. Throughout my dining experience, I kept reaching back for the soup, until it was entirely gone; sans the shells.

Finally, out came the sushi. There were only nine pieces, but I was already feeling good from the soup and appetizers. All of the pieces were incredibly tasty and fresh. I must warn you for those who go heavy on the wasabi with soy sauce; it’s not needed! The wasabi used on all of the pieces were thicker, and less creamy. I’m led to believe that it is made in-house. The fish wasn’t slimy nor frozen, which is common at conveyor belt restaurants and “Miss Roll.” The fish tasted good; fresh. After my meal, I was served some nice chill apple slices.

(these pictures don’t do it justice)

The highlight of “Tomo” is it’s eclectic atmosphere; there is enough art to house a small gallery. It was nice to be in a restaurant that makes you feel like you’re in a big Western-city’s’ restaurant. (New York, L.A., San Francisco). There was a lot of thought and design put in to Tomo. This would be a great place to enjoy an evening whiskey, sake or even soju, after work. I do recommend you go with a friend or two. Aside from sushi, most dishes on the menu are for groups.

Overall, for 20,000W, I was greatly impressed with “Tomo.” If you’re even in Poongam-dong, check out the Hand-drip Coffee shop, and head up to “Tomo” for some Japanese-Chinese fusion (in a good way).

-JD

How to get here: Here is a map, the restaurant is across from the small park. MAP. Take bus 59, 71, 45, 74 or 78 to Poongam Je-Soo-Ji (풍암저수지), walk down past the Cabane (log cabin restaurant) and make a left. Walk up the hill until you see “Tomo” on the left side. Or, you can take a taxi to Poongam-dong Je-Soo-Ji.

Muchen Ice Bar

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:31:00 -0500

If you like to drink beer and throw things, there is a great place in Gwangju to go. Found in Gwangju’s “Cheomdon” neighborhood, The Muchen Ice Bar is quickly becoming a popular place to spend a weekend night or your average weekday evening. Not only do heaps of Koreans come here, many foreigners from Cheomdon, Singa-dong, Sin Chang-dong and surrounding areas, frequent this attractive drinking location as well.

The main attraction here, surprisingly, is the OB draft beer. They serve this in the traditional mug and also offer pitcher selections. But, they give you the option of an “ice” mug pint for 3000 won. This is a plastic pint served inside an ice cup. This has two impressive characteristics: 1. It keeps the beer ice-cold. Korean beer is bad. The colder it is, the better it tastes, and smoother it goes down. 2. Once finished with the beer, you may then throw the surrounding ice cup at a target. If you hit the middle, you can win a prize. Prizes range from a free beer to 30,000 won in gift certificates to the bar. The one catch is, any gift certificates you win, you have to use on your next visit. This is their way of a assuring a returning customer. However, you will not need these certificates to return. Once you go to Ice Bar you will want to go back.

Aside from their OB selections, they have many central European beers available in bottles (Leffe, Hoegarden, Franciscaner, Lowenbrau etc…) and Krombacher on tap. Of course you will have to pay a bit more for these beers. Also, a food menu is available serving typical Korean bar food.

To get to the Ice Bar, you have to get to Cheomdon. If you tell a taxi, “LC Tower (L-Shee Towaa) Cheomdon,” that will get you to the main shopping district of Cheomdon. From there, its a short walk and would be best to have someone meet you there that knows the area. Cheomdon is in the outer ring of Gwangju so expect to pay around 10,000 won from downtown by taxi. Many busses go there as well, including the “9” bus from downtown and bus terminal areas.

Next time you are looking for somewhere new to go, check out the Ice Bar in Cheomdon. The people there are great (guys you will see as soon as you walk in) and there are many other bars in the area to hop around to. You can generally get a nice crowd there by suggesting it on weekend or weekend night to anyone who lives in and around Cheomdon. See you there!

- Andrew Eisenhart

Yu-Ga-Ne Teppan Restaurant

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:14:38 -0500

Last night I had the pleasure of having dinner with “Radio’s Pete Ross” and Tony. I’ve been wanting to check out this teppan (hot skillet) restaurant downtown. With a few beers in our stomachs we were aching for a meal.

If you stroll down the back alley with fortune tellers and that cup pizza guy, you will end up near the OST jewelry store. Swing a right and walk about five seconds. On your left you will see 유가네 (Yu-Ga-Ne).

