[Gilbert's Travel Tip] This Is Our Destiny - Samgyup Sal

Korean BBQ.
Such a special name which makes people happy.
You might not even imagine this lovely and unique table ever before.

As different to the usual BBQ system, Korean BBQ is set in the house.
The fire is put inside of the middle of the table. The smoke gets out from the room through the special ventilator.

Korean really love this table. They can enjoy the BBQ in all seasons easily and safely with cheap price.

Last week, I also had this BBQ with my friends.

Ordered pork belly for 3 people (around 12,000 won per 200 g) with 1 ice cold Soju.

We call this pork belly in Korean "Samgyup Sal".

Put 2 pieces of Samgyp Sal on a grill if it is hot enough, and cook them calculating the fire power and a time.

If you think that the meat is ready to eat, don't forget to fill your glass with crystal clear Soju or golden frozen beer.

Usually the restaurant set a few sorts of vegi for the "Ssam" which you wrap a piece of meat with lettuce.

So called "Ssam"

After you finish the pork, some restaurants provide the fried-rice on the fire.

This BBQ with Samgyup Sal is very usual in Korea culture especially for dinner.
So if you visit any BBQ restaurant in Seoul, you could easily see the people who finish their work.

Korea has very different night culture. Food service industry provide cheap price to the customers and people easily have their dinner outside.

Many Korean companies still try to retain their hard work atmosphere, more than half of workers should do over work at least until 7 or 8 (in the worst case 10~11 is usual also).

It also makes Korean food industry open their door until late night with cheap price.

There is my strong suggestion to try and enjoy night culture in Seoul if you challenge the BBQ experience.

- Next story will be about Night in Seoul; Hannam Bridge Coffee Shop.

[Gilbert's Travel Tip] Korean Style Sashimi - Noryangjin Fish Market

Usually my friends who visited this country asked me to knock them down with sashimi at least one night during their stay. However unless I get a company's credit card in my pocket, that is a bit difficult mission for me to treat them with this expensive item.

However if you have the same favor with my friends, I strongly suggest you to visit Noryangjin Fish market which is a wholesale and a direct market in Seoul. In the market, you can spend only about 30$ (2 people base) including sashimi, the place to eat, spicy like soy sauce, and the Korean style HOT fish stew, so called "Maeoon-Tang".


Deeply hope you do not blame on me even if you get all sashimi which you will eat in your whole life in Noryangjin!!

- About System

As I explained, Noryangjin market has a wholesale system. So, the best thing about this place is that you can see a hundred sort of fishes which are alive and pick them yourself to taste (!!!) That's why I introduce this spot to you - if your partner don't like to enjoy sashimi, this place would be deserve to go for watching splendid seafood stuffs.



[This old market is still existed just beside of the new market building. You can choose which you need to go. The price difference is small.]



[Recently the new market building was rebuilt. Clean and Easy to pick]





1. Search a good fish



Firstly once you enter the market, you can find more than 300 wholesalers. If you select the shop, you can choose the fish you need to eat.
The usual menu in the market is flatfish [Korean name : Kwang-eo] and a rock fish [Wooruck]. You can pay about 25,000 won for 1 flatfish & 1 rock fish and other small extra free services such as a sea squirt.



2. Go to the place to eat - Yang Nyum Jip


If you select the fishes, they prepare sashimi in front of you. For the next step, what you have to do is asking them the place to eat. You can ask the seller then they will let you know where you have to go. Just bring them to the "spicy store" - The eating place is called "Spicy store" [Korean name : Yang Nyum Jip] which is providing the spicy such as a soy sauce, red pepper paste.



3.  Wait and Enjoy

At this stage, just enter the spicy store and pass them your sashimi and sit on your table (Most of tables are Korean style tables).
You have to pay for the spicy with around 3,000 won per a person. Then the spicy store will provide you a few spicy stuffs and a little bit of vegi. And it's your show time~!!




4. Don't miss the Maeoon Tang

This step is very important. Say "Maoon Tang" when you buy the fish. Then the shopper will keep the head and born of the fish and deliver it to the spicy store. If you pay around 10,000 won to the spicy store, they will make the HOT fish stew for you after you finish the sashimi.
You must taste it with a cup of beer or Soju. The combination of those 2 stuffs is such a heaven!



5. Other small tips

- Because this market is wholesale, negotiation is available. If you feel that some people are trying to cheat you, you can defense it and turn it to your side. You can refer to my price information above.

- If you are interested in a crab, you can ask the spicy store to boil it. But extra price for boiling service would be followed.

- You can take it out to your cozy room and get the small soy sauce in Seven Eleven, CU convenience store and other stores.

- Most Important -    HOW TO GO

Noryangjin Fish market is just beside of the subway station "Noryangjin" line number 1. Find out the exit 2 - pass the pedestrian bridge - it is connected to the old market. Your adventure starts from there. The new market is just beside of the old market so if you feel uncomfortable with the surroundings in the old market, warp to the new fish market and enjoy the time!!



Next Tip : Pork Belly BBQ is all about Korea!! We love it as "Samkyup Sal"!!

[Gilbert's Travel Tip] Seoul, a capital of Korea

There are thousands of ways to travel many countries and cities. Especially if the destination is where you hardly get any information in your typical days.

As one of normal Korean, I want to be honest with you - Korea is not a country which people easily are exposed to. Particularly Seoul is not as famous as Tokyo or Beijing in our neighbors.

However this city has such a complicated structure, especially for tourists who dreamed to get marvelous oriental experience in a strange city which is placed at the corner of far east Asia.



Usually, as soon as they found that this small capital has totally 13 lines for subway and thousands of bus lines which easily take people to everywhere inside of the capital with cheap fare, they start to get frustrated.

"How to transfer to another line, do I have to pay another fare, is the taxi only the safest vehicle in the city?" and other endless questions are appeared in their mind.

If you have a chance to think about this matter in an opposite side, it's easy to get that "Even babies can hang around in the city without any difficulties."





Many tourists are missing their splendid opportunities to enjoy Seoul and Korea. It's just like when I visited Japan, I always wanted to get talent to speak Japanese because I knew I was missing so many things for language barriers.

I am going to give you a few tips for the travel in Seoul to enjoy the time in here using my English and a few pictures. So that you can leave precious memories in your mind forever spending your only time in Seoul.

Next blog will be about Noryangjin seafood market. I will describe how you can get a good fish without overcharge or rip-off. Hope you expect Korean style Sushi!!

Noryangjin seafood market is one of the biggest place for enjoying Sushi in Seoul with cheap price!