Han Shik in Apkujeong

Chung Dam Gol (청담골)

There are times when you just want to eat some simple Korean food. What I enjoy about Korea is the variety of the types of restaurants in Seoul. One type of meal that I thoroughly enjoy is Han Shik (Korean Cuisine) - which usually includes a lot of ban-chan and various traditional dishes. This restaurant located in Apkujeong was a place that left a lasting impact on my taste buds. There wasn't any one thing that was super spectacular but the freshness of all of the dishes that came out made me a fan. I ate dinner with my cousins, and we shared an excellent dining experience. They bring a large square tray filled with a lot of banchan dishes, and we each ordered some fish and jji-gae (or Korean stew). I personally ordered the mackeral, and deonjang jjigae - a typical favorite of mine. The fish was grilled superbly and the stew was filled with generous chunks of mushrooms, tofu, and zucchini. I usually judge the quality of a restaurant based on their banchan, and I must say that based on that measurement, this place deserves 4 stars and 2 thumbs up. They have another location within Seoul, and I'm sure the level and quality of their other location is just as excellent.

Price: $$
Stars: 4 stars
Location: 609-6 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul South Korea 02-518-0450

Halal Food in Itaewon Seoul

Ankara Picnic

One of my all-time favorite meals can be found at a very unique place and time. It's actually the 53rd/6th Halal Cart in NYC. It's usually referred to as chicken/rice and it only appears during the late evening hours. If you ever get a chance to visit NYC, this place is a must. Outside of NYC, it's really hard to find something similar or comparable. One evening my cousin was walking through Itaewon, and found Ankara Picnic - a Seoul Restaurant that serves halal food. Their main dish is a shawarma-like wrap consisting of either chicken or lamb. It looks like a burrito, but the taste is very distinct from Mexican food. This was the closest thing that I've found in Korea that tastes similar to the chicken/rice cart in NYC. The meat is constantly roasting on a spinner, and cooked to perfection. The server will grab a wrap (not sure if it's tortilla), slice the meat, add some vegetables, their delicious white sauce (possibly a yogurt based sauce), and some hot sauce. I personally recommend ordering the chicken as it has a cleaner taste then the lamb. I would also suggest asking for very little hot sauce, or none at all, because it will make you sweat. The price is reasonable for a quick, satisfying bite of a chicken wrap. There are only a few chairs inside to sit and eat, so it's more of a grab and go type of food. Nevertheless, Ankara Picnic in Itaewon gives an excellent taste of halal food on the go.

Price: $$
Stars: 4 stars
Location: Itaewon Station - exit 3 (can't miss it)