This place is big, it’s got two levels, which may give you a chance to squeeze in during peak dining hours. The interior is bright, and during our experience, full of young college-aged people.

We decided on getting a seafood pancake (5,000W) and three portions of Dalk-Gabli, marinated chicken, (7,500W a person) and two servings of rice (3,000W).

We all agreed that the flavors were great, and the ratio of cabbage to chicken was in good form. There is also a self-service kimchi and salad station, which we destroyed three times. About half way through eating your chicken, they bring the rice on and fry it on the skillet. It’s pretty damn good.

(Tony making “small talk” with our server, who shortly after left)

(Dalk-Galbi)

(did you know Pete Ross is also a hand model?)

Overall this place rocks. If you don’t mind spending between 6,000 to 10,000W on some good food, check this place out! The chicken is spicy, but a good amount of heat; it’s not like going to Crazy Pepper, where you’re solely there to see how much heat you can handle. Tony left feeling full and Pete and I left satisfied. If you’re downtown, needing some grub before a big night, hit this place up!

-JD

How to get there: Take a cab downtown to Amigliore, or any of the numerous buses. Go down the alley with the Twosome Place. Walk down until you see California Roll on your left hand side. Swing a left and walk down past the Smoothie King and look left for Yu-Ga-Ne, 유가네.

JANE et ALICE

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:58:00 -0500

Located in Sangmu is a tiny hole-in-the-wall that serves up sandwiches and cereal. Its name is Jane et Alice (Jane and Alice). It’s a tiny shop near E-Mart by the 5.18 pedestrian overpass bridge. You’ll spot it next to a vacant Rice Spoon and a Seven Monkeys coffee shop.

The menu is extremely limited, offering sandwiches, one burger, one bagel, cereal and a couple of drinks. I’ve heard their turkey and cheese was good, as well as their steak sandwich. Chris came out for the review and tried the steak sandwich.

The steak… well more like bulgogi was cooked fine. The sandwich was ridiculously small for it’s hefty 7,000W price tag. The hash-brown was an extra 2,000. In addition to cheese, lettuce and red onion (which were nice) there was a very strange relish taste to the sandwich (which in my opinion, ruined it).

I opted for their bacon-bagel. It just sounded good. The description of the sandwich was written in Korean, and the only thing I could make out was “치 즈;” cheese that is. I figured it was going to be a bacon, egg and cheese bagel, which at the time sounded lovely.

Instead I was met with a BLT; bacon, lettuce and tomato. The bagel was raw and was also filled with dried cranberries. There was way too much lettuce, just trying to “beef” up the bagel. The cheese was plastic. The bacon on this thing was awesome though… sort of a waste of bacon. Weighing in at 5,500W, Mr. Cranberry was well over-priced.

Jane and Alice are lacking a few things. One of them is service. It took a long time to get our food. The menu was pretty boring. The food was so-so. The atmosphere and decor are the same as most cookie-cutter layouts found in Korean coffee and sandwich shops.

If you are in Sangmu and want to overpay for an average sandwich (kind of like going to Kraze Burger) then check this place out. Our bill came out to almost 20,000W; that is just too expensive for a couple of plastic sandwiches.

-JD

How to get there: Take a taxi to Sangmu E-Mart, or catch a bus to Sangmu 5.18 Park.

The Olive Cafe vs. The Lemon Table

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:05:00 -0500

Located downtown, tucked behind the “corner” park at the intersection of Geumnamno and the Migliore street, The Olive Café and The Lemon Table provide a sanctuary for those who want to feel like they are out of the craziness of everyday Korean life. These neighboring cafes sit quietly in the far corner of the park and offer a “somewhat” western dining experience.

The Olive Café, or Café Olive, is a modern two story building with a small outdoor patio in the front. Its first floor consists of a well lit dining area with bright colors and a comfortable atmosphere. The second floor has a couple of large, modernly decorated rooms that seem to never get used, and perhaps the selling point of the café, a large balcony.

(front entrance of Cafe Olive)

(Cafe Olive’s terrace, they should turn it in to a bar!)

