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Hungry in Hongdae we wandered around smelling the scents of cooking in the air. Pink and yellow banners strung across every building like a sore thumb promoting the latest specials. Walking along SeogyoroStreet we spotted Dos Tacos across the road then passed by A Twosome Place. Neither striking the desires inside our hungry bodies. Thinking about where we were an idea slowly crept into Jamesʼs mind.
“Got it, follow me, this way, itʼs just down here around the corner,” James said. “Where are you taking me?” Sara replied. “Youʼll see soon enough. Iʼve seen this place a 100 times and havenʼt stopped.” They walked to the crosswalk awaiting the traffic lights to pause the automobiles to let the massive crowd cross the roadway. Eventually the light changed moving across the street bumping this person and that weaving through the thickening crowd.
Past the street vendors selling sunglasses, t-shirts and watches, hanging a right they walked down the pedestrian pathway. “Itʼs right over here,” he said. As they advanced on the restaurant with the unknown name, stopping outside the front door he said, “here we are, its called Kongbul (콩불). “Kongbul, what is it?” Sara inquired as she peered into
the windows. “It looks good the photo on the menu has bean sprouts and thinly sliced meat,” he responded. “What the heck, it looks tempting,” Sara, stated pulling open the door hearing the sizzling crackle of grilling. “Wow! It smells awesome,” James said.
In unison the waiters greeted us then one pointed to a long table with two open seats and a grill. Setting their bags down, pulling off jackets and sitting down a waiter approached asking them in English, “have you Kongbul? Would you like beverage?” “Yes, dul-gae maekju Hite jʼsayeo (two Hite beers please),” Sara responded. “Dul-gae kong-bul jʼsayeo,” James ordered as the waiter stepped away he said to Sara, “I love this menu with all the little characters drawn all over it.”
Arriving a moment later a slender wood tray appeared with three ban chans(side dishes). Sliced pickles, diced radishes with hot pepper flakes and seaweed. Sara picked up her chopsticks trying the diced radish first, “Mmmm, delicious! Youʼll love it. It has this nice spicy flavor,” she declared. Again the waiter appeared holding a silver platter placing it on the grill. Reaching out he ignited the gas grill. The Kongbul consisted of bean sprouts,
The Tray
Thin sliced meat over bean sprouts and gochajung gochajung(red pepper paste), seaweed, tteok(rice cake) and twenty thin slices of pork. As the temperature rose, the sprouts started crackling. Twelve minutes passed when a waiter came back stirring the mixture. “Dul-gae bap jʼsayeo (two rice please),” Sara asked as he stirred. Waiting patiently we ate the ban chanswhen he arrived with our bowls of rice, with a wave of his hand he indicated the meal was ready.
“Wow!” James exclaimed after his first bite, “this is far better than I was thinking. What do you think?” “Not bad but I would like more gochajungto spice it up a bit,” she countered. “No worries,” he retorted raising his hand to get the waiters attention. “Gochajung jʼsayeo,” James asked the waiter when he approached. The waiter smiled, turned on his heels and went to the kitchen. When he came back he said, "Nan dangsin-i saeng-gaghaneun hanguk-eo (I think you are Korean).” Laughing both Sara and I said, “mashisseyo (delicious).”
“We should have ordered the rice like they have,” James said smiling at Sara and pointing to the people next to them. Sipping beer they tipped back their glasses. “This is truly good I would have liked more little radishes,”
The Spread
Cooking at the table, ban-chans and beer Sara voiced sitting back sipping her beer smiling back at him. “Next time,” he replied. “Iʼm glad you remembered this place. Itʼs worth the price. I think our tab will be like 15,000 won ($13.82).” Finishing up their glasses of beer, James picked up his coat heading for the cashier.
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