새마을 식당 (Sae Ma Ul Shik Dang): Korean Stew to Change your Mind
When you ask foreigners what kinds of Korean foods they like 90% will probably come up with bulgogi or samgyupsal, if they are not vegetarian. However, Korean stew will be on that list somewhere, but it is not something that most foreigners would actively seek out when they are hungry. It could be that most of us come from a sort of “meat and potatoes” culture and the idea of a stew as a main dish is not something...
Read MoreCafe La Nuit: The Best Steak and a Touch of Class
(Editors Note: May 2013 – Cafe la Nuit continues to offer incredible steak in a classy atmosphere, but there are updates to the menu. While the steak will always remain the key feature, the chef is now changing the offerings of soups, salads, pastas and desserts on a monthly basis. A full 5-course meal costs 65,000 won, which seems expensive in Korea, but is well worth the price tag. When Dr. Im introduced me to the new offerings recently,...
Read MoreMr Go Young Gul’s Bangeojin Bread Emporium
The search for good bread in Korea is one that is fraught with angst and (often) disappointment. If it’s not a near miss with an airy loaf of ‘wheat bread’ that tastes a little too sweet to be good for you, then it’s more than likely going to be a dangerous liaison with a wrap-like thing protecting a sausage. While I can’t help but admire this covert safe-sex message that’s reaching out to the kids through their local flour-merchant,...
Read MoreLondon Tea
If you saw it in passing, you might be forgiven if you thought it was just another of the many coffee houses that have sprung up throughout Ulsan like mushrooms after a warm spring rain. But once apprised of the delights that await behind the doors of this quaint little restaurant, you’ll never forgive yourself for not sampling its delicious fare. London Tea is a brunch cafe with a surprising twist – they specialize in creating dishes with cranberries...
Read MoreCafe Kozy
On my first day in Korea I awoke early. My head was still on USA time. My new apartment had only the barest of essentials the hagwon owner was kind enough to stock fresh for me, but it had nothing like breakfast – at least as what I understood the word to mean. So, at the crack of dawn I wandered out in search of a coffee and some breakfast. There were no coffee shops at all. Although...
Read MoreMari Italian Restaurant
Are you on a really tight budget but want to take a trip out of the country? Well head over to Mari Italian restaurant in Okdong for a beautiful evening in Italy! This gem of a restaurant opened in October of last year. The restaurant is owned by chef, Shin Eungyoung, aka “Mari (마리) who trained for a year at ICIF in Torino (Turin) Italy and it is very apparent in her dishes. Her moniker “homemade” not only represents...
Read MoreVegetarian Love 채식사랑
Unless you are able to read Korean, it is possible to miss this vegetarian restaurant in Jung Gu. Located on the same road as Jung Gu Chung 중구청, between the Buk Bu Beltway and Jung gu Homeplus, this vegan restaurant’s blue sign is only in Hangul with Hanja, (Chinese characters,) thrown in for good measure. The picture of vegetables, underneath which is written 100% is maybe the best indicator until you’re confident in your hangul skills. To find the restaurant from Jung gu Homeplus, walk up hill behind...
Read MoreHURDY GURDY
With a new restaurant opening nearly every month in Ulsan, there is no reason to go to the same restaurant twice. Well unless of course you really really enjoy it! That being said the restaurant I am introducing to you; I’ve visited 4 times already in the last 5 weeks! If you visit Samsan-dong often then you will have no trouble finding this place. HURDY GURDY opened on December 16th of last year and it sits directly across the...
Read MoreSueungo Cafe – Pied and gone to Heaven
UPDATE – SPRING 2014 – Su has moved her cafe to Okdong, and renamed it Melrose Cafe. You can still get the great coffee and pies, and order her beautiful cakes, but seating is more limited, and sadly the meals are gone. Melrose Cafe is near the Okdong entrance to Ulsan Grand Park, and is pinned on the Interactive Map. **** For years, Ulsanites have lamented the lack of decent pastry in this city. While there is a good...
Read MoreShalimar
And then there were two. No, it’s not a chain, but they are related. Shalimar is a set of Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Ulsan’s Dong Gu/Bangeojin. The owners are brothers. And while they may share recipes the similarities stop there. The Shalimar we had already reviewed back in September of this year, is situated near Hyundai Heavy Industries main entrance and Hyundai Department store. The Shalimar in this review, is located on the southern tip of the Dong-gu peninsula, near...
Read More