We have been staying in a working class neighborhood just outside of the Namguro subway entrance. This neighborhood is home to hundreds of small mom and pop restaurants that are sure to satisfy your taste-buds with any South Korean dish that you can imagine. We have even found some that have taken a western dish, and perfected it with some South Korean flair, like their pizza or chicken wings. I have made it a goal of mine to not eat at the same establishment more than once, in an effort to absorb as much of the South Korean culture as possible in the short nine days we have here.
My first food experience of Seoul wasn't exactly too out of the ordinary. I was starving for some grub, and the first familiar thing I could find was Doritos and a Vitamin Water. Actually what hooked me for this first meal was the brand packaging and the fact that the labels were written in Hangul. Just about everybody loves Doritos and Vitamin water, but he difference in the tastes from the American product and the Korean product didn't exactly blow my mind like I was hoping it to.
As my courage grew through the first and second day, I began to attempt more risky foods, praying that my stomach would hold up and not give me some serious problems. My first attempt at some crazy food choices came at the wrath of Samgyeopsal. This was an amazing meal that closed out a night with the great people from the Asian American Journalism Association.
From this point my food inhibition was broken. Soon after came Bulgogi, Two Two Chicken, and even this amazing Halal food establishment called Ankaral Picnic located in Itaewon. Here you can get the most amazing lamb or chicken gyros. I know that we are supposed to be eating Korean food, but Ankaral Picnic takes the prize.
