Fresh Fries Factory

The Fresh Fries Factory.  The name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue and neither will your food, cause you'll be swallowing so fast, cause the food is so good...  

Fresh Fries Factory has been open since some time in December and they have been stirring things up in Seomyeon.  If your a fan of fish frys, you know that the options in Busan are peekish, but fret not, Triple F is filling that void.  The owner, also a fishermen, is quite interested in serving good fish.  He said he is very "confident in his fish", and he should be.  It's damn good.  He uses fresh 'moon fish' that are harvested right out of the local fish farms.  I can attest to the freshness as we saw his associate batter the fillets and drop them in the fryer.  The shop is small, quaint, and saturating with fryer smell.  You may find a curious desire to eat your jacket a few days after visiting.  

Simply put, this place is hands down the best place to get a fish fry.  You get three fillets with each order that are crispy and delicious.  The moon fish has a taste very similar to cod and it's appearance and texture also mimic that of cod.  The 'chips'are frozen-bag-fries, but they're good and served extra crisp.  Cass is on tap. Also, I think their tartar is house made or it's just really good. 

An order of 'fish and chips' is 8,000won.  Cass is 1,500won (300cc) or 2,500won (500cc).  

To get to the Fresh Fries Factory follow the map!  Exit 2 at Seomyeon.  

Kappa Sushi

We've all seen em' either on TV or in person.  The sushi restaurants with the conveyor belts (also called "go-round" sushi) lined with rolls, raw fish, fried things and even pastries.  Go-round sushi is one of Japan's versions of fast food and as the idea of fast food sushi has long been made popular by grocery stores and gas stations, there is something that is unsettleing about fast food raw fish...   I watched in curiosity as plate after plate enter the room then left it through an orifice looking hole in the wall.    Is there something terribly out of order here, something that gives new meaning to the work excess.   Well if there is, we didn't stick around to find out what it was.  We gorged ourselves like starving elves in a candy cane factory.

All in all the sushi was pretty good.  Some felt and tasted like water soaked dish sponges, while others were quite tasty.  

After some careful observation of some neighbouring tables, we learned how to use our touch screen menus, which provide many useful services.  For example, if you see something that you would like but it looks a bit... tainted (by a rogue sneeze or otherwise), you can get a fresh batch for no extra charge.  The best part is how it's served to you.  Your order will be delivered to your table atop a bite sized KTX train.  Cool.   

Your bill is determined by counting the number of stacked plates on your table.  Most of the dishes are 1500won, but the "glitzy" ones are 2000 or 3000 won.  

Kappa Sushi is located in Nampo-dong but the Jagalchi subway stop is closest.  Go out the number 7 exit and head straight for about 50 meters.  Take your first major left and Kappa Sushi is going to be on your left before you get to the venders.
~k Gastric Canvas 

Vietnamese Noodle Soup

As Far as we could tell, this place was simply named "Vietnamese Noodle Soup."  Not all that interesting but to the point.  I like that.
My wife and I love this place.  We've been here a bunch of times and the food has always been fresh, crisp, and Tasty!  I appreciate its consistency.

Vietnamese Noodle Soup is nestled into the the second story of a building a-front a bustling intersection in PNU.  This makes for superb people watching.
As you can see from the images, the food is prepared with visual appeal in mind.  You can get many different Vietnamese dishes here.  We had the pho and it's good i guess, but pho is... boring as shit.  We really got turned on by their seafood noodle dishes, their killer "rolls" (pumpkin, veggie, spring, shrimp...), and their sauces.  They also have tropical dishes served in a halved pineapple.  Haven't tried that one yet.  As you ponder your options, the warm and friendly staff will place a pitcher of hot tea on your table.  The tea is good and somewhat spiritual.  You'll know what I mean.
The chief is a middle aged Korean dude who is usually sitting at the table in the window watching people walk by.  He'll give you a warm greeting then head to the kitchen.

To get to Vietnamese Noodle Soup, get off at the PNU exit number 1 and head straight until you get to the first major "car" intersection.

~k Gastric Canvas

Papa's Brunch

Papa's Brunch

These pictures are from about 6 months ago so I hope the place is still there.  It's a cool little restaurant with an Italian flair.  The menu was broad with pizzas to salads to noodles.  It did include brunch options such as eggs benedict, English breakfast and French toast.  We got some decent pizza (gorganzola) a breakfast thing and a salad.  It was all pretty tasty.  Here is a link to a way better blog by a Korean person.  Papa's bruch is located at the southern end of the Gwangan Bridge.  

