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DohnSaDohn in Jeju

Jeju-do is well known for amazing pork. The quality and taste are world famous and locals and tourists alike flock to a special pork BBQ restaurant called DonSaDon/DohnSaDohn (their number is 746-8989). Visitors can see celebrity autographs on the wall of DohnSaDohn and the restaurant has been featured on many popular Korean food shows/news. Due to its popularity, we waited a good while before a table was ready for us. Once a table was ready for our large group, we were seated promptly and given aprons to wear (cooking/smell protection).

The server(s) cook most of the BBQ for you – our particular server went above and beyond making sure our food was perfect and everyone was happy. The aroma is intoxicating – the pork mouth-watering. I felt like I had been eating pork BBQ improperly my whole life. Beer and Korean cider were the perfect way to end every few bites. The food service ends with a hot pot of kimchee jjigae…which, is also great. It tastes like…home!

I long for the day when I can visit DohnSaDohn again.

Snapshot of Jeju’s Famous Market

A few photos from the famous Jeju Island market (shi-jang). This market gets many visitors a year and emphasizes Jeju’s prized crops/foods such as “Gyool” which is basically a tangerine, other fruits, seafood, and various vegetables. The market is usually lively and packed with friendly and helpful vendors. Prices are very competitive and storefronts display a colorful array of products with humble handwritten signs.

 

Delicious Kalguksu and Kimbahp

My aunt took me to this small restaurant on a cold autumn day. I asked what the name of the place was. She simply said it was referred to by locals as “the restaurant within the Samsung apartments.” She found out about this place via word-of-mouth. The owners of this small eatery confirmed themselves as an unnamed, non-chain restaurant. It’s not technically in Seoul – it’s located in Bundang within the main Samsung apartments. The kimbahp and kalguksu are delicious. The kalguksu is the perfect balance of hearty salty broth and noodles that have the perfect “bite” to them. The kimbahp is meatless yet packed with flavor and is rather filling. On busy days, seating may be hard to find. My aunt and I waited about 15 minutes, which is seemingly an eternity in fast-paced Korea. Regardless of the wait, the food is worthwhile. I definitely plan on visiting again!

Europe in Samcheongdong

 
A lovely cafe called “Slow Garden Coffee and Waffle” in Samcheongdong, Seoul (above).

Samcheongdong is the cafe and boutique filled area next to the presidential Blue House. There is a lot of security in this area but it is a peaceful and relaxing place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Many of the cafes and boutiques here are European inspired. Seoulites will usually say that Garosugil is a lot like the Europe of Seoul, but I feel that Samcheongdong is too. The cafes in particular boasts a vintage look and feel while serving modern foods. Much of the shopping and signage in Samcheongdong is artsy and crafty – most of which is managed and created by local designers and artists.

Storefronts will often display a sort of chic-Euro-Seoul eclectic mix – vintage looking bicycles, scooters, lots of greenery, ceramics, etc.

The residential part of Samcheongdong is mostly older homes – traditional Korean styles similar to the Bukchon area. Mix this with the eclectic modern neighborhood eateries and shops and you have one unique Seoul town.

Delicious ice cream in Seoul

Just a short post here. Fell + Cole ice cream was started by San Francisco native, Choi Ho June or “Tristan.”
My friend Ari introduced me to them and they did not fail to please!
They serve up organic, unique flavors of ice cream in Hongdae. The shop is unassuming – a rather bare-bones kind of a place.
Great customer service and ice cream. Below are the salted caramel ice cream (A++!) and “grandma’s persimmon” scoops.