Sampoong Sutbul Galbi (Seoul)

So long for new year resolutions: I'm starting 2012 with the carbon footprint of a Hummer.

Well. There are lighter ways to cure holiday excesses than marinated pork ribs on charcoal, but to add insult to injury the meat has been shipped, according to the menu's ballpark estimates, all the way from the States or Spain. I tried to check it out and to chat in Castilian with the animal, but the pulp only hissed back from the grill. Taste-wise, 'twas Korean galbi at its best.

Bonuses include bits of charcoaled ddeok, a rice or noodle dish (I tried both varieties of naengmyeon: a mean "bibim" and a pleasant "mul"), and a disarmingly kind staff.

Sampoong Sutbul Galbi can easily be reached from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station (Lines 2-5, exit 4, go straigth to the Gu Office, that's the last building to the left), but I took a cab. End of the statement.


Sampoong Sutbul Galbi (Restaurant Sampoong) / 삼풍 숮불갈비

91-1 Dangsan-3-ga (Moonhwa Building 1F), Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, ROK
Tel +82.2.2634.3035
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Sinsikdang (Damyang)

Sinsikdang means "new restaurant". Yet, they're supposed to be cooking their mouthwatering ddeokgalbi (떡갈비) for three generations ; the kind that rocks your palate (the meat, not the gems on which they're presented).

Some pretend that the interior could be cosier. Or that the noodle soup tastes even better than the ddeokgalbi.

I don't care. I had both. Twice.

And the next day I swiched beef for pork across the street : yummy ribs / Galbi too, even more "no thrill" service... except for the yelling adjochi / psycho maitre d'.

And the next day it was time to expose my own ribs at the local spa.

Fat chance.

Sinsikdang / 신식당 (restaurant)
68 Damju-ri, Damyang-eup, Jeollanam-do, DAMYANG, ROK (Jeollanam-do)
Tel +82.61.382.9901

SM 2007

Their website : sinsikdang.co.kr.

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