3.251 Deep-Fried Smoked Chicken

Cycle 3 – Item 251

12 (Wed) September 2012

Deep-Fried Smoked Chicken

2.5

at Sin Maegju Changgo

-Oksu, Seongdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with CJH + KKH, CSW, LHS + YYH

For our 6th wedding anniversary, tonight, the plan had been to have dinner at the Ritz-Carlton. We did something similar last year, only at the Hyatt (see 2.249 Smoked Salmon with Artichoke Hearts and Capers). But it didn’t happen this year, because W decided to be a brat – well, she’s always a brat; it’s just a matter of when she elects to manifest. The reservation was for 1900, a time that she’d chosen herself when I made the reservation a few days earlier. By 1800, however, she was still in her pajamas. Under normal circumstances (e.g., going to the supermarket), she takes a minimum of half an hour to get ready. Over an hour for special occasions (e.g., going to the department store). In rush hour traffic, we’d need at least 30 minutes to get to the hotel from our apartment. So, I reminded her ever so gently that she should begin to get ready. She ignored me. At 1830, still pajamas. So, I reminded her not so gently that she must get ready now. She then threw a tantrum about how I’m so neurotic when it comes to being on time, and why does everything always have to be according to my schedule, and blah blah blah bitch scream moan. I was out the door by 1840, leaving her in pajamas.

A secondary entrance is on the other side (in the alley with the food carts).

A relatively new form of drinking establishment in Korea is the maegju changgo. Translated, the term means “beer (maegju) storeroom/warehouse (changgo).” Originally the trade name of a business, it’s since become the generic descriptor for any similar business. The set-up typically features a series of glass-door refrigerators containing a wide variety of beer and other booze and beverages that customers look/choose/take/drink on a self-service basis. The prices, varying per item, are typically cheaper than at a standard bar but a bit more than at a convenience store or supermarket. While anju and other simple snacks are available, customers are usually allowed to bring in their own food at no additional cost or even have it delivered. Popular with drinkers on a budget, such as college students, and customers interested in exploring different styles of beers.

Though the place is a beer joint, my attention is focused here.

A bottle of Jose Cuervo for 59,000 won can’t be beat.

The selection of anjus include, for example, iced/canned peaches for 4,900 won, hand-made tonkatsu for 7,900 won, and (deep-fried) smoked chicken half for 7,900 won (overpriced in terms of amount but surprisingly tasty).

I got to spend the evening at Sin Maegju Changgo. It was awesome. For the first several hours, I drank tequila and ate chicken and wrote several long overdue posts for the blog and watched a few episodes of Breaking Bad on my computer. But then, nearing midnight, I started to get bored, so I sounded the alarm, and the camping crew came to the rescue. We had a blast. I paid. It was cheaper than dinner would’ve been at the Ritz.