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By Melanie Burnell, February 6, 2012 9:01 pm

Unless you are able to read Korean, it is possible to miss this vegetarian restaurant in Jung Gu.  Located on the same road as Jung Gu Chung 중구청, between the Buk Bu Beltway and Jung gu Homeplus, this vegan  restaurant’s blue sign is only in Hangul with Hanja, (Chinese characters,) thrown in for good measure.  The picture of vegetables, underneath which is written 100% is maybe the best indicator until you’re confident in your hangul skills.

To find the restaurant from Jung gu Homeplus, walk up hill behind Homeplus, towards the Bukbu Beltway.  The restaurant is located on the same side of the street as Yaksa Elementary School, past the school, between it and Jung Gu Chung, 중구청. 

The restaurant is vegan, and in fitting with it’s small size, serves a very small menu of Korean foods.  In fact, there are only four items on the menu.  One of these items, Kong Guk Su 콩국수,  is only available in the summer months.  The other items, available all year round are: Perilla Kal Guk Su 들깨칼국수,  Bibim Bap 비빔밥 and Che shik bap sang 채식밥상.  Che shik bap sang is basically a vegetarian set menu, (pictured below.) 

The menu, like the sign out front is only in Korean.  Fortunately with only four things to choose from, that doesn’t make it an obstacle.  Though Bibim Bap may be the most familiar Korean food, it’s likely that most vegetarians have already had their share of this dish since it is ubiquitous in many restaurants around the country.  At Che Shik Sarang though, it can be ordered safely by vegetarians and vegans without having to worry that it contains shrimp oil or even an egg, since it is a vegan dish.   Kong Guk Su 콩국수 is cold noodle soup, refreshing in the hot summer.  Dul Ggae Kal Guk Su 들깨칼국수 is a hot noodle soup with a sort of milky broth made by crushed perilla seeds, (not to be confused with sesame).  Both of the noodle soups and Bibim Bap are all 6,000 won per serving.  Che shik bap sang 채식밥상 is 11,000 won for a two person meal, complete with soup, side dishes and rice.  Dried bean gogi 고기 is one of the side dishes.  The others change like most other Korean side dishes depending on what’s in season.  Best of all, all of the food in Che Shik Sarang is prepared without adding MSG.  The owners very specifically pointed this out, and were proud of the fact.  

The restaurant also has a small selection of vegetarian groceries available for sale beside the counter, such as dried bean gogi, kim, tofu snacks and best of all, ramyun.  If the vegetarian population of Ulsan has been looking with no luck for vegetarian ramyun, I’m pleased to say that your search is over.  Although they don’t serve it in the restaurant, you can buy some and take it home.  Finally, Ulsan vegetarians are able to indulge in some hot spicy noodle soup after a long night of overindulging.

There are only 8 tables in the small, traditionally decorated restaurant.  Despite being such a small establishment, Che Shik Sarang has been featured on tv seven times between 2004 and 2008.

Although it may not be what some people dream of when they think of the all of the variety of vegetarian and vegan options at home or in other countries, Che Shik Sarang offers a vegetarian taste of Korea that may be a welcome treat.

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By tambuchanan, February 5, 2012 2:38 am

With a new restaurant opening nearly every month in Ulsan, there is no reason to go to the same restaurant twice. Well unless of course you really really enjoy it! That being said the restaurant I am introducing to you; I’ve visited 4 times already in the last 5 weeks!

If you visit Samsan-dong often then you will have no trouble finding this place. HURDY GURDY opened on December 16^th of last year and it sits directly across the street from a side entrance to LOTTE Department store. Yes the name really is Hurdy Gurdy and honestly I had to look it up to see if there was significance behind it before interviewing the manager. As it turns out it is a musical instrument that maybe 3 people in the world still play today but you can see a picture of it on the cover of the menu.

The menu is written in Korean and English

 The owner, David Park, explained to me that the restaurant is a franchise from Daegu and there was a name change last September, from Corner Bistro. He went on to say that the restaurant is a pub style fusion bistro. I know what you’re thinking but it will all make sense when you see (and try) the food!

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very spacious, with warm tones vibrating through the simple decor, comfortable seating and the perfect lighting. This will surely become your go to restaurant for a date, friend’s night out or even an outing with co-workers! Every time I’ve visited I try to get a feel of the music. It’s mostly English club and pop songs. Mr. Park did mention that the choice in music makes the food more enjoyable. And I concur! Sitting by the windows is so much fun! It allows for people watching and VIP access to the ever present Samsan-ro fashion show.

