congdu (Seoul)

This restaurant used to be in Samcheong-dong but moved to Shinmunro, the market for upscale modern Korean food ("neo Korean cuisine" in congdu's own words) being probably bigger with all those big company headquarters around.

"congdu" means bean, so I was not surprised to get a refreshing cup of makgeolli with black bean and red ginseng, followed by an equally cool white bean gazpacho delicately enhanced with white ginseng. The summer program consists of 3 colorful* set menus with a Jeju flavor : many ingredients come from the Southern island, like those black pig feet cooked for 36 hours and served with (what else) beans, and the terrace room (view on the back of the museum, a quiet garden rearranged last year) hosts a temporary photo exhibition about a Jeju-do less sunny than usual but all the more beautiful.

By the way, you're in a museum, and one I'm visiting quite often, and not only because I live almost next door. So why not enjoy the collections before or after a nice tofu steak ? But call them first : the other day, I tried to combine a dinner at congdu with the "1950 Seoul - 6.25 60th Anniversary Special Exhibition" and its sidekick ("A portrait of London", a photo exhibition co-organized with the Museum of London), but the central information desk was not aware that the whole restaurant had been reserved for the evening.

Don't expect this kind of mistake from congdu's staff : the service is really fine and adds to the very pleasant experience.

congdu f&c / congdu food & cuisine (restaurant)
Seoul Museum of History 1F, 50 Saemunan-gil, 2-1 Shinmunro-2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ROK 110-230
Tel +82.2.722.7002

Seoul Village 2010

* the dishes as well as the menus (green, orange, and white)