One of my favorite things in all of this great big, beautiful, strange, horrifying, ecclectic world is certain to be the immense and borderline incomprehensible variety of things we can dredge out of the depths of our oceans and waterways. From cute little crustaceans and mollusks filtering particulates out of the water for sustenance, to the big burly beasts lumbering in the deeper reaches of the unknown. Most seafood is something I'm quite resolutely content to devour, whether its completely raw and potentially squirming or cooked until crisp and crackling over charcoal. Luckily, being a peninsula, South Korea has no shortage of delicious options to satiate any seafood fan!
An especially apt location to find your fix is Noryangjin market, of course, where you can pick out and point out your unwilling dinner while it swims hopelessly in a tank, but if you prefer your food already dead and long detached from consciousness before you interact with it, 동대문생선구이골목, or Dongdaemun grilled fish alley, is going to be your destination of choice. You'll probably catch a whiff of the signature charcoal and fish smell as the fresh catch is thrown atop the grill, one after the next, to fill the aching bellies of the various visitors who filter through the many restaurants lining the small alleyway. If you'd rather have chicken soup, or dog meat stew, those were both available in their own restaurants during my visit, though the dog meat (보신탕 or "Boshintang") may be growing harder to find these days. Obviously, it's a bit of a controversial food, just saying that as of late 2016 it was still very much available and visibly advertised. While this alley might not be at the top of many tourism to-do plans, it's really not a bad option for a delicious and affordable meal with a real taste of South Korean hospitality. My grillmaster was exceptionally friendly and accommodated my foolish over-ordering of fish with patience and a smile. Cheers, my friend. Thanks for an excellent meal!
And, I mean, what's not to enjoy about piping hot fish fresh off the grill, the grease still sizzling and sputtering from the crispy skin? While I'm not one to be upset by the scent of any fish, I can understand that some people don't necessarily want their house to be perfumed with the pungent scent of fresh mackerel. To each their own. Another benefit to eating here, though, is the smell only lingers on your clothes for a short while. It felt almost like dining in a private home, with the small restaurant I dipped into being empty during the majority of my meal. It was a bit early in the evening yet, though, and the flocks of hungry visitors had yet to really descend upon the area. As was always the case, there were plenty of banchan side dishes to nibble on alongside the main course, and some even danced for me! Dinner and a show, how can you beat that?
Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
👽
XOXO,
NAU
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