6.098 Ganjang Gejang

Try Every Korean Restaurant in Ermita and Malate (29) (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.

KP2 is a Korean restaurant.

Although I’ve generally sworn off ganjang gejang, I ordered it here because of the novelty in seeing such a specialty item in the Philippines.  And given the delicate nature of the dish, which is why it’s so rare, even in Korea, I was kinda hoping for a spectacular disaster, which would’ve been fun to write about.

Well, sorry to say, the crab was just moderately crappy.  Too salty, no crab flavor, but at least it wasn’t fishy.

However, the rice did become an issue.  I hadn’t ordered any rice, but a bowl came with the rest of the food, including a spread of sides and soup, so I ate it, assuming everything to be a package deal – a safe assumption, as ganjang gejang is impossible to eat without rice, being so salty from the soy sauce.  So, when the bill later showed an additional charge of 50 pesos (around $1.2) for the rice, I complained.  Although I would’ve ordered rice anyway, I was offended by what seemed like a scam, if a minor one.  The owner – one of those Korean women who snaps her chewing gum – defended the act by claiming : (a) that’s what they’ve always done and (b) nobody else has ever objected.  Bullshit.  I wished her luck getting rich by grifting customers for 50 pesos a pop.   I would’ve just paid 400 and walked out, but I only had a 500 bill.

This place is forever BANNED.