6.003

8 (Thu) January 2015

Yukgaejang

1.75

at Sinsun

-Malate, Manila-

with MK + CS

TEKREM (Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita/Malate).

So long as I’m currently living in Ermita/Malate, a pair of neighborhoods that together constitute central Manila’s closest thing to a Koreatown, and while GMTD was never intended to be a Korean food blog but kinda is, I may as well attempt to eat at all the Korean eateries in the area, including those serving Korean-Chinese fare, and review them here.  Currently 39 known establishments.  Though doubting the discovery of any gems–in fact, I anticipate that most of the places will be similarly mediocre–the project should be interesting, if only in giving me a reason to get out and explore more of my environment.

This 2nd official installment of TEKREM features the 12th restaurant to be covered on the blog, including the 10 restaurants visited before the project began.  27 to go.

The following tiers relate to the overall dining experience, including all the dishes sampled, cost, ambiance, cleanliness, and any other factors that may apply, cumulative through multiple visits (if any).

Tier 1 (looking forward to return visit):

• none (yet)

Tier 2 (okay, but not enthusiastically):

• (11) Myung Ga (5.346 Deep-Fried Okdom) / 2.5
• (2) Royal (5.123 Knee for Ki) / 3.5
• (9) Sinsun Seollong Tang (5.328 Seollong Tang) / 2.0
• (7) Bonchon (5.242 Soy Garlic Chicken) / 3.25

Tier 3 (only under dire circumstances):

• (6) Korean Palace (5.205 Haemul Pa Jeon) / 1.75
• (8) Hanchon Seolloong Tang* (5.251 Modeum Suyuk) / 3.0
• (5) Bug Gyoung (5.189 Gganpung Gi) / 1.25
• (12) Sinsun (6.003 Yukgyejang) / 2.0
• (3) Neoguri (5.141 Pa Dak) / 3.25

Tier 4 (to be avoided no matter what):

• (1) Maru* (5.030 Ggot Deung Sim…) / 1.0
• (4) Kim N’ Chi (5.163 Bibimbab) / 1.0
• (10) Go! Kizip (5.343 Cham Pong Myun) / 1.0

*no longer in business

TEKREM is the 5th in the masochistically gluttonous “Try Every” series.  (i) TERRP (Try Every Restaurant in Robinsons Place) (see generally 5.247 Original Recipe Fried Chicken…).  (ii) TEITY (Try Every Item at Tao Yuan) (see most recently 5.344 Crab Powder Ball) (on-going).  (iii) TERDHPP (Try Every Restaurant in the Diamond / Hyatt / Pan-Pacific hotels) (on-going) (see most recently 5.331 Certified Angus Beef Rib-Eye Steak).  (iv) TERSK (Try Every Restaurant in St Kilda) (see 5.339 Roasted Squid). That’s a lot of food.

Sinsun is a Korean restaurant.  Mainstream fare, emphasis on BBQ, as the built-in grills would suggest.  Located on Adriatico, across from Manila Crowne Plaze, about halfway between home and Remedios Circle.  Same ownership as Sinsun Seolleong Tang (see generally 5.238 TEKREM 9 : Seolleong Tang).

Been wanting to try this place for a long time, having passed by it so often.

Unfortunately, the food was mediocre.  Like everything else, the yukgaejang was generally edible but lacking in terms of authenticity, quality, taste/texture.  Whatever.