Korean snacks - from healthy to naughty

Once you go korean snacks, you can't go back!

There's something about korean snacks that makes you conclude its superiority over others.

Just look at the variety!  The colors and flavors.  You can choose from the more naturally made options to the "I'm pretty sure that's MSG laden" bags of naughty devils.

The choices are abundant, especially flavors and in quality.  From brownies that could compete with Starbucks pastry selection, chocolate tarts mini sized and delicate in taste, sweet potato crunchies with the pendulum balance of sweet, salty and crunchy, to the notorious potato chips that beats Lays regular potato chips any day (just compare eating the two together in one sitting and you'll realize how your tongue has been fooled or perhaps salted with the abuse of blatant salt content and nothing more, well perhaps salty and oily describes Lays perfectly).

I don't feel as bad eating korean munchies.  Most of the time, it doesn't feel like I'm eating "junk food" - which can be a negative negative negative. 

However, this I will always I appreciate here.  I can always take comfort in going to the snack isle and know that I'll find something that will satisfy my earthly desires. 

Seoul metropolitan library (city hall)

I always loved libraries.  I was the odd kid that would hangout at the library after school.  But this time around, I have a partner in crime that loves libraries just as I do(with some convincing on how cool it is to read).  My husband and I almost always visit the library every 2 weeks (that's the loan time) to check out new books.  You can renew books for one more week.  And if you are late for 2 days, you are banned from taking out any books for 5 days (my experience).  So far I have yet to pay fees on late books.  I haven't asked whether they have fees or not though.  The latest was 2 days late for me.  Anymore I don't want to risk. 

The seoul metropolitan library is located right at seoul city hall, well the old city hall.  It's the older building that sits across from the round lawn space you see when they show city hall in the media.  

Get up to the 4th floor and you will see my favorite place, the modest room on the right side is where the foreign books are located - from English, Japanese, French, Tagalog, and more.  Obviously the biggest selection are the English books, about 5~7 rows of books.  

Although not great in number, the quality of English books always surprises us.  If you are a fan of "New York times best seller" - this library is for you.  My fellow frugal folks will appreciate this place.  You will save the 100% markup on English books in bookstores by borrowing a clean book here.  They books are super cleaner than Korean library books - obviously you would guess correctly why.

It's a nice quiet space.  I have come to appreciate this library more over the years because they've gotten better in selection and providing new books as well.  Pretty impressive to me.  I guess considering how much Korea puts English skills as a necessity might explain  the quality of this small foreign library here. 

Visiting this library is always a nice reminder of a tax well spent.  It's also nice to see families and kids hanging around this part of the area. There's a lot of "free" activity and events here.  The stream always seems to have some thing new going on every week - be it a market or a food festival.  The City-hall "lawn" area has free concerts/events on the weekends.  Things are pretty active here - and it's free and family friendly.  Amenities are also easy to access - restrooms, cafes, restaurants are everywhere.  It's not over priced or busy like MyungDong or Hongdae.  

What can I say, this is our spot.  

If you want to stay indoors, I highly recommend SFC Mall (food court) to stay cool and eat comfortably at a chain like Bulgogi Brothers, or fancy Indian, Thair, or Spanish restaurants and take a breather at the cute and decent cafes inside.  If you are serious about eating well - get to SFC to be safe.

The area behind city hall and around is a quiet place to stroll and walk.  My favorite cafe, cafe mamas, is located on this street.  Have yourself a "kale and grapes juice" to give yourself a boost if you're worn out.  

If you keep walking down, you will hit Cheonggyecheon and Gwanghwamun station.  

It's hard to get lost in this area.  Don't be afraid to get lost because you might just find a gem! 

Seoul is not a "scary alley" city when compared to NYC.  City-hall area is super safe and family friendly.

Actually Seoul really is not a hard place to get around or scary when you get lost, if you do just ask a passerby, or just keep walking a bigger street and perhaps you'll hit a subway station or two.  

Included is a map of city hall library with the blue arrow dot and the surrounding area.  This area is a nice place to walk and explore because those subway stations that pop up every other block might be a good option in case you just want to skedaddle your way home to convenience. 

For the carnivores: Manimal restaurant (Itaewon)

Meat lovers will love this place.  Bbq is the newest sensation in Seoul right now.  Everyone is trying to get on the bbq American way - ribs, chicken, pork and all. 