Very spacious! There is a table waiting for you

The food at Hurdy Gurdy is so tantalizingly good! But it’s not cheap by any means!  The fusion of foods includes pasta, pilafs, risottos, salads and pizzas. For example I’ve tried the King Prawn pasta, seafood cream risotto, salad pizza and chicken breast & chicken thighs pilaf.  All of which are outstanding dishes and they taste so fresh and well-seasoned.  Mr. Park assured me that the restaurant only uses fresh natural ingredients and no MSG. You can definitely notice the organic and vibrant flavors in the taste of the food.  He also explained that this is why the price is higher than other places.  Cheap food equals chemically enhanced flavors to conjure up a better taste.

The portion size is enough to feed 2 to 3 people and prices range from 13-18,000 won per plate. So dining with amigos is the way to go!

The food he also described as a little salty because salty food goes great with beer. Reflect back on the aforementioned pub style of the restaurant. Makes sense now?

Enough for 2 and so yummy!

The happiest bread basket I've ever seen!

Chicken breast & thigh rice pilaf

The restaurant has 5 trained chefs, one of which is the owner. This restaurant will also alter food for anyone with specific dietary needs if you let them know in advance.

Ulsanites head over to Hurdy Gurdy and let me know how much you enjoy it! The hours are from 1130am to 1230am from Monday to Sunday.

Getting there is pretty simple:

(1^st way)

If you are standing in front of Paris Baguette across from LOTTE Hotel, wait for the little green man and head in the direction of B-Stove. Keep walking straight down that street. You should be able to see HURDY GURDY in the distance on the second floor of the building with the EGOIST lingerie store at the bottom. Once you see GS25- cross the little side street. The entrance faces LOTTE Department store. If you don’t see the restaurant name, you are heading in the wrong restaurant.

(2^nd way)

If you are heading out of LOTTE Department store from the exit near ZARA and the parking garage, walk out the doors. The restaurant will be in the building directly in front of you (2nd floor). Please cross the street with caution

P.S. They will do take out!

Enjoy!

-Tamara Buchanan

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By Jeff Joseph, January 27, 2012 5:23 pm

Ulsan, a city of more than 1 million people, often feels small despite its size.  One reason for this may be the historic rarity of non-Korean food available in the city.  While the country’s largest cities offer plenty of options for the hungry wae-guk-en looking for foreign flavors, Ulsan has, for many years, been a bit behind the curve.  The streets here are lined with remarkably similar Korean restaurants, and attempts at western foods have been somewhat awkward (Why is there corn in my linguini?).  Recent years have brought progress however, and the quality of western food available in Ulsan seems to be steadily on the rise.  And so we have The Hungry Kitchen, a no-nonsense, hearty comfort-food establishment in the heart of Mugeo-dong.

It should be said right away that The Hungry Kitchen is not a completely original idea.  The chain of Segoa and Cook restaurants and others offer a similar style and taste.  However, owner and head chef Im Seong-Hwan created a unique and superior experience when he gave The Hungry Kitchen its characteristically homey atmosphere.  Contrary to the sleek, modern look of Seoga and Cook, the Hungry Kitchen is cozy, warm and inviting. This difference extends to the food as well, as presentation, while not ignored, is favored less than hearty taste.  The distinction is immediately clear, as a meal here starts as simply as possible- with a variety of freshly made bread.  Fresh dinner rolls and cornbread are the everyday staples, but they may be joined at any time by biscuits, rye bread, garlic bread, or French bread.  The Hungry Kitchen’s bread, one of the restaurant’s most distinctive features, lays the foundation for the meal to follow and is indicative of the quality of food that can be expected from appetizer to entrée.

The menu is straight forward, offering customers pastas, risottos, pilafs, steak dishes, and the best cheeseburger I’ve had in this country.  The pastas are divided into cream and tomato based sauces.  The standouts here are delicious basil and pesto chicken cream pasta and the “giant meatball” spaghetti, which earns its name with two oversized, cheese-stuffed meatballs.  Pastas will cost customers 18,000₩ and come in portions big enough to satisfy two very hungry diners.

