Odeng (오뎅)

We were taken out for dinner and drinks in trendy Sinsa-dong where plenty of cafes and restaurants gather to offer all kinds of cuisines. We went to Jeongdeunjib (정든집), a small cosy Shizuoka-style oden bar packed with non-tourists. In Korean, they term it similarly as 'odeng' (오뎅). Fish everything in soy and dashi. YUMMY.

The friendly English-speaking owner made sure that our cups were never empty. Heh. Frozen sake accompanied us for the evening. We opted for Japanese sake. Didn't know the brand. Whatever it was, it came out of a carton typical of frozen sake, and didn't taste half bad. Considering the many cups of sake, we weren't the least hungover. We were smart and refused to mix our drinks. Frozen sake and oden make the best combination of pub grub.

I was glad that the bar wasn't enclosed. Perfect al fresco weather, so the doors and huge windows were thrown open. That helped a lot to minimize lingering cigarette smells on the clothes. The one thing that I requested the hotel to help us secure upon check-in, is a bottle of anti-bacterial spray, Febreeze, if possible. It's impossible to survive without it since smoking is allowed everywhere in Seoul.

Jeongdeunjib (정든집)
마포구 잔다리로 20-13번지 
(Mapo-gu Jandari-ro 20-13; Subway Sinsa station Line 3, Exit 8.)
Opens from 7pm onwards.