JINSADAEK: 14-Course Traditional Korean Food Experience! @KTOManila

JINSADAEK is a traditional Korean restaurant where you order course-menu style, set in a Hanok-inspired environment. This authentic Korean dining experience is by the same owner of RakKoJae.

If you’re looking for a truly traditional Korean meal, check out Jinsadaek at Myeong-dong…

Jinsadaek is hidden amidst the hustle and bustle of the Myeong-dong shopping district in Seoul.

It’s located on the second floor with hanok-inspired architecture.

The best place to eat is on the rooftop area where they have traditional Korean private rooms.

You have to leave your shoes behind and sit around an intimate table setting.

You choose among the following  Korean Course Menu: Sa Jeongsik (13-course) KRW 35,000, Daek Jeongsik (14-Course) KRW 55,000, Monginjae Jeongsik (15-course) KRW 77,000, Beverages Menu

Abalone Porridge

Meal starts with a light hot porridge with subtle Abalone flavors, topped with sesame seeds. It’s hard to appreciate at first, but the flavor grows on you.

This is the first time I’ve eaten Baek Kimchi which is a white cold kimchi with a clean flavor. Love it!

Korean vermicelli with mixed vegetables

The dishes are served family style and meant for sharing (except for the soup which is served individually). The idea is to eat a little bit of this, a little bit of that, as in a degustation.

Hot tea is served often and prepares your stomach for the meal ahead.

It’s always fun to eat in the company of travel writers and travel bloggers because everyone is willing to try everything with enthusiasm.

Roast Beef with Green Onion

The beef is best eaten wrapped around the green onions, garlic, and chili. 🙂

Sashimi

Raw fish sashimi is often served in a traditional Korean meal. The meat of the fish used was a bit hard though.

Steamed Shrimp

Love this steamed shrimp! Simple flavors, simple presentation, and with just enough ingredients.

Assorted Korean Pancake

The pancake was a hit being the only carbo course so far. It tastes best with the soy sauce. 

The dishes are served in their proper order, alternating between seafood and meat courses.

Steamed Pork

This was OK. You have to wrapp it with a thin seaweed-like leaf.

Natural Pine Mushroom Soup

This soup was a bit refreshing. It also served as a palate cleanser.

Stone Barbecued Beef

Very flavorful soft beef. How I wish they served rice with it!

 
Grilled Fish with Green Onion

Of course, a traditional Korean meal is usually served with grilled fish.  

Raw Crab Marinated in Soybean Sauce

The signature dish is raw crab served sashimi style with soybean sauce and banchan side dishes.

I actually had to think twice about eating it because this was the first time I was going to eat raw crab. 

We all tried it and it tastes like mussel…oceany flavor and a bit slimy. It’s good to try once, at least. 🙂
 
How about raw crab eggs with soy sauce?

Miso Soup, Side Dishes, Steamed Rice

At this point, the side dishes are served, with individual bowls of steamed rice and miso soup. 

I personally enjoyed the meal but we didn’t finish it because our blogger friend Rayyan had an allergy attack. We had to skip the Scorched Rice and Dessert to go to the hospital.

Overall, I love the degustation course style dining experience. It gives you a better appreciation of what Korean dishes and flavors are all about. The White Kimchi and Raw Crab are must tries!

I recommend eating at least one traditional Korean meal in Jinsadaek when you visit Seoul. 🙂

JINSADAEK Traditional Korean Cuisine
2F, 50-12 Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 2 774-9605
Website: http://www.rkj.co.kr
Hours of Operation: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm – 10 pm
Note: No parking available

Live an Awesome Life,

 
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

P.S. Thank you to Korean Tourism Organization of Manila for the Asian On Air Program: Asia Power Bloggers Tour of South Korea! 감사합니다 Kamsahamnida!

How to Get To Find Jinsadaek in Myeong-dong

The entrance to Jinsadaek is located near the Police Station in the Myeong-dong area.

It faces this row of shops (Etude House, Holika Holika, The Face Shop, and Tony Moly).

If you are a foreigner, there’s no Jinsadaek signage, so make sure to enter this alley.

 
Here’s what the alley looks like as you enter.

You should see the main entrance of Jinsadaek on your left. 🙂