Samcheong-dong, near Gyeongbokgung in northern Seoul, has become a hot spot for many couples and travelers. In recent years, the traditional neighborhood has gone through a major change. Many traditional Korean buildings got renovated and transformed into refined, modern cafes and spaghetti restaurants. However some things never change. We can continue to find yummy Korean classic dishes. For this review, I will cover three Korean restaurants in Samcheong-dong and hope that many foreign students try them out and enjoy unique Korean flavors and know more about Korean culture.

First of all, how can you get to Samcheong-dong? You should get off at the Gyeongbokgung subway station (subway line no. 3), follow the wall of the Gyeongbokgung and you’ll begin to see lots of coffee and pasta houses. This means that you are already in Samcheong-dong. You can see how old and new life styles are being mixed through many Korean traditional houses. As you enter Samcheong-dong and follow the neat and petit road, you can find ‘Samcheong-dong Sujebi’ (삼청동 수제비) next to the prime minister’s official residence.  To try out the Korean traditional soup, Sujebi (수제비), you have to be ready to wait for your turn. The Sujebi served here is so good that people line up all day to get a bowlful. The dough is made by hand and served in an anchovy flavor soup with carrots, potatoes, clams, and onions. The Sujebi dough is broken apart into small pieces by hand and the flat noodles of Sujebi are very thin, soft and chewy. Sujebi (7000 won) is served in a bowl for one person or in a jar for two persons. Other popular items include Gamjajeon (감자전, 7000 won, a Korean potato pancake that uses only potato starch and no other ingredients) and Dongdongju (동동주, 3000 won, traditional rice wine). The potato pancakes are pretty big so two small eaters may want to share one pancake and one serving of Sujebi. If you're in a festive mood, try ordering Dongdongju. It has a sweet and mild flavor with small sparkles. Samcheong-dong Sujebi is open every day 11:00 am - 9 pm including holidays. Call (02) 735-2965.

Bukchon Kalguksu (북촌 칼국수) is one of the most popular restaurants on Samcheongdong-gil. The street in front of the restaurant is always crowded with cars trying to park and there are almost always people lined up outside the restaurant. Ideally the best time to go is during a weekday in-between regular meal times. So, about 2 pm the lunch crowd should be gone. Otherwise, plan on waiting in line for up to an hour. The main dish is Kalguksu (칼국수, 8000 won, it means knife cut), with rich, mild broth made of ox bone, mushrooms, zucchinis, and carrots. Homemade ‘Wang Mandu’ (왕만두, 8000 won, king-sized dumpling) is another special menu and you can even see kitchen-chefs making them at the entrance of the restaurant. Getting there is really simple. After getting off the Gyeongbokgung subway station (subway line no. 3), follow the wall of the Gyeongbokgung. As you pass the entrance to the National Folk Museum of Korea, you will see the first intersection. Cross the street and after a brief walk, you’ll see the restaurant on the left side. Bukchon Kalguksu is open every day 11:00 am - 9:30 pm including holidays. Call (02) 739-6334.

After finishing main dishes, it’s time to enjoy dessert! Seouleseo Duljjaero Jalhaneunjip (서울에서 둘째로 잘하는 집, it means ‘second best place in Seoul’) offers great tea and red-bean porridge. After passing by the Samcheong-dong Sujebi restaurant, you’ll see the dessert place in a minute across the street. Like many good places in Samcheo ng-dong, you have to bear the line as there are many people waiting to get into the place. They offer lots of soothing but spicy cup of medicinal tea like ginger tea which is a great cure for unavoidable sniffles during the winter times. However, the best dessert is their red-bean porridge (팥죽, 6000 won). It is just fantastic! This is basically a sweet and hot pudding of red bean. It is sweet and dark red in color and it has the consistency of a thick soup. There are chestnuts and a mild piece of Korean rice cake which gives greater depth to the taste of the red-bean porridge. This dessert is a great afternoon tea treat. In the meanwhile, you can think of the reason for the name. Why second? Why didn’t they choose the name ‘first’ but ‘second’? If you get into this place, you realize that the place is small and has only a few tables. The name ‘second’ represents its humbleness and its humble design. However, when it comes to the taste, it is the best! The name is just to leave visitors with something to wonder about. The visitors go back to this humble place for the first-place taste. 

Kwon Hyeok-Jun(Reporter)

dalbon86@kookmin.ac.kr