A few restaurants started it in Itaewon - who else but the Korean Americans.  This country is the new play ground for the 2nd 3rd generation Koreans.  We see that Korea is a land of trendy and whatever is new, well packed, tasty enough will hit it big.  

The restaurant, food and beverage industry is loving the American influence lately.  From ribs to New York style pizza. It was perhaps "French" that Koreans took to much liking (macarons, bakery, etc.) a few seasons ago that, but the hot radar jumps to anything American now.   

Manimal is the restaurant my husband likes for bbq in Seoul.  I don't prefer eating this much meat in one sitting and when it's just meat and nothing else, but those that love this will enjoy Manimal.  

Korea has come a long way from shying away from new flavors.  Funny how Taco Bell is popping up slowly now (there's one in Yeouido).  Koreans are slowing embracing the new flavors without expecting pickles and kimchi on the side.    I say that's a huge step! 

My favorite Korean restaurant: Bongpiyang (Mapo station)

I first heard about the greatness of this restaurant from my husband.  He had come home bragging about eating the best pork bbq and cold noodles (nengmyun).  I just thought, okay, good for you hun.  He has a knack for praising mediocre places and I've been so used it.  But every time he'd eat there, another compliment and another.  I thought how can a korean chain restaurant be that good?  

He's notorious for dragging me to his newest fave restaurants only to have me drilling him on why and how he would have thought this restaurant would surprise me.  I'm quite of snob when it comes to eating out, I don't like taking my time eating at value-less restaurants.  I'd rather eat at home unless it was over the top too good to miss out.  In summary, he has about a 20% passing score of his restaurant recommendations from me.  It doesn't help that he prefers gastronomy over grilled leeks.  I'd rather eat stalks of grilled leeks over a fancy meal.  

But he was totally right about this one.  This restaurant has yet to fail me.  I love their grilled pork galbi for many reasons, one being that it comes out already grilled!  The grilled pork is one of the cheapest options for meat there, 25,000won per order.  It comes out grilled and ready to eat.  I prefer a professional cooking it over me, and this service is just my style.  I'm not a big fan of grilling my own meat especially when I really just want to eat and not mind about cooking it, or more so, trying not to burn it and smelling like one.  Sure, it kills the  fun of it, especially if you are fond of grilling meat or the experience of it, but I'd had enough by now.  I just like to eat and enjoy a nice grilled meat and not labor myself for it when I'm out. 

The grilled pork galbi is nice place to start.  I'm not a big meat eater but this one always satisfies.  It comes grilled, juicy and tasty and well cooked.  But behold, there are no "ssam" (veggies) that comes with the meat!  You just gotta savor the meat as it is.  Ssam-eaters might be disappointed because I too was taken back the first time, but it's a nice refreshing change from the typical korean galbi places because you can actually enjoy the meat for its honest taste without all that added flavor.  

When you order meat, a nice set of side dishes comes along.  It comes with a bowl of onions and sauce to dip your meat with.  I don't usually like to cover the flavor with too much because their pork galbi is that good!

 

And to top it off, if you are a fan of "nengmyun", you will appreciate this authentic "pyeong-yang nengmyun" - everyone seems to order this in the summer and when having meat.  A regular bowl is 12,000won, but you can get a "taster" for almost half the price when you order meat or other dishes. 

If grilled meat and cold noodles aren't your thing, you can be assured that the rest of their menu is just as good.  They have pretty much most "meat soup dishes" like sulung-tang and yook-gejang.  They even have raw meat bibimbap that beats most bibimbap restaurants.  

The prices are a bit more than you would pay at other korean restaurants but it's worth the price.   The service is always on point - you don't have to yell your orders out from the other side of the room.  

We have only eaten at the one in Mapo.  Here is a map and some info below.  I hope those that visit it enjoy a good meal there.     

Nene chicken delivery is still the best

It's been a while since we had chicken delivery, so we went with the classic "nene chicken" and ordered the half and half (called "ban ban" in Korean).  Half fried and half sauced.  

Delightfully they are still good at what they do!  Their chicken is crispy, yet moist inside!  No gamey flavor or smell - and their classic sauce is just the right spice, sugar and salty goodness.

Was pretty happy to know that I can rely on a chain to provide consistent quality of food here!

Good job "nene chicken!"