ZenKimchi Dining - Latest Comments

Re: O Kitchen 2

ZenKimchi — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 02:28:20 -0000

It continues to be in my top 5.

Re: O Kitchen 2

F#CK! Gerry — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 01:26:59 -0000

Great food. I've have to say its some of the best food i ever tasted in my life! very pricey but worth it for a special occasion. I wouldn't recommend just for a quick bite or if you are REALLY hungry because portions are EXTREMELY small.

Re: Dandy Pink

Jordan Redmond — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 23:36:14 -0000

Apologies for not seeing this until now, but I do feel the need to reply, no matter how late.

To respond: you're giving a lot of "strawman" arguments that show you didn't really read my review very closely.

Point 1: There was actually at least one other person in the kitchen doing plating of salads, etc. So, its definitely more than a two person operation.

Point 2: Where do I say I want a "personal introduction". I only say "acknowledgement". Something akin to "How did you like the meal", etc. I see owners at other, similar, yet busier establishments doing this all the time.

Point 3: About the monkfish liver: I should have eaten it. I even acknowledged that fact.

Point 4: The point about the skewers is this: larger quantity would help to make up for lack of quality, at least a little. Your point about price is misdirected because this isn't NYC, its Seoul, where a large serving of agujjim can be had for 25,000 won. Also, I'm not sure how grilling a skewer of monkfish is any more "neo-cuisine" than what ajjumas do all the time. And there were saltines on my plate. Gourmet?

All in all, criticism is meant to help a place improve, not to simply tear down. If you had actually paid attention during my review, I compliment the restaurant a number of times. I hope on my next visit that I can leave more satisfied.

Re: Jina and Franco Trattoria

captsmlee — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 05:42:36 -0000

I'm going to visit this place again because my wife loved it. Mean time, I'll bring my camera and take some pictures of this place's food. The restaurant is about comfort Italian cusine, not like fancy or gastronomic place, this place is about well made home style cooking. I'm also glad that you dug up this place for all of us and even very long time ago....;)

Re: Jina and Franco Trattoria

ZenKimchi — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 01:08:29 -0000

I haven't been back in a good while. Years. So, I'm glad to hear that it's still a good place among tougher competition.

Re: Jina and Franco Trattoria

captsmlee — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:01:54 -0000

I was invited to this restaurant last weekend for a private party and it was located in a little bit of odd place for Italian tratoria. However, the food and Cocchi Americano was surprisingly good. The environment is very compatable,even feel like having a dinner at one of my friend's apartment. This is a place, I definitely go back for more menu exploring.

Re: Petra 페트라

Sinister — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 11:13:20 -0000

That is a shame, last time I went (a while back) the service was awesome, the food was great, prices were very reasonable for quality and quantity of food. Shame to hear it's gone downhill. Sadly many restaurants in Korea seem to open up and slowly get worse rather than better.

Re: Petra 페트라

ZenKimchi — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 01:37:43 -0000

Thanks for the update.

Re: Dandy Pink

futureshocked — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:36:10 -0000

Hmm, I think the author should maybe re-evalaute what he or she expects out of an eating experience.

I was there on the night of the seasonal soiree myself. And although I'm admittedly a friend of the owner, I noticed them doing quite a bit to hang out with and entertain their customers. One thing to remember is that there are actually 2 owners. The white guy is the only chef, the Korean woman is in charge of pretty much everything else.

With such a tight operation, it confuses me as to why the author wants a personal introduction, unannounced no less.

I wasn't a big fan of the smoked monkfish either, and I'm also confused as to how a bigger portion would have made you like it more...if the smoke flavor was to strong for you, it was too strong.

And yes, you made a huge mistake by not ordering the foie gras.

In all, the Monkfish night was pretty expensive, but the owners go through a lot to prep for these special occasions. Monkfish simply isn't even served in Korea in any gourmet or neo-cuisine form...you payed 10,000W(~$8) to eat something that would, I'm not kidding, cost about $30 in New York right now. Please look up some prices for Monkfish Foie Gras and tell me that Dandy Pink's offering wasn't a deal.

Nuff said.

Re: Durim 두림(豆林)

ZenKimchi — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:59:41 -0000

Thanks for pointing that out. I wikk try to add more visible dates in the reviews. Considering that the Seoul dining scene is vast and constantly changing, we rely on comments like yours to keep everything current.

Re: Durim 두림(豆林)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:13:36 -0000

It would be nice if restaurant reviews on this site indicated when they were posted. For the second time I went to a restaurant reviewed on this site in order to try a particular dish recommended by the reviewer only to find that the restaurant had drastically changed. In the first case, the restaurant portion of the business was no longer in operation (only a store front selling a few items remained in operation). Then when I went to check out Durim the week of April 8, 2013, the menu was much smaller than I was led to expect from the review. No Galbijjim or Nurunji Makeoli. I can't even be sure they make their own tofu! I was very disappointed that the menu listed not much more than a few types of jeon (which can be had for much cheaper and better nearby), a so-so mushroom hotpot, and some other anju. As there were only 4 other patrons, I would guess that the ownership has changed since the review was posted.

There is lots of great info on this site, so thank you. But please consider revising your review of Durim and checking back with other places you have previously reviewed! (^^)

Re: Ong-Go Jip 옹고집

Gangseo Haunts — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:30:05 -0000

I just came back from Ong Go Jip and it was fantastic, your recommendation of the gabeurisal was spot on! The homely interior is also a big plus!

