Food Storyist.

A Restaurant : Healthy Premium Polarex Buffet in Busan, Korea (1)

Polarex Buffet

I went to Polarex with my sister last Saturday.
It was an unplanned visit since we suddenly felt a great hunger. It was around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and buffets don’t usually open between 3 to 5 for break. We had to find the early-open buffet and that was it. Polarex.

We got there at 5 sharp to avoid waiting. On Saturday, it offers dinner service twice, so it has a time limit. We had to eat only for 2 hours, different from the other days with 3.5hours of eating. It’s sufficient time for stuffing my stomach, but short time for enjoy eating and talking simultaneously. 

We scurry the table, and browsed a variety of food they had. They had appetizers, salads, cold dishes like sushi and raw fish, noodles, hot dishes, korean foods, super foods like grills and steaks, and dessert. Gaping at wonderful scene of food, I started collecting foods to my table.

I took some pics. I will talk about the taste of food at the following post.

Infromation about Polarex and more pics will com at this page.

 A Restaurant : Healthy Premium Polarex Buffet in Busan, Korea (2)

Korea View : Busan Downtown Night View at Seomyeon

Yesterday,

I went to Seomyeon  to hang out with my friend. We went to Seomyeon 1st street(서면 1번가), entered into one casual dining & pub called T-box. I post about this place later. Anyway, I had a great time there.

The gravitation power of Seomyeon is its locational advantage. It situated at the center of Busan. Wherever you are in Busan, even an edge of Busan, you can reach there within 1 hour.(I didn’t count the traffic at peak time.)

It’s huge, busy, and crowded. Thanks to its popularity, the commerce spontaneously developed. You can do almost everything here. Movies, restaurants, coffees, garaokes, pocket ball, billiards, shooting, dvd, pubs, bars, clubs, and whatever.

I take some snapshots at Seomyeon at center of 1st street.(서면 1번가)

Japanese restaurant : Bento and Sake, Mugen in Busan

Japanese Food / Family restaurant

 “I am so fond of three angel characters and its products such as mugs and tumblers.”“It has high accessability of more than 500 branches. I can just easily come by and get a sip.”“I can get discount with Lotte card, another perk.”“Here it has more sofas than chairs, and I sit more time, more comfortable.” 


For Foreign Foodie

Menu : Stemina bento(18,000won), Yagyu steak bento(17,000won), Garaage bento(12,000won), Kaisen bento(17,000won), Chashu bento(15,000won), Maguro bento(15,000won), Ashai (8,000won), Mugen beer(4,000won), Lime beer(5,000won), Sake(8,000won~12,000won)

English : ◆◆◆(With menu/Conversable)
Spiciness : ◆◇◇◇◇ (Not much)

Main shop

Opens : 11:30~23:00
Location : the hill of Dal-mazi (달맞이 고개)
Phone : 051-747-6843             
Address : 1480-2, Jungdong, Haewundaegu, Busan
Budget : around 20,000won (1 bento+1 dirnk)
Parking : Yes

<Restaurant exterior and interior>

A Restaurant : Hagawon Sujebi Kongguksu : Franchise in Korea

Food : ★★★ Fantastic
Atmosphere: ★★☆ Enjoyable
Service : ★☆☆ Fair

Korean Food / Casual Dining

The menu in Hagawon is real simple. It only has 3 main dishes including Sujebi, Kongguksu, Dolsotbibimbab. The names of dishes might not get to you close. They are not well-known worldwide, but very popular in Korea. Genuine Korean food. Hagawon just focused on these few items and got fame on its savory tastes. Its food flavors stay harmonized, not fluctuating with over seasoning. It serves considerably delicate food with reasonable prices.

Entering the restaurant, I see the very Korean style tables on the floor. They don’t have any western table with chairs. It should feel uncomfortable for foreigners not accustomed to sitting legs cross-folded. You’d better get used to it soon. The entire atmosphere must be okay if you are not that disagreeable to new culture. 

I feel obliged to order as soon as I sit around the table. The staff just comes to take it. More embarrassingly, They don't have English menu. But, fortunately, I don’t have few options of menu with Sujebi, Bibimbab, and Kongguksu. It does not take so long to choose one.