~k Gastric Canvas 

Sorrento-I suppose you could call it Italian

We've passed this place before many times on route to other endeavours.  We made snide remarks on the lighting and extraordinarily peculiar motifs.  The interior of this place is like grandma Bea's house mixed with my baby blanket on the sun.  It's super bright in there.  If your scared of vampires, this is the place to take refuge.  Ambience aside this place wasn't too bad a place to hang out and have some chow.
The menu offered the usual Korean Italian dishes; rissoto, spaghetti with white sauce, spaghetti with red sauce, pizza's and ordeurves.  As a group of six on this particular night, we were able to sample a bit from most combinations.  The white sauce was typical, not exciting.  It's like there's a giant vat of this "white" sauce somewhere in Busan that all the Italian restaurants dip into.  Any dish that has the word "white" in it's description comes from this vat.  The Pizza was pretty good however, mushy.  Chronic flaccid crust syndrome (CFCS) is a real problem in most Korean-Italian establishments.You know, if they would trade those damn ceramic pizza serving plates out for breathable steal ones,  it would make all the difference in regard to crust crispness.    I suppose pizza is still in the experimental phase in Korea if you look at the big picture.

The dish that was the most interesting, and quite good, was a red-bell pepper sauce which of course had meat in it.  I'm a vegetarian, but I tried the sauce anyway and it was way better then my white, seafoody sauce.  By the end of the meal I was full, happy, and experiencing a bit of a numb-floating sensation I've contributed to the floral motifs and abortion lights.
You can expect to pay around 15,000 won a person for a meal and ordeurves which isn't bad.  Sorrento is easy to find in  Seomyeon.  Take the #2 exit and walk straight out.  Take the second major left, go straight and take your second right.  Sorrento's will be on your left.
~k Gastric Canvas 

Shao mei - Yep, Korea has good Chinese Food!

We wandered through the back streets of Gwangalli like two homeless ally cats killing time.  We were hungry though and in this neighbourhood, everything seemed to be just out of reach.  'That place is too expensive, that place serves that ketchup shit'...  Things were lookin gloomy and the night wasn't waiting for us... hold it! 'Hmmm, is that place Chinese?'  Perhaps we could get lucky, perhaps there is actual "Chinese" food in Korea.  There's people inside and they appear to be smiling, at least by Korean standards.  Must be good, lets do it.

Inside it smelled like the cedar smokeroom doors had been left open a bit too long.  Something about that smell made me love that place.  The hardwood smoke was baked into the floor boards creating an comfortable homey feeling.  Shao mei is cozy but not cramped.  There's enough seating for a couple dozen people to fit happily.
The waiter was wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt and his interaction with the rest of the staff suggested that they were a tight family unit and this was their gig.

The food.  This part is easy to sum up.  Shao mei is easily one of the best restaurants I have encountered in Korea in regard to its food.  from the dinning room we could see through an opening in the wall exposing the kitchen.  Two or three ajummas were working hard, slingin out dishes like nobodies business.

My wife and I settled on the spicy shrimp and an order of fried rice.  No fancy tricks with the display.  What you see is what you get.  The shrimp was perfectly deep fried in a wonderful batter.  The shrimp was smothered in a crisp, vibrant, peppery sauce that gave the dish incredibly unique character.  Making a pepper dish unique in Korea is a true success.  The meal came with the usual set of banchan, water, and a whole lot of satisfaction.
The food was great, but was it bonafied Chinese cuisine?  I'm no expert in food identification but I'll tell you this, it tasted like the real deal.  My wife, who's 1/4 Chinese, also liked it but she called it good "Western Chinese."  Maybe not truuuue Chinese but unique none the less.
Main dishes range from 10-25,000won.  Our whole meal was 29,000won.
Don't miss this place.  Its really damn good Chinese food.
To find Shao Mei, take Exit 5 at the Gwangan station and go straight.  Take a left on the fourth street (pass the Honda dealership, then take the next left).  Then, go straight on this street for a while.  You will pass about 4 streets then look on the left side of the road.  Shao Mei will be on your left.
~k Gastric Canvas 

     

