Korean cuisine (hansik) is built around balance — fermented sides (banchan), a steaming bowl of rice, and a main dish that changes with the season. Meals are served all at once rather than in courses, and sharing dishes at the table is the norm. The depth of flavor comes from slow-fermented pastes like doenjang (soybean) and gochujang (chili), which form the backbone of soups, stews, and marinades across the country.
Gangdong-gu in southeastern Seoul is a family-oriented district known for its community markets and traditional Korean restaurants. Cheonho Market offers one of Seoul's best selections of traditional banchan, grilled fish, and home-style Korean cooking away from the tourist circuit.
I visited to meet up with acquaintances, and the generous portion of jokbal was tender, moist, and delicious. It was great that I could get as much kimchi and vegetables as I needed from the self-service bar.
It seems like there are more delivery orders than in-store orders. The delivery pig's feet are about the same quality. The soft tofu and makguksu set menu is good.
Korean blogger posts. Links open original posts on Naver.