The menu is moderately priced and offers an average selection of Korean style fusion food. After browsing through the menu, Jimmy and I decided to order the “couples” set. The set included a salad, individual soup, your choice of pasta and a pizza, and desert. The salad was large and was mixed well with an assortment of greens, but the dressing for the salad was a little too sweet for my taste. The creamy corn soup was lukewarm and lacked the basic ingredients of salt and pepper. At this point we were not impressed with the food or the service.

(i think this photo captures the pure essence of “blandness.”)

The service upon entering the café was wonderful, but as our dining experience continued we were given the normal Korean dining service. You must ask for what you want or need!

At this point I was hoping our carbonara would make me happy with my choice of not going to KFC. The creamy white-sauce pasta tasted much better than our antipasti, but was a little overwhelming with the amount of sauce used. Again, it could’ve used a more balanced use of salt and pepper, and perhaps a little more bacon (prosciutto).

Finally, our last course came to the table. The pizza looked perfectly cooked and we were both excited to fill our mouths with something that would satisfy our hunger. The crust was amazing! It was a thin crust which seemed to be made from a type of pastry dough. It was cooked well and provided a great texture to the pizza. Unfortunately, we chose the wrong toppings for the pie. The egg was not scrambled, but was boiled and sliced. One bite had an entire egg yolk on it. The sausage was not breakfast sausage, but the hot dog style street sausage. Jimmy took the rest of the pizza to Pete Ross at the radio station.

(sausage and egg pizza)

We decided to decline the offer of dessert and proceeded outside to have a smoke and a conversation about our experience. We concluded that we would probably give The Olive Café another chance, but would order a different style pasta and pizza and hopefully bring a couple of ladies.

From the outside, The Lemon Table seems like an average desert, tea, and coffee café that are decorated with random designs and colors to make it look original. Were it not for the large menu styled advertisement displayed outside, and Gwangju’s very own radio personality Pete Ross’ personal recommendation, we would not have chosen to eat dinner there.

As we entered The Lemon Table we were greeted by a young server who gave us the option of where we wanted to sit. The Lemon Table has two differently decorated dining rooms. The main dining room resembles a small mid-western American café and the other dining room is quite posh and has large distracting chandeliers. We sat down in the main dining room and quickly ordered the Dr. Peppers that were staring at us when we first arrived.

The menu consists of pizza, pasta, burgers, rice, and hamburger steak. There is also an endless list of teas, coffees, fruit juices, and a decent selection of beer. We had heard a rumor that the burgers were amazing so Jimmy and Andrew each ordered the Onion Ring Mountain burger and I went with the Re-mario cream cheese burger. The key when ordering is to ask for the sauce on the side. If you don’t do this you will probably walk away greasy and stained. When the server brought the burgers to the table we were awestruck with the size and quality of what we saw. The onion ring burger was stacked with proper onion rings and my burger was loaded with shredded lettuce, cheese, and mushrooms. You also get a lackluster amount of fries on the side, but the flavor of the burger makes you forget about the little potatoes. The bun is soft, the burger is perfectly cooked, and the combination provides you with the best burger experience in Gwangju.

(the best burger in Gwangju; The Onion Ring Mountain)

(Always ask for sauce on the side!)

While we were eating we saw the server bringing other dishes to other tables and were very impressed with what we saw. After a fulfilling dinner we went to the back smoking room which has a European street café (minus the Europe part) vibe to it. There is a beautiful mural painted on a brick wall and a couple of patio chairs to give you the feeling that you aren’t in Korea.

(hm, Korean flags in Europe? Back smoking area)

Our bill came to about $10 a person, $7 for the burger and a couple bucks for the soda. I have now been there three times and have tried three of the five burgers you can choose from. Each time I am equally impressed with the service and the food. I highly recommend The Lemon Table to anyone who has a craving for a home-style burger.

The one thing I find at most Korean restaurants is that they have good ideas but there are always lacking one thing. The Olive Café has the atmosphere but is lacking in quality of food, The Lemon Table has amazing food, but has a weird mixture of interior design. If someone could put The Lemon Table’s food into The Olive Café you would have a wonderful place to eat.

- Tony Warren

Kraze Burger

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:34:00 -0400

Ok. I’ll admit, it’s been ages since the last update. I feel guilty, but I’ve just been “busy” per say. Well, tonight, I was craving something Western; a big juicy hamburger.

