Something Fishy

UPDATE: All current blogging for area recommendations has moved to:
 South of Seoul or MollaKorea.com

To Eat: Sashimi

Holy 음식 Batman!

This is our idea of heaven.

When we have a bit more money to spend

and want eat too much sushi, we go here.
Although it's more expensive than something things,
it blows our mind how much we get for our money.

This is for serious sashimi lovers only.

It's also only for groups,

although we eat 4 servings between 2 people.

Either way, prepare to eat until you want to die.

See more pictures here: Korean Food Blog

It's on the same street as Monkey Papa.

However, instead of left at Port of Mocha, go right.

The address below is not really great and maybe you can't understand the Naver Map.  Hopefully the Monkey Papa and Port of Mocha help you find it.

Name: Japanese Restaurant 우전

Address: 경기도 평택시 신평동

Naver Map: http://map.naver.com/?mid=bl012244018

Spicy Romance

To Eat: Swoyambhu Restaurant

Romance is warm colors,

strong flavors,

and shared memories.

Today we celebrated these memories of college

and last Christmas when we ran away to India

with the tastes make it all real again.

Name: Swoyambhu Restaurant

Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 45-7

Naver Map: http://me2.do/F5xXLzMt

The Belly of the Beast

To Eat:  AK Plaza basement

Although I'm not a fan of fast food,

I am a fan of food on little plates going in circles.

So when I am in a hurry near AK PLAZA

I go down, down, down into the belly of the beast

and eat some sushi off the beltway.

In addition to sushi on rails,

you can find a variety of other options

including Krispy Kreme.

On a side note:

The also have an excellent high-end health supplement section.

I will let you decided if I am talking about the picture above or below.

A Sweet Spot

Oh, crepe. What have I done?

The coffee is only 2,200.

Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwiches

Name: Janny Sweet House

(across from Pyeongtaek Bus Terminal)

Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 31-1

Naver Map: http://me2.do/xtXWMSg5

PRO TIP: Fruit other than bananas is frozen,

so it can be a bit cold to eat. I stick with banana.

All You Can Eat

Pyeongtaek: To Eat

Vietnamese Shabu Shabu

One of the first meals I really fell in love with in the Pyeongtaek area was a fusion Vietnamese shabu shabu.  The best place I have been for this so far has been in Anjung-eup which is in the western part of Pyeongtaek.  

Last night, however, we ended up at one of these restaurants on the edges of Pyeongtaek City that took the whole thing to the next level because it was all you can eat beef, pork, and veggies.  It was possibly the best choice you could make for a large group of hungry, thirsty people.  It's one of the few meals that everyone can be happy with.  All spicy or unusual flavors can be completely avoided or totally embraced, you get to choose.  If you love meat, you can just eat meat.  If you love veggies, you can just eat veggies.  If you like spicy, dump on the sauces. 

It's simple, healthy, and filling.

Is this THE BEST Vietnamese Shabu Shabu fusion I've had? 

No, because it's not as great as Anjung-eups. 

Is it it the best I've had in Pyeongtaek City? 

Yes, because it's all the veggies I want and a good quality of meat.

From what I could tell there were options ranging from 9,000 - 26,000\ depending on if you also wanted to order additional seafood items (seafood not all you can eat).  Since I wasn't paying, I have no idea what our meal cost per person.  If I would guess, it was the 9,000\ option, but I have no idea.

As usual, the restaurant had private rooms to facilitate large groups of people.

Name: 월남 쌈 김상사

Address: 경기도 평택시 동삭동 386-24,

Naver Map: http://me2.do/FoCrQOdx

Falling In Love Again

For over three years I have been hoping to find this place again, but never had the time to go drive through the varies hills and valleys looking for it.  However, with more rest and time on my hands, this weekend I was able to quickly find it based on what I remembered from my first visit: on a dead end road, in a small valley, next to a Shell station, 10 minutes from my old job, relatively no signage.

How do I describe this place?

Movies aren't even this dreamy.

This is where you go if you love books and poetry 

and like to write stories in your head.

the food

the scenery

the sound of the breeze through the rice

It's like they were written in a fairy tale

that you have interrupted. 

Name: 사랑채, 

Phone: 031-663-8578

Address: 경기도 평택시 도일동 346, 

Naver Map: http://me2.do/5gsixfqZ

If you decide to step into this dream,

try not to break it by remembering a few things:

1. The restaurant is in the back of a home, respect the area.
2. They don't speak English
3. 6 people max. Not for big groups.
4. Quiet atmosphere, don't be too noisy.
5. They accept cash or checks.