One of the real pleasure s of eating at the Hungry Kitchen is the “salad” portion of the menu. Here you’ll find pork, hamburger, bacon shrimp, and bacon asparagus salads, but don’t be fooled by the moniker, the actual salad is an afterthought to the heaping portions of meat.  The pork and hamburger are both tender and deliciously marinated and the bacon comes skewered and in large quantities.  The salad too, is delicious and it is a pleasure to eat the dark romaine lettuce topped with great homemade vinaigrette.  There is also a massive Cobb salad available in this portion of the menu, which, along with French toast, completes the vegetarian selections at the Hungry Kitchen.  The star of the show here is meat of various types and flavors, all of it delicious. These meals will serve two and range in price from 18,000₩ to 20,000₩.

If you were to eat only one meal at the Hungry Kitchen I would recommend the 12,000 ₩ “Hungry Cheeseburger.”  A good burger can be distressingly hard to find in Ulsan and even the best burgers in town tend to come with an amendment: “Yeah, it’s good, for Korea.”   No longer though, as the Hungry Kitchen successfully alters Ulsan’s burger landscape with this enormous cheeseburger.  A huge handmade patty placed between a perfect bun, topped with fresh tomato, lettuce, and onion is a great way to start.  A fantastic cheese sauce finishes things off and makes the “Hungry Cheeseburger” a pleasure to eat- wherever you may be.

The Hungry Kitchen then is an excellent restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere and a wide selection of hearty, delicious food.  There is plenty to look forward to as well, as Chef Im plans to change and add to the menu every three months.  There is also a friendly, welcoming staff and Red Rock beer on tap, making The Hungry Kitchen a terrific place to eat in the company of some of your hungriest friends. 

The Hungry Kitchen is located in Mugeodong’s Ulsan University area .  With Wa Bar on your right turn left down the street opposite and look for the all brick exterior on the left.  The name is written in English.  Open daily for lunch and dinner from 12:00pm to 11:00pm with a break taken from 4:00 to 5:30.

 Photos courtesy of Adele Changuion

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By Deirdre Madden, January 11, 2012 4:49 am

It’s getting easier every year to find good Western food in Ulsan. We can now pig out on Indian food in five different places, and find Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants scattered about the city. The Italian restaurants actually serve decent pasta and pizza in most cases, though their ideas of sweetened garlic bread and “risotto” still need to be challenged. Heck, you can even get a kabob at the Lotte Department Store food court. But one thing that has always been lacking from this little city of ours was a good Mexican restaurant.

Well, we still don’t have one.

But don’t despair! Thanks to two enterprising lads based in Ilsan, a suburb of Seoul, you can enjoy tasty, home-made burritos, with sides of salsa, chili or bean-and-cheese dip in the comfort of your own apartment.

As the Gringos website tells us, the idea was born from a lack of decent Mexican food on this peninsula, and two guys who wanted to remedy this situation. Instead of opening up a restaurant that would be known only to the foreign community of Ilsan and a handful of experimental Koreans, the “gringos”, Mike and Mark, set up an ingenious system. They make their delicious burritos and send them to you.

You don't even have to go outside, into the cold, raw winter!

This system was put to the test last weekend at the Ulsan Wine Club’s first gathering of the new year. Chicken burritos were ordered en masse (along a few meatless burritos for the vegetarian in the crowd), and side dishes.

Everything tasted amazing. The chicken was a bit spicy, but balanced out by the milder Spanish rice. Add a dollop of sour cream (which can now, apparently, be found in both Emart and the Hyundai Department grocery store) and some of the home-made salsa, and I was in burrito heaven. The sides were so good, that long after we were full to bursting, everyone still sat ‘round scooping the bean-and-cheese dip up with nacho chips.

Home-made salsa

The Gringos menu isn’t extensive, but it doesn’t need to be. Along with the chicken and veggie (tofu) burritos, they also offer two types of breakfast burrito – bacon and chorizo (yes, you read that right! Chorizo!) – along with the three aforementioned side dishes. You have to order it in packs of 6 or 12, but don’t fret if you don’t have friends to share with. They allow you to mix burrito variety and sides in the pack (so, for instance, you could order 2 chicken, 2 bacon, a chili and a salsa).

A 6 pack, plus delivery to your door comes to a grand total of about 40,000 won, which is pretty awesome when you consider that in Outback Steakhouse you pay at least 15,000 won for a measly quesadilla, and you have to go all the way there yourself, like a sucker!