Tajmahal

PNU is scored by clusters of Indian restaurants in its neighborhood.  You could probably hit Tajmahal with a stone from Shabana, another Indian restaurant in the area.  We'll get to the others in due time.  
Tajmahal, as I've been told by friends, has some of the best Indian food in Busan. After eating at Shabana, this posed some high standards for the night.  You can't miss the place.  It’s located on a busy walking street in PNU and is brightly lit up from the exterior.  If, by chance, your gaze is focused on the street, stolen by the god damned army of high heels and neon shoes, have no fear of passing Tajmahal. Let yourself be lured in by the hybrid Indian folk/techno music blaring in the streets.  An oddly seductive Indian poster lady welcomes you into the staircase with a look that either says “We have sexy food” or “I will have sex with your food.”  Either way you’re guaranteed a treat.    

Inside, you have many options for good seating.  Most of the tables have a full window view of night life going on outside while other seats are thoughtfully scattered throughout the dining room.  We sat near an opened window.  The techno and street life outside mixed with the Indian TV drama inside  created a trifecta of immense musical confusion.  
The menu was simple, understandable and bountiful with options.  Vegetarians, have no fear as there were many dishes to choose from.  We settled on Paneer Masala, Palak Paneer, garlic and plain nan, and Samosas.  

The Samosas were pretty good.  The filling, although dominated by cumin, had a nice blend of potatoes, peas and other yummy things.  The main dishes were served in yellow ceramic bowls topped off with a swirly design sauce.  They were garnished with onion chutney, jalapeño peppers and pickles.  The Paneer Masala was very sweet and my dining partner, Bear, likened it to creamy Campbell’s Tomato Soup.  A bit harsh but not all too far from the truth.  The Palak Paneer was much better.  It really embodied the deep richness of the spinach.  It had a good and strong “green” (as in chlorophyl) taste to it.  Each dish had about 4 to 5 little hunks of homemade paneer cheese.  Not nearly enough to satisfy this Wisconsinite.  The Nan was good and garlicky.  After the meal our server offered some complimentary Indian Tea which we greedily accepted.  The Tea was the highlight to the whole meal.  It was thick and rich and dark and a bit woody.  Mmm.  
The main dishes ranged in price from 9,000 won to 18,000won.  Our total was about 36,000 won.  Sadly I discovered my opinions of Taj Mahal differ greatly from my praise-giving friends.  Not bad, though I wouldn’t recommend the masala…

To get to Tajmahal take the subway Line 1 the to PNU and go out exit 1. Walk straight out, perpendicular to the subway tracks.  Walk for about 1/2km then continue going straight through the 1^st major street.  Within 100m it will be on your right on the second floor. 
~k Gastric Canvas 

17 Table

by: kent

PNU

17 Table is an Italian pasta and stone baked pizza restaurant located in the aorta of PNU. There is a profusion of noise, lights and glitter surrounding the place making it a bit uneasy to find. It’s right next to the McDs 2 blocks west(?) of subway exit 2.

The place is nice, like most nice places in So Ko they had a knack for feung shui and they paid attention to detail. As there were few other diners inside, we got to choose the window seats, which provided a bird’s eye view of the bustling street below.

As vegetarians, the menu provided plenty to choose from and didn’t leave us feeling like we were “settling.” We ordered a lot of food; seafood pasta, mushroom risotto, seafood risotto, and mushroom pizza. The risottos were quite different in flavor and texture. As the waitress set down the seafood risotto shrimp, squid, muscles, and clams seemed to burst out of the dish as though some vulgar sea creature lurked in the far reaches of the dish. Thick hunks of shitake mushrooms were strewn about in a thick buttery sauce. Korean rice was substituted for the traditional Arborio but, surprisingly, it did a good job. I liked the risottos. I also liked the seafood pasta. A simple homemade creamy white sauce with subtle seasonings saturated a spindle of thin spaghetti accompanied by lots of seafood friends.

Seafood risotto

Pizzasserole

Unfortunately the pizza was a disappointment. It looked nice enough with golden mushrooms nestling within a pool of sizzling mozzarella cheese. It came directly out of the oven to our plate and miraculously, the crust was already soggy. Not just the center either, pretty much everything inside a centimeter from the edge was as floppy as a… you finish the simile. I admit the flavor wasn’t bad, but to call this pizza was simply inaccurate. Perhaps they could change the name to something like stone lasagna or pizzasserole.

