Phil Kyung Jae - Traditional Korean Food.

Fancy, traditional, and the best Korean food I've had in Korea! 

My friend Alina has family in Korea. Turns out they own a super fancy, classy, traditional Korean restaurant called Phil Kyung Jae, located near Suseo subway stop (Orange line) in Seoul. It's maybe a 15-20 minute walk from the subway and easy to find! 

So, the menu -- you choose which option you would like (each including different food and amounts). They range from 54,000 won to 240,000 won per person. (we got the 84,000 option). I am not sure if I will ever be able to afford/ever want to spend 240 bucks on food at one sitting and I'm not sure if any of you out there could or would want to either. But if you can/want to/do let me know - you'll be my hero!

We (Alina, Kim and Tina - my co-scholar who is now working at Alina's school!) were taken to our table. Yes, it was actually a table with real chairs (which I was honestly surprised a little) but it was enclosed and we had our own private little room. The restaurant used to be (Alina's relatives') home way back who knows when and her aunt and uncle turned it into a restaurant.

Then the feast starts.....

they bring dish after dish after dish after dish of food. I just kept eating and eating and eating ohhh and eating some more!




The side dishes:

 King's Kimchi

 Named because only the kings ate it. Why? Because it's hard to make (apparently - although I am now determined to make it) and probably because it's the best!! It's hands down the best kimchi I'VE had! 

Some greens and white stuff (wow, so technical).

Salad.

Sweet pumpkin soup.

Clear, jello-y stuff with cucumbers and eggs.

Bamboo Salad.

Japchae - 잡채 (sweet potato noodles with vegetables). 

Fried zucchini dipped in eggs, some meat and more egg stuff.

An assortment of veggies/meats and little round wrappers.. eaten kind of like a little taco.

Main dishes/hot food:

Soup.

Pork and kimchi.

Shrimp.

 Dokgalbi - 떡갈비 

I am not joking I think this is the best meat I have ever had in my entire life. Coming from a girl raised on meat, that's a big deal!

Fish.

Raw Crab. (weird sounding but it was so juicy and tender. I loved it!)

More soup - Seaweed soup.

Dessert:

Fruit - Watermelon (수박) and Asian Pear (배).

Rice drink.

 I left so happy, so full but so happy. My love for Korean food sky rocketed after this experience! I would highly recommend this restaurant. Save your money by eating at home for a couple of weeks and then go here - you will not regret it! Oh and make sure you get the Dokgalbi - 떡갈비 :)




More FOOD!!


After we were stuffed.. what did we do. Oh we went and got more food! Why? because that's what we do!



We went to a famous Patbingsu (팥빙수) restaurant on the edge of the strip in Insadong - Seoul. It was a cute little place. They have a DJ there on the weekdays and you can write a letter to someone (usually your bf or gf), which will get mailed out 100 days later! The patbingsu was ok here, not my favorite - I would still say that Caffe Bene has the best! :)