While waiting, I cut Radish Kimchi with scissors aside. You might feel awkward cutting food particularly with scissors on the dining table. It’s not that weird in Korea to use scissors at the table. You should enjoy sniping it chattering with your friends. New experience. Later on, Bibimbab I ordered is served by the cart. 

Bibimbab looks awesome. Steamed white rice at the center, and various colorful vegetables lay around. Putting hot pepper paste(Gochujang) is my duty. I can add proper amount of it as your own. I top it on the rice centered. It looks greater with red circle on it. Then, I start mixing them altogether. The sauce tints all ingredients mouth-watering red.

The taste of Hagawon bibimbab is indescribable. All different and characteristic ingredients are harmonized. Flavor not extinguished by mixing. They all alive stay all together distinctively. A sort of orchestra, too much fact puffing?

Be Aware! The amount of pepper paste(Gochujang) is a significant factor that influence the whole dish. Be careful not to put too much. Add it little by little tasting through it.

For Foreign Foodies 

Must Eat Menu & Very Korean Menu :   Soup with flour dumplings (수제비)
                                                        Cold bean soup noodle (콩국수)
                                                        Bibimbab cooked in stone pot (돌솥비빔밥)

Spiciness :  Bibimbab cooked in stone pot : ◆◆◇◇◇(A little Spicy)
                 Rest of menu : ◇◇◇◇◇ (Not at all),
          
English : ◇◇◇ (No English)

Menu : Soup with flour dumplings 수제비/Sujebi/(5,000won), Cold bean soup noodle콩국수/Kong Guksu/ (5,500won), Bibimbab cooked in stone pot 돌솥비빔밥/Dol-sot-bibimbab/(5,500won), Grilled pork cube 석쇠떡갈비/Seok-se-ddeok-galbi/( 10,000won), Korean seafood pancake 해물파전/Hae-mul-pajeon/ (10,000won), Adding noodle(1,000won), Rice bowl(1,000won), Soft drink(1,000won)

Main shop

Opens : 09:00~23:00
Location : At Jangsan Station gate 10
Phone : 051-702-5511
Address : 891, jwadong, Hawundaegu, Busan
Budget : around 5,500won
Homepage : www.hagawon.co.kr (not available now)
Branch visited : Sajik, Busan

<Restaurant exterior and interior>

 

Map :Main shop : Haewundae

크게 보기

Map : Sajikdong(at Sports complex station, line 3, Busan)


크게 보기

A Pub : Night Life Music, T Box (Trunk Box) : in Busan, Korea

T Box (Trunk Box) ★★☆
티 박스 (트렁크 박스)

Food : ★★☆ Delicious
Atmosphere:★★☆ Enjoyable
Service : ★★☆ Touched

Western Food / Casual Dining & Pub

Young male staffs welcomed me shouting ‘Welcome(어서오세요)’ in unison as soon as I got off the elevator. Their loud greeting was surprising and impressing to me. I sat down and looked around. The inside was pretty spacious that I felt pleasure of openness. I chose the menu at the table, and go to the counter(bar) to order and pre-pay.

Full of electric funky music, its jaunty atmosphere let me move rhythmically. Grabbing a glass of Ashai, I had a small talk with my friend. Later, Barbecue combo plate we ordered was served. The quantity of food on the huge plate was so satisfactory. The taste was also good. (I was about to order additional dish, but I gave it up after seeing that)

After 3hours staying there, I realized the table turn is faster than other pub. People left the place early. As I assumed on its hard chair, a bit uncomfortable for sitting long, it seemed intended for a short stay. I think It was a good place for stopping by for a while like Thursday party.

- Bacon Potato Pizza(Pizza eating with Spoons) is its distinctive menu here.