The menu:

Barley Bibimpap 

7,000

Tofu, mushroom soup in fish broth (pictured above) 

4 people 35,000

3 people 25,000

2 people 20,000

Mung Bean Pancake

10,000

Soybean Pancake

10,000

Chicken and Potato Stew 토종 닭도리탕

4 people 40,000

Smothered Chicken Stew 토종 찜 닭

4 people 40,000

Stewed Chicken 토종 옷닭 백숙

4 people 45,000

Stew (I think chicken) with a tree 토종 엄나무 백숙

4 people 45,000

Samgupsal

12,000

Rice

1,000

DUCK!!!!! duck, duck, no goose

Stupid grin, awesome food.

Pyeongtaek Restaurants

We love

Do you like duck? Do you love quirky traditional Korean foods with intense flavors?  Do you like to drink too much soju and eat until you are sick? Then the place is for you. As you might be able to tell, we are focused more on the duck and soju than taking pictures of the food.  I am now noticing this is often our habit when it's one of our super favorite places.

Now, this place is not for folks who aren't really sure about Korean food.  This restaurant is all in.  You will be eating lots of spicy foods as well as pig skin and jelly fish.  That said, all of the sides are excellent and we usually get refills on nearly everything.  I am a huge fan of their white kimchi and pickled items.  Also a fan of their pancake, fried squash, jelly fish.... ok fine, I'm a fan of everything except the salmon with a candied cherry and fake cheese on top. I have no idea what is happening there but I forgive them because the rest is excellent. 

Once again, this is a place where the food just keeps coming so be prepared to eat way more than you are comfortable with. Although they offer other things, we always order one of the duck sets where they bring you 4-5 courses of duck, each one different. I think we usually spend between $15-$20 per person depending on how many drinks we buy.

 This place does close pretty early, like 9:00 or 9:30 so arrive before 8 if you can. Oh, and it's located in the middle of an industrial area so it's a bit hard to find.  We usually stay for 2 hours at least. It's hard to move after eating that much food.

Address: It is near a Chinese restaurant 

and has one of those little traditional water wheels out front.

경기도 평택시 모곡동 (거리뷰)

Naver Map: http://me2.do/5OeF6usr

Scrumptious Fancy Pants Food

Are you a foodie who thinks Pyeongtaek doesn't really have much to offer?  Well, you are wrong and this place will prove it.  Tucked away in the hills behind a university, it will seem like you are lost just about the time you find this place.  Completely unassuming on the outside, inside is small bright space where reservations are often needed if you show up after 11:00am.  Many guests at this lovely destination come from far and wide to eat this exquisite food. 

The pictures in this blog do not do it justice.  You would think that I would have a zip drive full of good pictures because a) I go here all the time and b) the food is stunning.  Instead, however, I have failed each and every time to take good photos because I am too excited/overwhelmed by the food.  The presentation is just delightful and I get wrapped up in how lovely it looks and can't really think about anything else. So check out these Korean food blogs to get a better idea of the awesomeness.

http://m.blog.naver.com/jinsung6788/220351508686

http://m.blog.naver.com/gasumi00/220243220871

http://m.blog.naver.com/gluvc/40211103715

(Arg. Looking at the photos is killing me. Want - to - go - now!!!!!)

There are only two set options and everyone will need to order the same one.  They are between $14 and $18 if I remember right. To be honest, I am always thinking, "Here take all my money. I love this too much" so I don't remember exactly what I spend. That said, I have only order the cheapest option because it's always too much food and I'm not ready to level up.  The basic meal is something like 16 courses so pace yourself please.  Just when you think you are finished more is going to show up.

The food here is indescribable and everyone I have ever taken here has been in awe.  The flavors are fresh and each plate very unique.  If you are going with kids, there are also kids plates you can order like fried pork cutlet so that you can keep the best parts for yourself.

Address:

 Name: 산말을명가  

Address: 경기도 평택시 장안동 92-17

Never Map: http://me2.do/5aNFlluS

Date Night at the Cabin

Pyeongtaek Restaurants

We love

 

So, you need to wow your date with delicious Korean food and an intimate, cozy setting?  This is the place you want to go.  This shabu shabu restaurant is located in a stunning, log cabin on the side of hill. Inside its warm lighting and plants that wind through the space make the wide open room seem intimate and you muck more attractive.  It's by far one of the most romantic restaurants I have found in Korea.  Heck, even the pot you cook in is downright sexy.

 

To top it all off, the food is excellent. The fresh veggies, quality seafood, meat and noodles have impressed everyone we have ever brought here.  It's a rare person who isn't going to love this.  Shabu shabu is straight up fun to eat and at this restaurant the food is only as spicy as you chose to make it. That means even your kids, picky friends, and out of town guests are going to be able to eat themselves sick. As an added bonus, they even serve wine by the glass here.

Address: Big log cabin in the side of a hill.  

Name: 게으쭈루, 

Phone: 031-667-4946, 

Address: 경기도 평택시 이충동 123-4, 

Naver Map: http://me2.do/FOAiajAr