When it comes to Gwangju, there aren’t too many choices when you’re down for a burger. Aside from the burger chains in town, you’ve got good ole’ TGI Fridays. There used to be a couple of locations, but now it’s confined to U-Square (bus terminal). Friday’s has a good bacon cheeseburger, probably the best in town.

Then big bad, over-priced, Kraze Burger comes to town. It’s been here a few months, but I finally got my lazy ass over there tonight for a burger.

(KB Burger with extra patty and fried egg)

Kraze Burger is a chain that started up in Seoul, but has now spread across Korea… and finally down here to Gwangju.

I’ll keep the review short. The interior is tacky. Furniture is comfortable, but the walls are coated with Kraze Burger advertisements on all sides; every where you look, you see a sign reminding you exactly where you’re eating. I wasn’t a fan of that.

The prices are high; expect to pay 8,000W (that’s for the cheapest burger). I’ll be real blunt… UPGRADE YOUR BURGER! Want to make your burger a double, it’ll only cost you 1,500W. I opted for the basic KB burger. I upgraded it to a double, then added a fried egg for another 800W. My 8,000W burger just got upped to 10,300W. This is definitely worth it. The quality surpasses the Friday’s burger…which makes it the better choice. PS. You don’t get fries; they’re expensive too!

Overall, decent burger (nothing to write home about). You’ve probably had better burgers on a weekend barbecue, but that’s not to say this place is a waste. Just over-priced and over-rated. If they just threw in fries or offered some sort of discounted sets, it would be more feasible.

(Andrew’s Onion Burger)

Just keep in mind that you’ve got to make the travel out to Sangmu to eat here. Factor that cost in, and you’ve got yourself an expensive dinner. If you’re going out to Sangmu anyways, eat here!

Check out the site, it’s in English too: http://www.kraze.co.kr/

-JD

How to get there:

View Larger Map

When looking at the map, it’s directly across from the 7-Eleven.

Crazy Pepper

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:32:29 -0400

Do you like spicy food? Are you up for a challenge? Then I dare you to check out Crazy P. Located downtown on the same street as Quirinale, you’ll find a bright red facade on the second floor. You can’t miss the giant pepper logo; it’s almost taunting you and asking if you’ve got what it takes.

The food at Crazy P isn’t anything to particularly write home about. They mostly offer one pot meals. They offer pork, beef, seafood and chicken wing variations of this dish. You’ll get a pot of your protein of choice, vegetables, peppers, fish cakes and rice cakes. All of this is coated in a spicy Dukbokki sauce.

What makes Crazy P fun is their different levels of spiciness. There are five heat levels to pick from; on our outing, we decided to try level four. Now let me say that I can handle some heat. I’m no pepper fiend, but I can fair. Four ruined my night. The first few bites taste simply like Dukbokki. We ordered chicken wings, they were small, but still tasty. Like anything packed with peppers, the first bites are tolerable, and then it burns… like hell. I had to order water repeatedly and used a handful of napkins wiping the sweat from my head. My co-worker Matt didn’t even look phased, but admitted that it was pretty damn hot.

After painfully finishing dinner, I had to run over to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. Luckily, BR31 is right down the street.

So, if you’re looking for something spicy, check out Crazy P. I dare you to try the level 5… ironically titled “Crazy Spice” with a cartoon character telling askin’ ya’ “Are you crazy?”

How to get there: Get off at Amigliore by taxi or bus, and walk down the main street toward downtown (A Twosome Place is the start of the street). Continue walking straight until you see Crazy P on the second floor, above Hans Nails.

Quirinale

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:33:27 -0400

Someone once told me you could get a calzone in Gwangju. I called bullshit. Then this past weekend, I was proven wrong.

I’ve you’ve ever walked downtown, I’m sure you’ve seen Quirinale. Don’t be fooled by it’s massive entrance or posh appearance, this place is definitely affordable and quite decent.

Inside you’ll be greeted by an absolutely-overdone interior. If you enjoy staring at yourself in the mirror, you’ll love sitting on the raised bit on the main dining floor. Sports fan can enjoy soccer being played on many of the large flat-screen TVs throughout the restaurant (which seem to be out of place). There is a ridiculously large bookcase with a ladder… I doubt that they’re real.

The menu is mediocre and somewhat limited if you aren’t a fan of seafood. I’ve eaten here previously and have had both the Ribeye Steak and the Spicy Salmon. Both were just… mediocre. If you had any culinary skill what-so-ever you could easily improve these dishes in your own home and save yourself the trouble.

