This post was written in 2007. Shop details and prices may have changed since then.
I went to Jongno to stop by a bookstore, and while I was at it I paid a visit to Myeongdong Kyoja, the place that’s famous with Japanese tourists.
Truth is, back when I had an office job, I was a fan of a knockoff Myeongdong Kalguksu. At the time I had no idea that the Myeongdong Kalguksu places popping up everywhere like mushrooms after the rain weren’t actually official branches; I just vaguely thought the Myeongdong Kalguksu in front of my office was cheap and pretty tasty.
I used to hang around Myeongdong so much back then, yet it never once crossed my mind to eat at Myeongdong Kyoja. Why, I wonder? It still seems strange to me. Anyway, I’m the type who can’t let something go once I’m curious about it, so I took this chance and made a point of going.
The sign
Looks like they’ve opened a few official branches. Even in Myeongdong there seems to be one more branch besides the main shop..
Their signature dish, kalguksu
It’s 6,000 won. After one bite I was ready to get up and leave, because of the overpowering taste of MSG… I have this odd constitution where MSG upsets my stomach. But I’d been walking around all day (the Monet exhibition, among other things..) and was starving, so I decided to just finish it.
Unlimited refills of kimchi
Once I put kimchi into the kalguksu it became somewhat edible. The kimchi itself is pretty spicy.
Unlimited refills of rice too, of course
I doubt you’d ever need the free refills, but if you want to get your money’s worth, go ahead and ask for more..
I don’t think this is a place I’ll ever go to twice in my life. What I really wanted to eat was the chogyetang at Pyeongnaeok and the mineo (croaker) at Hwaseon Hoejip, but I always seem to miss my chance. I’ll have to earn more money so I can come to Korea more often ^_^;
Ice cream from Red Mango
I like it personally, but the calories are an OTL kind of burden. Good for a treat every now and then.
A bossam place I went to because someone offered to buy me a meal.
The basic side dishes
Bossam
Of course it’s not a particularly great place, but it’s decent enough. It reminded me once again of the truth that if you just walk into any random restaurant nearby, you end up eating food drenched in MSG, but that’s how it goes when you have a working life.. All I can do is pay a bit more attention to my health day to day..