Order through their Facebook page, gringosburritos@gmail.com or call 010-2088-6336

(Photos courtesy of the Gringos website)

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By tambuchanan, January 9, 2012 3:55 am

Are you on a really tight budget but want to take a trip out of the country?

Well head over to Mari Italian restaurant in Okdong for a beautiful evening in Italy!  This gem of a restaurant opened in October of last year.  The restaurant is owned by chef, Shin Eungyoung, aka “Mari (마리) who trained for a year at ICIF in Torino (Turin) Italy and it is very apparent in her dishes.  Her moniker “homemade” not only represents the delicious foods she creates but also the restaurant decor.  Having a background in design and many years as a coffee shop owner, the aesthetic details that are reminiscent of an Italian restaurant I once visited in Sorrento, were all carefully chosen.  So it’s no mistake that there is a stunning oil painting of an Italian scene on the wall.   The painting Chef Mari explained was created by a 72 year old French artist.  Even the smallest details like the music are Italian.   All the table cloths, coasters, and even the painting in the restroom are hand crafted by Chef Mari. 

Interior of MARI Italian restaurant

Interior of Mari Italian restaurant

Ok enough about the décor, on to the food!

There are many pastas and pizzas on the menus, all of which she will make alterations at the request of vegetarians.

I sampled the “Herb chicken pasta, Mari cream pasta, Seafood rice and Margarita pizza.  All on separate occasions of course.

fresh handmade bread and salad while you wait for your entree!

Seafood Rice Pilaf

Mari cream pasta

The dishes were so aromatic and tasty. They are big enough to share as well. After your meal you are treated to a choice of coffee, fruit juice or ice tea free of charge. The coffee apparently is 35,000 won per bag.

Coffee, cream and sugar anyone

Like I said before she was a coffee shop owner in the past and knows how to please her customers. I must add that she even brings the order to each table. Talk about adding a personal touch! I have dined at Mari’s three times and on the second occasion Chef Mari remembered I’m not a fan of the pickled vegetables. She even remembered that I like milk in my coffee. The restaurant is small, very clean and charming. It really feels like you are being welcomed into her home for a nice dinner.

You can even watch her prepare dishes. Take a look at this shot of her making handmade pizza.

Chef Mari kneading pizza dough

I adore and highly recommend this restaurant and will be back again, not just for food but to say hello to Chef Mari since she is such a sweet heart. The dishes range from 12-15,000 won. And she is open from 10:30am to 10:30pm Monday to Saturday. The kitchen closes at 8:30pm but Mari will still make dishes if requested. They even do take out! Take my advice and take this inexpensive trip to Italy. I guarantee you will want to visit every month!

Margherita Pizza

Oh…right…it might be helpful if I actually told you how to get there! You can take any of these buses : 307,401,411,504,1104,2300,824,1713,1723.

Listen out for the “Ulju-gun office” stop or the one called “Court”. Walk towards “The Reason Café” and through the small alley. You should see a coffee shop on the left and a “BBQ” chicken place ahead of you. You will then  need to turn left pass the coffee shop and head straight less than 5 minutes’ walk. MARI is on the right. Just look for the building that looks like this ->

Mari entrance...the dark brown glass doors open fully to offer faux curbside dining during warmer months!

If you see the VS Beauty Salon before “The Reason Cafe” you can take the alley way between the salon and the building construction. Turn right and head towards the WAbar.  MARI Italian restaurant will be straight ahead on the left.

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By Martin Rehder, December 14, 2011 6:00 pm

And then there were two.

No, it’s not a chain, but they are related. Shalimar is a set of Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Ulsan’s Dong Gu/Bangeojin.  The owners are brothers. And while they may share recipes the similarities stop there.  The Shalimar we had already reviewed back in September of this year, is situated near  Hyundai Heavy Industries main entrance and Hyundai Department store. The Shalimar in this review, is located on the southern tip of the Dong-gu peninsula, near Big Bites sandwich shop.  This Shalimar, has a lunch buffet every day while the northern restaurant of the same name is only buffet-style on weekends and is menu-only on weekdays. The northern shop is located on a busy street overlooking the shipyards. This Shalimar is on a quiet back street directly on the coast overlooking the sea.

The southern Shalimar’s lunch time buffet really shines. For a mere 10,000 won, you can load on up on your favorite mutton, chicken, bean and vegetable dishes and gorge on hot fresh naan bread.  No waiting for dishes to be prepared for those with busy schedules. In addition the staple glutinous rice that is a must in every Korean restaurant, Shalimar also serves the more traditional basmati long grain rice that better complements the dishes.