Now, I came here for the calzone. I heard it was big and quite good. A price tag of 10,000W is extremely welcoming. This price included a salad, cheesy-toast, mushroom soup and the calzone. I’ll be honest; it’s nothing to write home about. It’s different, and if you’re craving something pizza, without wanting an actual pizza, go for it. It’s topped with real Parmesan, which was so deceiving. Inside you’ll get some over-cooked peppers, spam, and that plastic cheese they love in this country. A shame they don’t hire foreign chefs… but then again, why would they?

Overall, this place is a great date place. The menu caters to couples, offering discounted pizza/pasta sets. If you miss sitting at a real table with a napkin for your lap, salt and pepper shakers, and heavy silverware, check this place out.

-JD

Handdrip Expresso Coffee Studio

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:48:37 -0400

My great grandmother used to say, “drinking a cup of coffee a day would make you live to see 100”. She died at 95, so she wasn’t too far off the mark. In any case, most of you have adopted the local addiction to alcohol and tobacco so you should probably consider any possible means of achieving some form of longevity. If you’re tired of the instant sugary-espresso machine at your Hagwon, you may also want to consider paying more than 100 won per cup. Hand Drip Coffee offers a significant upgrade from what you’ve probably experienced thus far in Gwangju.

As the name suggests, every cup is created with conscientious and almost artistic precision, though at 4,000-4,500 won a cup it will run slightly more than your Kenya-Dunkin Donuts experience. The coffee is even served a temperature just slightly above drinkable, so you’ll have a good 20 seconds to admire the colorful saucers and cups. The coffee is of course delicious, and easily drinkable, even for someone not accustomed to drinking black coffee. There are of course lattes, mochas and other drinks available but the black coffee comes highly recommended. There’s a range of seating so it ideal for either a date or study location. If you’re opting for the hand dripped coffee there is an English menu available but it only consists of a plethora of Latin American/ African country names so my advice is to choose the country which hosted the most recent civil war and drink up, who knows maybe even you can live long enough collect social security.

- Paul “Bear” Bishop

How to get there: Take a bus or tab to Pungam-dong Maejae Post Office.

Chicken Sticks

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:10:40 -0400

So after dinner with a co-worker tonight, we hit a local Ministop for a quick snack. I figured “what the hell,” let’s review a snack.

The first box that caught my eye was this snack called 닭다리, which translates to chicken leg. I’ll be honest the thought of eating hot-and-spicy BBQ drumsticks (in crisp form) sounded awesome. I picked up the box for 900W.

Let me be blunt. These things suck. I would have much rather gotten a Tank Boy ice cream for that price. These little suckers are cute; seriously, they look like mini drum sticks! Too bad they taste like cardboard. If you see these on the shelf at your local mart, don’t bother.

-JD

Underground Grocers

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:54:17 -0400

One beautiful thing about Korea is a lack of any open-container (alcohol) law. It’s quite nice to sit outside on a sunny day and just drink a few cold ones by the 7-Eleven or Ministop. Gwangju has tons of them, and we all have our favorite spots!

The other weekend I took a stroll down to the Underground Grocers (UG) for a quick beer. The UG is a foreign-foods store carrying tons of products that you may not find at your local grocery mart. One of the greatest things about the UG is that they sell beer; beer at a very reasonable price! Coronas will cost you a mere 3,000W; unlike the neighboring bars that charge double that price! They also carry Singha and other imports, as well as the domestics.

The UG has got a table outside with a stack of those silly plastic stools; this makes for a great afternoon or early evening beer. I think that a lot of us have a ritual of going out to the Ministop, 7-Elevens and Family Marts for those pre-game drinks. What makes the UG special is that it caters to even the individual customer. The owners Mike and Tim are both very talkative which may or may not interest you. Hey, at least if you go alone you can converse in English, which is comforting when you just want a beer on a Saturday.

I recommend you go out, grab a beer and a bag of Gardetto’s, and support local business. The Underground Grocers has a new website where you can order your groceries online: http://www.ugfoods.co.kr/

- JD

How to get there: Get off at Amigliore by taxi or bus. Walk behind Amigliore for literally twenty seconds and you will see the Underground sign. Please refer to the map above.