All and all, 17 Table is a pretty decent place to get Italian food, pizza aside. We opted for soda and didn’t dabble in their wine selection which seemed to be well stocked. Dishes were reasonably priced ranging from 9-15,000 won.
~k Gastric Canvas 

Follow the winding staircase.  

Judies 9 Brau

Seomyeon.

On a mission to try a new restaurant, for the purpose of documenting the experience, we visited Judie's 9 Brau. Iam a Wisconsin native, therefore my ears perk up when I hear microbrew. In Wisconsin, microbrew could mean a once-in-a-lifetime home brewed case of beer that is truly unique and delicious. It could also mean a memorable night at The Great Dane, a Madison-WI favorite, or Hinterland, a Green Bay-WI beer staple. At these establishments and others you can enjoy a complicated Trippel or a meal enhancing India Pale Ale. I'm learning that in Korea it's a different situation. I'm also learning that a Korean microbrew experience can be OK if I can just shake all the good memories from home.

Judie's offered a microbrewed Hefe Wiezen and Dunkel. Being a weekday night we missed any live music action but put in our orders for two 330cc, one of each of the house specialities, at 3,500won a pop. Both beers were served at their appropriate temps, a cold Hefe Wiezen and a cooled Dunkel. The Wiezen gave me the sweet and tangy wheat flavor I had half-heartedly hoped for. The Dunkel was lighter than what I tried not to imagine. I thought the Cass Stout trumped it but my foodie counterpart, Kent, thought that was absurd. As is usual, the truth lies somewhere in between.

Side dishes ranged from 17,000-30,000won and the set meals

were 35,000-120,000won. The menu was easy to figure out and between the mood lighting and the comfy chairs; we were starting to get cozy when the side dish we just ordered 5 minutes ago, the Chili Seafood Udon, came out and redirected our attention. The spice was robust, reminiscent of... what is that familiar flavor... yes... definitely... bottled Sweet Chili sauce! Pretty unoriginal. I thought it was pretty good cafeteria food and Kent thought it was a waste of compost space... again, truth is in the between ground.

Overall, there's a good chance we won't retrace those steps, unless we hear the music scene is worth the trip, but I'm glad we gave it a go. You can find out for yourself if you head out of Exit 2 at the Seomyeon subway station and go straight for 3 city blocks and it will be on the left, in the Judies Taehwa indoor shopping mall, on the 9th floor.

by: bear Gastric Canvas 

Burger Hunter

by: kent

Hunter? I don’t get the name. Clearly they have burgers but what’s with the hunter part? A mural of a multi-chinned diner mama greets you as you enter the place. She’s not a hunter. She’s not even sporting any camo. She’s packin heat though, manifested in the shape of a burger and fries. A true killer to be sure, just check out our impressive heart disease stats. I pay my fair share of deep fried dues and what better place to pay them then at a curiously named, quasi diner in So Ko.

The aroma of frying oil was apparent from the steps of the subway exit and only intensified as we drew closer. A good sign. Finding veggie options at burger places is usually futile but we had been here before. We were experienced. Burger Hunter not only had a mushroom burger but they also had a shrimp burger. For non-vegies, you have your choose of burger in any shape or size and combined with an army of accoutrements. “Sets” for an extra 2,000won. We ordered mushroom and shrimp sets and we opted for the house made chips. About 19,000won.

The order came up pretty quick, right out of the fryers. The burgers looked fricking hunterlicous. No flair, just good food in baskets. The portabella mushroom cap was stuffed with cheese then breaded and finally deep-fried. Not too much going wrong there. The shrimp patty consisted of some kind of breadcrumb binder that held together big hunks of shrimp, and, was that crabmeat I tasted?? The patty was wrapped in cheese and panko crumbs then deep fried. Again, a foolproof design. Are you as not surprised as I that the words fried and friend are as similar in spelling as they are in actuality? Hmmm.

The burgers were good. The thick tomato and onion slices added stiff, ripe textures to the creations. The chips though lacking a bit of salt were satisfying in their humble potatoeness. We washed it down with a tall glass cold glass of cola. Bear is right. Fountain sodas are better. Free refills too!

Burger Hunter is located on your right immediately out of Exit 3 at Kyungsung Station. Follow the smell of fryer grease.

k