The buffet, while small, was excellent

We visited on a Wednesday and the smallish dining room was empty when we arrived but soon filled with hungry lunch diners.  We tried every dish – only five – but that ensures quality over quantity – and was pleased with each. My personal favorite was the mutton, spiced exquisitely with large meaty chunks.  I used copious amounts of garlic naan to shovel  up spoonfuls of mutton and basmati rice.   I also really enjoyed the daal dish.

While we ate strictly off the buffet, the menu has all the requisites one would expect from an Indian restaurant. I can’t wait to go back and try the various tandoory and tikka dishes.

The menu - click the picture for a full size view

The dining room was small, but nicely decorated. Purple table cloths and chair coverings give the place a warm feel. Chairs are a tight squeeze for large bodied folk such as myself,  but once I settled in, it was not an issue.  The owners were very accomodating and the service prompt and courteous. Several times during the meal we were asked if we wanted more naan bread, which of course we accepted gratefully.

The dining room, small but comfortable

These days, Bangeojin is the place to be for foreign food dining and drinking. With the enormous influx of foreign workers at the gigantic shipyards, it’s not uncommon to see a foreigner on every corner and more than a few in every non-Korean restaurant. In years past, Bangeojin was not the nicest area of Ulsan. But the spate of construction that has been going on over the past few years has resulted in spacious new apartments, shiny retail stores and numerous new restaurants. Bangeojin is the place to be.  Of the dozen or so customers in the restaurant during our visit, nearly 90% were foreigners.

To find this, the new, southern Shalimar, go to the outer ring road (same road on which Big Bites and Ballentines are situated) on the far southern tip of the Dong-gu peninsula.  When you get to “Early Doors”, one of the many western style bars near MunHyeon elementary school, turn towards the sea. Shalimar is facing the coast.

The owner poses outside his restaurant

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By admin, November 24, 2011 2:21 am

“Western-style” food is pretty easy to find in Ulsan, but something that tastes even remotely like home is difficult to come by. For those of us who love burgers, Toolbox is the place.

 Bangeojin’s newest restaurant comes in the form of a burger joint, owned by a man nicknamed Toolbox. This small restaurant delivers good food that keeps lots of people coming back.

 The place is small and the kitchen is even smaller, with one man working the grill and serving the food. Order options and prices are clearly marked on the chalkboard menu and a mini take-home menu is available in order for customers to call in orders and pick up.

Just in case you were wondering, the burgers at this place come on a fresh sesame seed bun (lightly seeded) and the burger patty itself is handmade and seasoned.

The Classic

 I’ve sampled a few burgers, but always go back to the Classic, with bacon, no onion, no tomato. Chili Cheese fries on the side.

First off, the burger is a simple combination of lettuce, cheese, patty with bacon and a horseradish mayo. The bun is toasted on the grill and what you end up with is a juicy burger with enough meat, greenery and condiments to fill you up. The only thing I add to mine is ketchup, though there were plenty of additional toppings available like BBQ sauce, relish, peppers, etc. The burger is 7,500 won and additional bacon is 1,000 won.

The fries are a simple affair of deep fried potato wedges and a layer of cheese topped with a just-like-home chili con carne. The owner learned to make chili while traveling in the United States. Chili fries are 5,900 won. Also beers, some imported, start around 4,000 won while non-alcoholic drinks will cost you 2,000.

Chili-Cheese Fries. Can you say OMG! ?

 For vegetarians, regular fries and grilled cheese are also available for 3,000 won each. You can also customize your burger.

The portion sizes at this place are quite large, but some people like things a bit more substantial.
Those with a larger appetite should try the Aussie, a massive beef burger constructed with a fried egg and bacon in addition to lettuce, tomato and grilled onion at 8,900 won.

The Aussie

The atmosphere at Toolbox is relaxed and comfortable. It tends to be a little quieter in the evenings, but busy at lunch. The owner is friendly and despite what his orange jump suit says, his English is good.

My only issue with this place is sometimes the hours are a little hit and miss. At times the lunch rush is so big, they run out of food and the owner has to close early or leave for a little in the evening to shop for the next day. Hours are advertised as Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sundays 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. He’s actually open until 8:00 p.m. on weekdays as many teachers can only make it in after 5:00 p.m., but I like to call or text the restaurant at 010-3224-9958 to double check if he’s in. They open early and serve breakfast all day.