Yaki Stall (I Think)

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:59:11 -0400

(I don’t actually know the name of this restaurant, as I was a little tipsy when eating here.)

(really blurry photo due to… shakey hands? drunkeness? cigarette-in-hand?)

Have you ever walked downtown past Quirannale and wondered what that little stall with the Japanese lanterns sold? You know the place; it’s next to Song’s cup-pizza and Quirannale. I first noticed this place had popped up a while ago… that was only because of its sign advertising 1,000W 330cc draft beers (that’s about 80 cents a can for Americans).

Last weekend, I was recommended by Mike, of the Underground Grocers (see link above right-hand corner), to check out “that Japanese octopus place.” So, after having to run an errand dowtown, I did.

Walking in to the “restaurant” was a little difficult. As I am not a five-foot, one-hundred-ten pound Korean man, it was very hard to fit. This place is tiny. Most of our laundry room’s may even be bigger! There are six or seven chairs and two walls with a ledge to rest on.

The menu consists of a variation of two things, Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki. Takoyaki is a ball-shaped dumpling stuffed with batter, tempura, octopus and green onion. These balls come in batches of five for 2,000W and eight for 3,000W. The other menu item is Okonomiyaki, which is basically a fusion between an omelette and pancake made with batter, squid, octopus and vegetables.

(menu)

I opted for the five Takoyaki balls and a draft beer. The balls came out almost instantly fresh off the rack. The owner brought my beer in seconds and a side of green onions soaked in soy and sesame. I didn’t know how to eat these things as it was my first time. First bite; TOO HOT!. I tried not to spit it out as I didn’t want to be rude, and there happened to be a couple of young ladies in the place as well. I quickly grabbed my beer in attempt to wash down the flames; it worked.

(nom, nom, nom)

The consistency of these little guys is unique in a way; personally, I would compare them to the last few bites of a Chicken Pot Pie. There is the flakey dough, and also is a lovely gravey-esque filling. Simply put, these suckers are good (if you like octopus that is). I was surprised by the fact they had a lot of octopus in it. At a cheap place like this I would assume that there would be only mere octo-scraps. Luckily that wasn’t the case. There was no intense spice, and each ball just made me feel warm inside (maybe it was the beers I had earlier). If you’re low on cash, just want to try something new, or have always wanted Japanese octopus balls, I recommend you hit this place up! My little evening snack cost me 3,000W; unbeatable!

- JD

How to get there: Get off at Amigliore by taxi or bus, and walk down the main street toward downtown (A Twosome Place is the start of the street). Continue walking until you see Quirannale on the right-hand side. The Yaki place is literally one stall down.

- He Nam Shik Dang

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:03:00 -0400

Ok. Before I start getting in to this restaurant, I have to give some credit to where credit is due. I was introduced to this restaurant by Tony. Tony and I both have a loving for a Korean dish; 뼈 해 장 극 (hae - jang - gook, aka “hangover soup”). 뼈 (pyo) means bone. There are different variations, but 뼈 is the best.

뼈 해 장 극 is an absolute must for anyone who hasn’t tried it. It is a savory soup made with miso, pork and beef-spine stock, vegetables, peppers and a ton of spices. Inside you’ll find meaty chunks of pork spine. Don’t be scared by the sounds of spine; it’s actually some of the most tender meat you can get for under 10,000W.

What makes this particular restaurant special, is its incredible flavor, short menu, quick service and reputation. He Nam is a Korean dive. Inside you will find an array of disorganized furniture that has been worn over the years. The one pleather booth is ripped and torn, and the tables show signs of abuse. Assuming you actually get a seat (this restaurant generally has a line), you will be in for a real treat. The menu is very small, which makes me believe this is a specialty place. You specifically go there for this dish. So, let’s get it!

On the menu you will find 뼈 해 장 극 for 6,000W, also a seafood soup, kimchi chiggae, and kimchi tofu. I recommend the 뼈 해 장 극. Within seconds you are welcomed with eight side dishes, ranging from dried anchovies, spam-egg, salted greens and variations of kimchi. The kimchi at this restaurant is good; really good.

The atmosphere is warm, there are people surrounding you, you are starving… then it comes; a gigantic steaming ceramic pot. The soup is still boiling and you can see the jagged spine poking through the surface of roaring bubbles. You don’t know what to expect really… unless you’ve had this dish before.