Re: Club Espresso 클럽에스프레소

ZenKimchi — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:31:44 -0000

Good advice.

Re: Reilly’s Taphouse & Restaurant

Jolehwan Hillcott — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:09:23 -0000

Gawd that "cicerone" described his certification as a Ph.D in beer. Really!?!? Last time I checked a Ph.D involved years of research, generally a hypothesis, a dissertation and a lot of time hitting the books. All respect given to the time and effort to complete any type of certification. Just be honest about it. It seems like a disservice to all of the homebrewers that have been building the scene in Korea for years. Presuming, because of this "certification", that he is somehow superior in beer selection than people who have been making beers here for years is just wrong. The idea and decor of Reilly's is totally a rip off of places like "Ginger Man" in Austin and NYC. Imitation is fine but I've heard this blow hard "cicerone" actually state that this "taphouse" style place was his original idea. What a joke. I'm all for expanding the selection of beer in the country. Just find a way to remove this guy from the head of the movement.

Re: Suji’s

kilmo — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:55:21 -0000

Sad to say I was soooo disappointed. Top Ten in Seoul, please.
The hollandaise was clumpy and tasted bland and left a bad taste in my mouth. I couldn't finish it. Definitely not worth the $16,000 won.
The potatoes were undercooked and over seasoned.

Re: Vatos Urban Tacos

Brooke Taylor — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 05:31:09 -0000

The Nutella Nachos were fantastic. I also had the Vatos Burrito but was unimpressed. It was lacking flavor - of any sort. I sampled the fish tacos and they were tasty but the portion was tiny for what you paid. The beer is expensive and the margaritas weren't sour enough. Next time I want mexican food I'll either hit up Taco Amigos or order some from GringosKorea.

Re: BongPyeong Memil Makguksu 봉평 메밀 막국수

ZenKimchi — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:49:51 -0000

345-1 Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Re: BongPyeong Memil Makguksu 봉평 메밀 막국수

Janice Evelyn — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:24:24 -0000

Hi, i dont get the exact address of this restaurant, can you help me? Thanks :D

Re: JFK Bistro

Nomnom — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 23:41:24 -0000

Also, there is a link to his facebook page. Or you could just call them. Or search foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/jf... and on wingspoon: http://www.wingspoon.com/sp...

Re: JFK Bistro

ZenKimchi — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:51:43 -0000

There is a map.

Re: JFK Bistro

Mark — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 07:16:58 -0000

"This is another one of the good guys that we need to keep in business" Try giving me some directions and might be able to help you with that guys. It's the most annoying thing when you see a review of a great sounding place and the reviewer doesn't think to give any sort of directions.

Re: Jina and Franco Trattoria

gabersyd — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:03:20 -0000

I have been to this restaurant many times. I did not go there looking for a romantic place, but to find good italian food, and I have to say that if this is what you are looking for, Franco's is really great. I would not say that it is very romantic. It aims at replicating the style of an italian "Osteria", a place where families normally hang out. A place where the owner is close to the customers, spends time chatting with them. Basically where you feel at home. And I have to say that this goal is perfectly fulfilled. I don't know any other place in Seoul where I feel more that I can just enjoy and relax. Prices are not low, though, so it is not a place where you can go every day. It is something special. But every time I go, I find the quality of the food just excellent, in particular Carpaccio, any kind of pasta, the lamb (marvelous) and, lately, also ice-cream. So I really recommend it to everybody is looking for a cool and relaxing place where to get really good and authentic italian food.

Re: The Hungry Dog

Chris Backe — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:28:10 -0000

Yikes. The HBC is a pretty close community, but what Hannah describes crosses the line. That said, I've been here a few times and have nothing but good things to say about the place. Good food, made to order, clearly an area where the locals hang out and know each other on a first-name basis.

Re: La Seine Stylish Upscale Buffet

ZenKimchi — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:42:28 -0000

Here's what I got from their site:

Weekday (Monday to Friday)- Breakfast 06:30~10:00 (Adult ￦35,500 Child ￦21,000)- Lunch 12:00~15:00 (Adult ￦61,000 Child ￦37,000)- Dinner 18:00~22:00 (Adult ￦70,000 Child ￦39,000)Weekend (Saturday)- Breakfast 06:30~10:00 (Adult ￦35,500 Child ￦21,000)- Lunch 12:00~15:00 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)- Dinner1st Service 17:30~19:30 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)- Dinner2nd Service 20:00~22:00 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)Weekend (Sunday & Holidays)- Breakfast 06:30~10:00 (Adult ￦35,500 Child ￦21,000)- Lunch1st Service 11:30~13:20 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)- Lunch2nd Service 13:40~15:30 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)- Dinner1st Service 17:30~19:30 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)- Dinner2nd Service 20:00~22:00 (Adult ￦73,554 Child ￦39,000)(10% service charge&10% VAT will be added.)(Child price applies to children aged 37 months to elementary school.)* Lunch/dinner buffet price for weekend and holiday will be increased to ￦89,000 (VAT and service charge inclusive) as of July 1st.

Re: Greek Joy 그릭조이

ZenKimchi — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:25:03 -0000

I never saw anyone but Koreans working there.