11.178

1 (Wed) July 2020

Nalchi Al Jumeokbab

1.5

at Oneul Ae Gimbab

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

with DJ and IZ

Oneul Ae Gimbab (오늘 애 김밥) is a Korean chain restaurant.  Specializes in gimbab, as well as other quick-fix items.  Countless outlets throughout the country, including one in Wirye.  The name is a pun on “ae,” which means “love” and also sounds like “of,” so the name could mean either “gimbab of the day (oneul)” or “love gimbab today” or something like that.

Now that we’re back in Korea, I’m resigned to let W take complete control over the boys’ academic schedule, including whatever hagwons (learning centers) that she wants to send them to – have at it, woman.  For starters, while the schools are still on summer break, DJ is attending the following hagwons: English, critical thinking, math, coding, boxing, and baseball; IZ is attending: Korean, piano, coding, and taekwondo.  After so many months locked down at home while in Manila, I’m so glad that they can go out and do something productive all day, from dawn to dusk.

On Wednesdays, DJ’s math and IZ’s piano both end at 6pm, so we grabbed dinner at Oneul Ae Gimbab, all in the same building.

Based on the standard jumeokbab, the addition of nalchi al (flying fish roe) is a popular variation these days.

At Oneul Ae Gimbab, the dish came as a large ball of steamed rice, seasoned with a touch of sesame oil, filled with the fish roe, and covered in shredded seaweed.  While the dark hairy mass provided a briefly interesting WTF moment upon serving, it was difficult to mix/eat in the small plate and, more important, tasted rather bland.

(For more details about the food(s), see WHAT.)

(For more details about the venue(s), see WHERE IN KOREA.)