Korean Traditional Soup and Rice, Kongnamul Gukbap

The second Korean food that I recommend is 콩나물 국밥(kongnamul gukbap). This word means Bean Sprout Soup with Rice. Kongnamul gukbap is unfamiliar to foreigners, so I will explain about kongnamul and gukbap.

First, Kongnamul is an example of Korean source of food, made from soybean sprouts. It is one of the most common side dish in Korea, and also a basic source of bibimbap. People basically blanch Kongnamul in boiling water and season to this. Furthermore, they make soup with Kongnamul which is good for reliving a hangover. Above this, the food with Kongnamul is endless because Kongnamul is a basic source of Korean food.

Next, Gukbap is Guk plus Bap(rice). Guk is a kind of soup, eating with rice. It is a basic dish for the Korean table setting. A kind of Guk is endless because the name of Guk is decided by its main ingredient. For example, Miyeok guk is made of seaweed with additional ingredients; moreover, Kongnamul guk is made of Kongnamul with additional ingredients, too. Kongnamulguk is the basic food of Korean dish because it is easy to make, and it’s a mild-tasting. Therefore, Kongnamul gukbap is Kongnamul soup with rice.

Kongnamul gukbap’s recipe is various, but the most typical Kongnamul gukbap is Jeonju Kongnamul gukbap. Jeonju is city of Korea; in addition, Jeonju is famous for the Korean traditional village. There are many Korean traditional houses and foods. Jeonju Kongnamus gukbap is a little different from other Kongnamul gukbap. Jeonju Kongnamul gukbap is served with raw egg seperately. There is a special recipe with this egg. First, put 2 spoon of the soup, Kongnamul gukbap, and then, put seasoned lavers a little. At first it looks like strange but the taste is wonderful! After eating egg, put the rice in the soup; also put salted shrimp and pepper a little. It will be a great Kongnamul gukbap. Why don’t you try this delicious Korean soup?

Traditional Korean Food, Samcheong-dong Sujebi

Today, I’d like to introduce you a delicious Korean food. Actually, many foreigners know about Korean foods that Bibimbap, Bulgogi and so on; however, they do not know Sujebi. It’s a one of the popular foods in Korea. I searched the definition of Sujebi from Wikipedia; Sujebi is a Korean traditional soup consisting of dough flakes roughly torn by hand, with various vegetables. Many Korean people usually eat Sujebi on rainy day, because this soup makes our body to warm and delicious. There is Sujebi’s brother, Kalguksu. Kalguksu has same recipe and flavor, except that the latter is made with noodles.

Anyway, I want to recommend the best restaurant of Sujebi. It is Samcheongdong Sujebi. This restaurant is so famous that there is a long-line in front of the restaurant. I also ate the Sujebi in this restaurant yesterday, so I will give you a vivid description of the flavor. First, when I went to the restaurant, I did not wait for a long time. Actually, the line was reducing quickly. When you order Sujebi, you just say “Sujebi e-inbun juseyo”; it means that order two portions of Sujebi. Then, a few minutes later, delicious Sujebi will be served to you. This will be enough to eat with two people, or a big dish. Sujebi will be served in a bowl with ladle, so you have to ladle soup into your dish. If you can eat Kimchi, try to eat together. In the soup, there are potatoes, shellfishes, young pumpkins, and so on. Especially, the soup really hits the spot! How about eating Sujebi on rainy day?

I will show you the way to the Samcheongdong Sujebi. At first, you have to go out to Exit 1 of Anguk station on subway line number 3. Then you go toward Jeongdok Public Library, and follow the people, because almost people go that way. If you don’t want to walk, you can take a taxi. A taxi fare will 3,000 or 4,000 won, not much. Try this delicious Sujebi in Samcheongdong and to walk around pretty Samcheongdong street!