6.056 Chung / Chung

6.056

2 (Mon) March 2015

Ojingeo Bokkeum

2.5

at Jang Chung Dong

-Malate, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

with TL

Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita and Malate (20) (see all posts on 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.

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On the right, check out the dude feeling up the girl.

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Jang Chung Dong is a Korean restaurant.  According to the signage, it would claim to specialize in jokbal (pig’s feet).  The name refers to a neighborhood in Seoul, nearby Dongdaemun, which has a string of popular jokbal restaurants.  In addition, the menu includes the typical range of standards.

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One of several walls of fame.

Beyond the standards, the menu offers several dishes that aren’t that common to this neighborhood, such as the Won Dak Hanmari (whole chicken hotpot).

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Given the opportunity to expand my culinary horizons, I should’ve tried something different – like pig’s feet, which I’ve only tasted once in my life, by accident – but TL wasn’t in the mood to experiment, so we stuck to the standards.

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Banchan (2.5)–okay variety, each reasonably well done.

The Ojingeo Bokkeum was okay.  Reasonably fresh squid, well-balanced flavors, though nothing particularly outstanding.  The only complaint would be that the portion was too big and too pricy – 700 pesos (about $18) would be expensive even in Korea.

* * * *

7 (Sat) Mar 2015

Cabbage Hangover Soup

at Chung Ki Wa

-Malate, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

solo

Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita and Malate (21) (see all posts on TEKREM)

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

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From the outside, it’s one of the sketchier-looking Korean joints in the area, which is saying a lot (even better/worse, after sunset, streetwalkers like to hang around this stretch of the street).
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Only Guy in the Joint.

Chung Ki Wa is a Korean restaurant.  Mainstream fare across the board.

Not expecting much, I went there on my own for lunch.

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The Cabbage Hangover Soup was excellent.  Whereas soups like this tend to be best at specialty establishments that do nothing but, because of the time/effort/expertise required, the one here was made upon order and yet suspiciously good – maybe prepared in large batches and frozen in individual portions? loads of MSG?  Rich bean paste broth with deep beef flavor, appropriately spicy.  A tad salty, but okay with rice.  Even the slices of beef were tender and delicious.  Good stuff.  Makes me want to go back to try other items.

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Banchan (3.0): solid spread, including fresh tofu, excellent kimchi, crispy bean sprouts, tasty odeng.
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A bit heavy on the ground perilla seeds (들깨), some of which I removed.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)

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