The Gangnam area - all glassed office towers, dark-suited business types, international fashions and stylish cafés - forms quite a contrast to the older parts of Seoul, around Jong-no, where we spent most of our time. Temples, palaces and old villages (or at least houses that have been restored or made to look like houses in an old village) are charming, but we were ready to see the other side of the city. We realised as we strolled down the boulevard, that we would have to head a block away from the main drag if we were to have any hope of a lunch that didn't come from Burger King.
Immediately behind the skyscrapers are lanes bursting with restaurants, bars and cafés. We were looking for a place that made KFC (Korean Fried Chicken - way better than its namesake), but they all seemed closed for lunch. Seorae Bulgogi appeared when we were about to surrender and have a Vietnamese lunch instead.
The restaurant has the traditional Korean look, built and furnished with light wood. Each table comes with a hole in the middle for the charcoal fire, and has a rather beautiful copper extractor above it. The waitresses were friendly and helpful, and having the menu in English really helped with communication.
We ordered the Unyang-Style Bulgogi (minced and delicately spiced beef, presented as 4 patties, which - after a short tutorial from the waitress - we grilled at the table), and Dolsot Bulgogi Bibimbap, a pot of fluffy white rice, topped with pieces of beef, herbs and vegetables. Both were delicious, with the charcoal fire imparting a slightly smokey flavour to the beef patties.
The meal came with many side dishes, including japchae (cold vermicelli and pickled vegetable salad - sooooo much better than that sounds), a cold vegetable soup (which looked a bit intimidating, but was really tasty and refreshing), pickled lotus root (slightly crunchy) and a salad which reminded us of a Vietnamese green mango salad in flavour, but seemed also to contain julienned strips of kimchi. We played with the flavours, combining pieces of bulgogi and the side dishes in a small bowl. All the food was super-fresh, light, with the perfect blend of salty, sour and sweet. Absolutely delicious.
It does get rather warm at the table, so this is probably a better bet for a warming winter's meal than for lunch in the heat of summer.
I've no idea of the exact address, but Seorae Bulgogi is in a little street parallel to Teheran-ro in Gangnam, telephone 02 557 2450. With luck a taxi driver will call for directions and get you there. Difficult to find information about it online in English, but it seems to be part of a chain. If you find other branches (or the full address of this one), let me know in the comments.
Immediately behind the skyscrapers are lanes bursting with restaurants, bars and cafés. We were looking for a place that made KFC (Korean Fried Chicken - way better than its namesake), but they all seemed closed for lunch. Seorae Bulgogi appeared when we were about to surrender and have a Vietnamese lunch instead.
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| Seorae Bulgogi |
The restaurant has the traditional Korean look, built and furnished with light wood. Each table comes with a hole in the middle for the charcoal fire, and has a rather beautiful copper extractor above it. The waitresses were friendly and helpful, and having the menu in English really helped with communication.
 |
| Grilling underway. The salad in the centre was fantastic. |
We ordered the Unyang-Style Bulgogi (minced and delicately spiced beef, presented as 4 patties, which - after a short tutorial from the waitress - we grilled at the table), and Dolsot Bulgogi Bibimbap, a pot of fluffy white rice, topped with pieces of beef, herbs and vegetables. Both were delicious, with the charcoal fire imparting a slightly smokey flavour to the beef patties.
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| Bibimbap |
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| Chilled soup |
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| Jap Chae |
The meal came with many side dishes, including japchae (cold vermicelli and pickled vegetable salad - sooooo much better than that sounds), a cold vegetable soup (which looked a bit intimidating, but was really tasty and refreshing), pickled lotus root (slightly crunchy) and a salad which reminded us of a Vietnamese green mango salad in flavour, but seemed also to contain julienned strips of kimchi. We played with the flavours, combining pieces of bulgogi and the side dishes in a small bowl. All the food was super-fresh, light, with the perfect blend of salty, sour and sweet. Absolutely delicious.
It does get rather warm at the table, so this is probably a better bet for a warming winter's meal than for lunch in the heat of summer.
I've no idea of the exact address, but Seorae Bulgogi is in a little street parallel to Teheran-ro in Gangnam, telephone 02 557 2450. With luck a taxi driver will call for directions and get you there. Difficult to find information about it online in English, but it seems to be part of a chain. If you find other branches (or the full address of this one), let me know in the comments.
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