6.050

24 (Tue) Feb 2015

Chamcha-Myun

2.5

at Seokchon

-Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

solo

Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita and Malate (18) (see all posts TEKREM)

Surveying the Korean eateries, including those serving Korean-Chinese fare, located in the neighborhoods of Ermita and Malate, nearby work and home.  Minimum of 1 dish per place.  Currently 45 establishments.  Though anticipating that most of the places will be mediocre, I look forward to exploring more of my environment.

Seokchon is a Korean-Chinese restaurant.  Offers both Korean and Korean-Chinese dishes.  Open 24-hours.  Delivery.

The Chamcha-Myun wasn’t too bad.  On the jjam(bbong) side, the broth was reasonably well-balanced in terms of spicy-salty, but little depth of flavor, even with the generous amount of small shrimp.  Same with the jja(jang), unremarkably tasty.  Noodles were passable.  Nothing to complain about, somewhere along the lines of a decent neighborhood joint in Korea, which may be saying a lot in Manila.

* * * *

28 (Sat) Feb 2015

Jjam Ja Myun

(2.5)

at Kim’s Jjamppong Food (Myungsung)

-Malate, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

solo

Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita and Malate (19) (see all posts TEKREM)

This post covers two restaurants, same dish, different dates.  I will do this more often to accelerate the completion of TEKREM.

Kim’s Jjamppong Food is a Korean-Chinese restaurant.  Only the hardcore basics on the menu: jjajang-myeon, jjambbong, fried rice, and sweet & sour pork, including half-half combinations thereof, plus a couple other dishes.  Open until just 2200 – very unusual for any Korean establishment in the area, which are usually open late, often 24 hours. A possible indication that business is so good that they can afford to close early.

The Jjam-Ja-Myun was okay.  The jjam(bbong) broth was somewhat bland, as was the jja(jang) sauce.  The noodles, while undoubtedly factory made, were produced to uneven thicknesses to provide the mouthfeel of handmade noodles.  But overall, entirely edible.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)