 Directions:

Toolbox is located in Bangeojin, on the ground floor of a low-rise apartment building. From Ballentine’s and Pizza Palm’s (both behind you) cross the road and walk straight down the street leading to the ocean. At the end of this short street take a left at the ocean. Walk straight up the street, past the fishery on the right and up the small hill. Toolbox is in the small greenish apartment at the top of the hill on the right.

Small but cozy interior

The Owner, Mr. Toolbox

Buses that pass this area of Bangeojin include the 104, 127, 132, 1104 and 122 in addition to others. Get off at the Useong Hyundai APT (우성 현대 아파트) stop and walk with the direction of traffic until you reach the Pizza Palms intersection.

article and photos by Tashane Miller

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By Melanie Burnell, November 21, 2011 5:41 pm

With the recent popularity of Vietnamese food in Korea, it’s easy to find pho in just about any neighborhood in the city. However, if you’re looking for something other than that, that you don’t want to whip up yourself with ingredients from Foreigner Town, it’s a good idea to visit one of the two Vietnamese restaurants in Shinae. They are both located on the less crowded side of the covered pedestrian walkway, across from Newcore Outlet, near the Jung Ang Shijang building, (the location of the new The Party Buffet.)

Both restaurants are on the same street, so you’ll be able to take your pick. They are small establishments and both are located on the second floor. One is called Ho Diep Quan and the other is Ngoc Tim Quan Asia Vietnam Mart.

Asia Vietnam MartAsia Vietnam Mart

Asia Vietnam Mart has more tables and a larger kitchen than Ho Diep Quan. Asia Vietnam Mart sells cell phones, calling cards and jewelry at the counter and you can also pick up a range of Vietnamese grocery items stocked there if you do feel like cooking later. The restaurant isn’t going to win any awards for décor. The interior is not as chic and polished as many of the chain pho restaurants around town but since they cater to the Vietnamese expat crowd, you can expect authentic Vietnamese food. The restaurant is run by Vietnamese women who speak Korean. The menu is only in Vietnamese however, so you can either bring your Vietnamese phrasebook or learn the names of the dishes in Korean. While the menu appeared to be extensive, my Vietnamese guidebook only listed the few typically popular dishes. The owner was very helpful, explaining what was in each dish so I’m sure if you know a little Korean, you’ll be able to order something delicious.

Of course they have pho – 국수. It’s made with pork and it’s 5,000 won for a regular bowl, 8,000 for a large, which you’ll have to order as go-bbae-gi 곱빼기. Cha gio, (pork spring rolls,) are 2,000 won per serving. Bun bo is a beef and rice noodle soup at 5,000 won. Hu Tien is a soup of vermicelli, pork and seafood noodles, which is 5,000 won as well. They also have lau, Vietnamese shabu shabu priced at 30,000 won for a 3-4 person serving. Vietnamese beers, 333, Saigon and Hanoi are all 3,000 won each but you can also order regular Hite or even soju if you’re so inclined. Vietnamese coffee, café sua, with condensed milk is 3,000 won as is café la, iced coffee.

Asia Vietnam Mart is open from 10-9 on weekdays and 10-11 on weekends.
Ho Diep Quan, located above a Japanese Ramen Restaurant is the smaller of the two restaurants. I’ve only ever eaten pho once at Ho Diep Quan restaurant. It tasted the same as at Asia Vietnam Mart and was similarly priced. The menu at Ho Diep Quan is also all in Vietnamese.

To find either one of the restaurants, cross the street at Newcore Outlet and follow the covered pedestrian street. Take your first left. Asia Vietnam Mart, the larger restaurant with the grocery items is the first one you’ll come across on your right. It has a sign at the street level entrance to the stairwell. Ho Diep Quan is further along, also on your right, but the stairwell is unmarked.

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By Deirdre Madden, November 19, 2011 6:09 am

Walking up the stairs into Seoga & Cook, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My friend and I had seen the new restaurant while on our way to Momo’s, and thought we’d check it out. There were black and white pictures of the Beatles on the stairwell wall, but nothing to hint at the type of food we would find inside.