For Foreign Foodies 

Must Eat Menu : Bacon Potato Pizza(Pizza eating with Spoons), Salad Pasta
Very Korean Menu : No Korean style Menu
Spiciness : ◇◇◇◇◇ (Not at all)
English : ◆◆◇ (Menu written in English)

Menu : Salads(12,000~17,000won), Pizzas(12,000~17,000won), Pastas(9,000won~11,000won), Fries(8,000~23,000won), Cass Draft(334ml 3,000/5,000), Ashai Draft(334ml 6,000/9,000), Imported bottle beer(5,000~9,000won)


Main Shop

Opens : No information
Location : Opposite of Cinus cinema, 3rd of Angeliuns Coffee
Phone : 051-805-2222
Address : 3rd floor, 240-13, Bujeondong, Jingu, Busan
Budget : around 20,000won(1 dish + 1 drink)
Homepage : Not Available

A Korean Naver Blog that pictures attached to
http://blog.naver.com/baby0817?Redirect=Log&logNo=40145520818

Branch visited : Seomyeon, Busan
<Restaurant exterior and interior>

Map:

A Restaurant : Angler food, Boksun Agujjim : in Busan, Korea

Food : ★★★ Fantastic
Atmosphere:★★☆ Enjoyable
Service : ★☆☆ Fair

Korean Food / Casual Dining

Boksun Agujjim is a good restaurant hidden in Busan. Only locals know it. It serves few menus using a angler; Steamed angler(아구수육/Agu Suyuk), Braised spicy angler (아구찜/Agu jjim/) Angler soup(아구탕/Agu tang). A number of customers visit here everyday. It doesn’t operate direct marketing; no homepage, no franchise. It, as a single restaurant, achieved its fame only through words of mouth. Now, you can imagine the taste of food here.

The restaurant is a modified building of a normal Korean house. I feel as if I visited Korean friend’s house. As led by the staff, an middle aged man, I go into one room of three. There’s no chair seat, so I have to sit on the floor around the table.

I wait for the menu served, but they don’t have any paper based menu. I look upon the wall to find the menu. Sadly it's written only in Korean. I order Agujjim, the signature dish of this restaurant. For two of us, I order Agujjim Small adding a potato noodle and a bowl of rice. I drink a bowl of rice water 슝늉. I wait and look around. There are 4 tables full of people in the room, and most of them are family units. They look fairly old enough to afford the budget of Agujjim. (It’s a bit expensive for Korean youngsters)

In about 15 minutes, the staff brings a big tray with agujjim and side dishes. We start eating. Agujjim sauce has complex flavors with a variety of spices. But not as spicy as I thought. The bean sprouts are so crispy and moist. Its crisp mingles with the smooth flesh of angler. Noodle we added also gives great chewy starch-comfort to us. It’s quite interesting to feel two texture; freshness of sprouts and stickiness of noodle. 

The side dishes such as mayo-noodle, vinegary cucumber, seasoned mushrooms, Korean spring onion pancake and Kimchi are extra delights. Especially, spring onion pancake called ‘Pajeon’ is worthy enough to pay. Big and well seasoned. You must taste each all of side dishes.

Food storyist Tip :
You should eat Agujjim with Saengtak(생탁), a sort of Makgeoli in Busan.
They are a great match.

For Foreign Foodies 

Must Eat Menu & Very Korean Menu :   Braised spicy angler(아구찜/Agujjim/)
                                                        Makgeoli(막걸리)
Spiciness : Agujjim ◆◆◇◇◇(A little Spicy)
English : ◇◇◇ (No English)

Menu : Steam angler 아구수육/Agu suyuk/(Large : 40,000won, Small : 30,000won), Braised spicy angler 아구찜/Agujjim/(Large : 40,000won, Medium : 30,000won, Small : 23,000won), Angler soup(1serving: 8,000won), Noodle adding 감자사리/Gamjasari/(1,000won), Rice bowl(1,000won), Makgeoli(3,000won), Soft drink(1,000won)

Main shop

Opens : 10:00~22:00
Location : At Minam station gate 3, towards Oncheon 3dong police office
Phone : 051-503-5222
Address : 1235-2, Oncheondong, Dongraegu, Busan
Budget : around 12,000won (except drinks)
Homepage : Not available
Branch visited : Oncheondong, Busan


<Restaurant exterior and interior>

Map: Main shop

Nowadays I can see umpteen Self Gas Stations in Busan.
There were just few only few years ago, but now they are everywhere.

This situation was caused by the labor cost increase.

The machine replaces human resource more and more.
The automatic cashier replaces a human cashier.
The huge vending machine replaces a convenience store.
The Ticket machine replaces ticketing staffs.

Very convenient and efficient.
But I worry about our future that might be dominated by machines.