At least you all live in Hong Kong or countries on the list... in Korea we are having to put up with aghast "how unbelievable that they forgot to include us" comments. Which is unfortunate as no matter how terrible the list is it is absolutely correct in not including Korea on a list of Asia's top 50 restaurants....

Sushi - Sushi Sase or Sushi Yoshitake

Shangri-La - I haven't, I never really got into hotel restaurants as I love the local atmosphere. Why not try some local crab joints - Under Bridge Spicy, Mah Wah (for the expensive version) or Hue Hing?

I understand on the variety of food but I always think HK is so unique in having so much good HK and Cantonese food it is a shame to miss a chance to eat it :)

Glad you guys enjoyed the show :).

And Bean Table may be opening in the US (L.A. of course) and if it does it is worth trying.

I heartily recommend stopping in at Po's Atelier if you are going to be revisiting HK... well worth a visit to see the development of the local food scene. Right by Yardbird (which is excellent).

That said I would say that all of those restaurants are great for locals but if I was revisiting I would be prioritising other places!

I know CH frowns on external links but hopefully this one won't fall foul as (i) it is not me although my wife is the DP (ii) there is no financial gain etc. from it as the production company who filmed it are showing it on network TV in Korea and Vimeo is irrelevant and just so friends and family outside of Seoul can watch it (iii) it is interesting...

Anyway in case you are curious there is a show called SemiPermanent which just did a food episode which has just been put up on Vimeo. The focus is expats in Seoul but they visit a restaurant I think CHers would particularly like - Bean Table. Bean Table is probably the only restaurant I've been to in Seoul pushing organic Korean food. Most young chefs here focus on Western cuisine but Chef Lee is trying to doing more interesting things with traditional Korean.

https://vimeo.com/54265037

Enjoy.

Just to a post to say I am afraid there may not be too much help out there. I think I am the only CHer living in Korea. And there are very very unlikely to be any in Geoje.

That said, the good thing is Korean food is very accessible as long as she makes some friends as it is all group affair. There is the BBQ (pork and beef) but also a whole other array of dishes based around soups (thick ones) and stews (jiggaes). I find them very interesting and unlike what you get in the Western Korean restaurants.

Where she is going is slightly in the middle of nowhere right at the coast. It is renowned as one being one of the best food regions. Think lots of fish (grilled or in stew).

I haven't been to Brickhouse yet but Jen has who is also more familiar with Mexican food. She described it as "Yardbird without the food for 20 year olds".

Apparently her and the group she was with didn't bother finishing most of their food. It was apparently heaving so not sure whether it was just an off day or not...

I get the feeling that this may be the best Mexican in town but that isn't saying much.

The other thing to do is order a metal bowl of sesame oil and put your garlic in their to slow cook. Then it accompanies everything.

But yes, a lot of Koreans grill the kimchi.

Thanks for the tip heinous. Haven't heard about it over here. Will try it out.

I'm not sure whether there are any other Chowhounders who actually live here bar me?

Anyway would be happy to (as we obviously share similar tastes given your distaste for Bo Innovation) but I think I may be hiking in Jeju. If not I'll drop you a PM or reply to this....

Tom

Klyeoh - if you visit with Phil KJ with the sensitivities of a Chinese palate you will be even more disappointed. Will look forward to trying Han-Miri though. Thanks for the tip.

Agaaga - I understand ELBON is very reckoned here in Seoul which is why I was excited to try it when I first moved here. All I can say after two meals here is that it is an embarassment if that is one of the best Western style restaurants here in Seoul.

By reference to HK, let alone Europe it is plain average to bad. Desserts were inedible, starters were boring, mains were solid but nothing interesting. It did nothing remarkable with Korean ingredients. I can't remember a single dish unless I look at pictures. I remember the head chef was there when I went and I wanted him to ask me how the meal was. Unfortunately he didn't.

In relation to Congdu I wasn't criticising. I've heard good things. Still Jung Sik Dang is the only standout high level meal I've had.

And Bo Innovation is again an embarassment for HK. Entry level stuff.

RipuCurl - sorry for the slow reply. I am currently doing Korean work hours which are rather intense so this is the first time I have visited CH in a while.

I love Seoul but definiitely miss Chinese cuisine and the subtle and precise nature of the cooking. As for finds in Seoul I would absolutely give up on Western food here. Just not worth trying.

The Korean food is rather special as you would guess and opened up a whole new type of cuisine which we don't get back in Europe - the stews, guks or jiggaes. I am in love with them.

Elbon - I just didn't care about a single dish. It is meant to be the best fancy Euro style restaurant in Seoul (well maybe Pierre G) but it was really average. If the equivalents in HK are Caprice, Robuchon etc... it is pathetic by comparison.

The Western influenced dinning scene here is at ground level. The Korean dining scene is obviously v high!

And booking clubs. Don't tell Jen :/

I went to school in a school which was over 700 years old. That doesn't mean it is good.

I understand it comes with great pedigree unfortunately PKJ is a musty old has been on my two recent visits. The rooms are worn down by the slow rotunda of guests. The decoration is tattered and smells like the inside of an old cupboard.

The outside does look very pretty and I took some night shots which were probably the best part of the visit.