We were directed to a table and immediately supplied with water and a menu. At first glance, it appeared to be yet another Korean take on Italian food, with pasta and “pilaf” (a word I’ve often seen attached to bokumbap, or stir fried rice). But as we turned a few more pages, we discovered the meat and potatoes of the menu.

The open-plan kitchen

Meat and potatoes! Actually, it’s the section is called “Steak and Salad”, and there’s only a small potato on each plate, but it’s not a sweet potato, and it’s baked and grilled perfectly.

The waitstaff advised us to order one dish for two people. After reviewing all of our options, we ordered the Chicken Thigh Steak. When the platter arrived on the table, it was heaped with salad and four chicken thighs (with no bone!) that were cooked in a tasty bar-be-que-like sauce, along with vegetables. We also ordered the sang mekju (draft beer) which comes served with a slice of lemon.

A few days later, I returned with another group of friends, hungry after an afternoon of rock climbing. This time, we ordered 4 dishes between 5 people; Pork Steak (x2), Chicken Breast Steak and Chicken Pilaf. Everything was delicious.

Chicken Breast Steak

The chicken in both dishes was tender and juicy, the pork well cooked in a soy-teriyaki sauce and the salad’s creamy-garlic dressing was well received (I even ate a fair portion of salad, and I hate lettuce. I mean, really, what’s the point?).

Pork Steak

In the end, we had about one portion of pilaf left to take home, so we probably could have fed one more person with the food we had ordered.

Chicken Pilaf - enough for a Korean family of 4, or one hungry western male.

All in all, I’m impressed with Seoga & Cook. The food is very tasty, and its styling is original. The seats are comfortable, the music is relaxing (not K-pop or trance), and the decor is modern, clean and trendy. It’s different from the university-geared bars and coffee shops in the area, too.  As one of my dining companions noted, “It doesn’t feel like Mugeodong. This feels more like a Samsan restaurant.”

My one complaint would be the lack of prices on the menu. Meals run around 18,000 won per plate, beer starts at 4,000 and non-alcoholic drinks are 2,000 – 3,000.

Seoga & Cook is open from 11:30am – 11:30pm, but closed between 3:30-4:30pm. The restaurant is located in Mugeodong. From Babo sagori (바보사고리), with the Uni gates at your back, turn left and walk down the hill towards Momo’s. Seoga & Cook is on the 2nd floor, above 700 Beer.

From the street, the door is to the left of 700 Beer

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By Martin Rehder, October 21, 2011 8:23 pm

Good, wholesome Japanese comfort food at moderate prices. If this restaurant had a tag-line, that’s what it would be.

Clean and well-lit, NatsuDong (나쯔동) is a comfortable open restaurant with quality food . The menu is filled with tasty rice dishes, noodle entrees and steak cutlets. Owner  YoungJin (Brian) Son has made a living out of serving up delicious Japanese style dishes in Ulsan. And if the name sounds even remotely familiar, that’s because Brian is also owner of one of Ulsan’s most authentic Japanese sushi restaurants, Sushi Bar Haru.

Brian’s newest entry into the already crowded Ulsan restaurant community is a welcome addition, bringing lovingly prepared Japan style food at decent prices. Menu items start at 7,000 won but even the most expensive dishes won’t break the bank.

We had one of the set menus at NatsuDong – a bowl of GyuDong, similar to Korean bibimbap but with generous slices of tender beef and without the red, spicy bibim sauce. That in itself could have been a meal for some. However, the set also included large shrimp fried tempura style, a bowl of soup brimming with noodles, seafood and vegetables and a crispy cabbage salad with a tangy ginger dressing.

Gyu Dong, noodles, fried shrimp and cabbage with Japanese ginger dressing

NatsuDong’s decor, although seemingly simple, is all imported European stone and brick giving it the comfortable, well-worn feel of a French cafe. The front patio has a few tables for dining outdoors when the weather permits, thus completing the European  touch.

Brian stays busy with his two restaurants, but even that is not enough to keep this man tied up for long. He is also a part time professor at Ulsan University and teaches Japanese cuisine. You know when you eat at NatsuDong you’re getting quality first-rate, Japanese dining without the cost of going to Japan.

NaSu Dong is located in Samsandong just across from the owner’s famous sushi restaurant, Sushi Bar Haru. Go around the corner from McDonalds towards Young Plaza parking garage, then go one block north. NatsuDong will be on the left while Sushi Bar Haru is on the right.

Natsudong's front patio dining should be a big hit in warmer weather