'Hanjeongsik'

Half of what a table of four had for dinner.

They call this 'hanjeongsik'.

We're in Seoul. There's no reason for us to try out restaurants serving non-Korean cuisine. Not even if it's touted to be really good. It has to be Korean food. The entire spectrum of it. Don't ask me about Kraze burgers. They're more or less round every street corner. I'm certainly not interested in it. Oddly, neither are my travelling companions. Heh.

While I really like the selection of food because the style caters to the table's varied palates, it's quite scary to see the tiny plates plonked on the table for every meal. But don't let the quantity fool you. It's not that much. Not when each takes a bite or two only. This is perfectly welcome compared to the other option of hotpot or charcoal grill/barbecued/fried stuff. Many restaurants offering the traditional meal also include 'bap' (rice) that has other grains mixed in as well, say purple/black. Lovely. Makes a tasty difference to the usual plain white pearl rice.

Totally appreciate the eateries and restaurants plonking down a bottle of (complimentary) cold water on the table each time we take our seats. For Singaporeans, it's quite unusual, and it's a pleasant surprise. Many restaurants at home don't do that. Often, I'd have to beg for a glass of water, and in some instances, be charged 50 cents (yes, Real Food and you, Pagi Sore) for a glass of water that's not exactly tasty, or worse, from the tap. It's awesome that I don't have to keep buying bottles of drinking water on-the-go because I can hydrate during meal-times.

I've yet to have a bowl of naengmyeon. Preferably a bowl with vegetable or fish stock instead of pork or beef. Need to rectify that soon.