As for the food it is undoubtedly a tourist/ high level chaebol employee trap. It is absolutely sub par and leaves you half bored after the first couple of dishes. I have had better Korean food pretty much everywhere else in Seoul.

As for being born in Korea I think the key question is when you were last there. As currently it is bad.

Phil is a waste of space. A tourist / visiting dignitary kind of place. Feels decrepit and the food tastes similar.

Jung Sik Dang is fantastic but a boring room.

All three are pretty average compared to the food and selection you will get at a proper high level or even street level Cantonese restaurant....

They are just popular due to the craze on exclusivity/ private dining. I would ignore them all and go to the Chairman.

Have a look at e_ting's blog for a recent review of Ta Pantry etc.

Tim's Kitchen remains mainly rich locals.

I'ld swap the Chairman in for DTF for dinner as it is a far more interesting and Cantonese (rather than Shanghainese/ Taiwanese) experience. Maybe DTF for a brunch.

Amber does a good weekend wine matching brunch. If you are familiar with European food, it is good, and cheap for the price but won't change your world etc.

Arirang is ok... but Korean isn't really HK's strength. Maybe do something a bit more local like a dai pai dong or soy western.

Tasty IFC = no reservations, queue can get bad but if you are flexible on times is fine.

Hotel Dinner Buffets are generally meh.

Lei Garden Wan Chai is the most reckoned. Despite the recent dumping of Michelin stars on them, they are not the best there is.

Tim Ho Wan - get there early or late. Mongkok branch is best.

I've not been to TLH but it looks like the interior of the deathstar. Friends who have been there say it is by no means the best high level Canto but is good. Although overpriced.

Agreed on 8 1/2, if you've been to Italy, an utter waste of time.

Sorry for the disjointed mutterings, hope it helps. I would suggest something more local - i.e. fresh wok breath dining but then I am currently in Seoul and missing classic Canto food.

Haven eaten at a few of these now I would say that Elbon is very very average (even bad) for someone who is familar with European food. I love JSD but the dining room is very dated. The food is exceptional.

As for the others, they are largely Western imports. I haven't yet been to Congdu but heard great things about it.

I've just moved to Seoul (from HK) and am starting to eat (and get lost 99% of the time) round this awesome city.

If any of the locals or long term Seoulites would like to do a chowhound meetup I would love to! Would be great to pick the brains of some experts.

Tom

I've "heard" but no personal experience that Ippudo in Sing is the worst of the bunch... but who the hell knows.

I am just curious as to how the HK one compares.

News from the building site is that it will open mid July

Probably MIST, I'm not a fan of Butao or Hide-chan despite them being very popular. Sapporo in the Forum used to be my stop gap but now I go to Ryo on Hillier Street.

Ippudo (if as good as NY branch) will take them all though!

I can't wait. That said, an Australian/ Japanese place which opened a month or so ago in Sheung Wan is keeping me from spending too much at MIST - Men-dokoro Ryo Tei

Not bad if you need a stop gap - the fish stock and pork bone broth is probably the best.

grilled over fire > intercontinental steak houise :/

or if you don't want expensive boring americany steak - do a bbq with the locals at an outdoor bbq pit.

cooking directly over fire in the American style isn't really done here. Chinese BBQ is an art in itself.

But going back to your original quesiton - cooked food centres. Try the one in Mui Wo and the first seafood place (with the amazing view of the beach) for some of the best (and cheap) steamed fish, clams etc. you will ever have. Very local

Wow that is a long time. I actually remember queuing for hours for the first one as a young kid (I would have been 12 I guess) with my dad.

It was the absolute coolest thing to do!

Posto Pubblico is pretty dire. If you are competent enough to open a can of tomatoes and reduce it/ add basic spices you can probably do better.

That said I end up there once a month with expat friends. I do like the "vibe"/ drinks.

You've got to remember that Wagamama first opened something like 12 years ago in London. Back then it really was cutting edge and in the context of London's food scene then - excellent.

The world moves on though.

Erm the Ukrainian/ Russian speciality? I haven't heard of too many places which serve it... unless I am missing something and it is also a Chinese delicacy?

Ah that is interesting. But yes, I would guess that means that they can do it well everytime. They are opening in NY in June and the non evolution of the food won't go down well there.

That said, the food will (if it changes now and then) go down well as it is superb.

I have to say I think Korea really is a fabulous place for food!

I didn't find any first wave coffee places. Coffee shops everywhere, now of it good!

If you are doing the street food tour with Dan - I hope he takes you to the mackeral place.

PS if you to go to one high end - jung sik dang is world class. Truly truly world class.

The only problem I have with Man An Kee is that sometimes it doesn't get the highest level of custom and during those periods it seems a bit off.

That said, it is the closest wonton place to my flat and I probably go a couple of times a month.

Thanks to both charles and e_ting who originally recommended it about 2 years ago!

Many thanks for this Kosmose! I was actually trying to see if Chowhound had a message function so I could directly send you a message with this question! But you are so fast there is no need!

Well I have booked ELBON already for Saturday night so that resolves it. Apart from that there is a tour with SeoulEats on Friday night and now I just need to choose places for Sat and Sun lunch. Shame it is such a short trip but I think I will def be back!