All of the meat is on the bones, so it takes some time and effort to enjoy this meal. I’ve seen Koreans and foreigners alike playing “hot potato” with a piece of spine trying to get every last bit of tender pork off. Then there’s the patient approach; which is my choice. I use the spoon and chop sticks to pick off every piece of meat. This initially took me around three to four minutes, but I can now do it quite quickly; around one minute.

After the work is done, you finally eat. The broth hits you with a subtle spice. The pork, so tender, and if you’re lucky, you will get some marrow (I love marrow). Once you wear down towards the bottom, you can add the rice and enjoy a nice porridge.

Overall, I highly recommend this joint! If you like 뼈 해 장 극, you HAVE to eat here. If I were to recommend just one restaurant to anyone, it would be this place for sure.

- JD

How to get there: Get off at Amigliore by taxi or bus, and walk down the main street toward downtown (A Twosome Place is the start of the street). Walk down until you see a Ministop with a table, umbrella and three chairs. It is literally adjacent to it. He Nam is next to Quirennale.

홍일점 - Hong il Jeom

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:15:00 -0400

Ok. I have a confession to make. Being half-Korean, I have never once eaten this dish in my life. I am embarrassed that I didn’t know of this dish, and even more ashamed that I never knew about this restaurant. But now, thanks to an introduction from a friend, I am pleased to introduce to you; 찜닭 (Jim - Dalk).

찜닭 is literally translated to steamed chicken; but this dish has more to it that steamed cock. Within a few minutes of being seated we ordered our half-portion of 찜닭. Half portions are a mere 22,000W, while full portions were 33,000W. Out came the usual side dishes: bean sprouts, kimchi, fish cake, and spinach. All of it was quite boring. I think most people here have a general rule of thumb; if the kimchi is good, the meal will be good. So I was nervous after tasting how average the kimchi was.

Next thing I knew the server was holding a gigantic plate, which was about the size of a large western-style pizza. On it was a magnificent portion of chicken on a bed of clear noodles and vegetables. The hot steam rising off of the tender chicken made my stomach growl. The dish is comprised of potatoes, onions, carrots (all cooked to perfection), clear noodles and steamed chicken. The sauce enriched with spicy red and green peppers, with heavy flavors of soy and a nibble of sugar.

This dish was spicy. I have a moderate tolerance for spicy foods, but something about this dish put me over. I couldn’t stop sweating! I wasn’t sure if it was the lack of air-conditioning or maybe the fact that we had just had a few beers beforehand. If you can’t handle heat, bring a towel.

Overall, this place rocks! There is traditional floor seating as well as tables and chairs. The servings are gigantic. I think the half portion could’ve easily satisfied three to four people. Joe and I are both eaters, but we couldn’t finish it off. The atmosphere was that of a typical Korean restaurant, except livelier. The place was packed! Young and beautiful Korean girls were the vast majority. I recommend going around 6:00PM on a Saturday (if you’re in to the girls). I highly recommend this restaurant.

-JD

How to get there: Get off at Amigliore by taxi or bus, and walk down the main street toward downtown (A Twosome Place is the start of the street). You will pass WA BAR and the intersection with the Baskin Robbins. Next, keep your eye out for small alleys on the right hand side. There are two shops, one called Paris, the other Vogue. 홍일점 (Hong Il Jeom) is in the alley just before those two stores.

Introduction

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:09:24 -0400

How many times do you wake up tired or hung over? You are craving the best meal of your life, but always end up back at 김밥나라 (Kimbap Nara) eating the usual dumplings or ramen noodles.

When I first came to Gwangju, all I knew was it was famous for it’s cuisine. The only problem was, where do I eat? Where are the Mexican restaurants? Where can I get a decent sandwich; preferably one without honey mustard on it.

After living here merely a year or so, I have gotten the chance to go out and explore the town. Not just downtown, but areas in Sangmu, Chunnam University back gate, Chosun University and World Cup Stadium. I have been blessed enough to actually get paid at my work, and spend my clams eating out. Maybe a little too much, but all for your best interest!

This site is for you! Know of a good place to eat? Take a couple of photos, how to get there, and a review, and email me jamesdenfield@gmail.com.

Be patient as this is still all in beta, and technically under construction.

-JD