Continuing on with the buffet…

There was about 5 more courses of cooked delights, braised morsels, deep fried treats and the like. But my favourite was the mountain of fresh crab up for grabs. With implements in hand we went to town on those juicy legs!

Then followed by some more sashimi, more prawns, fresh tuna, salads for good measure. Drinks were also included so I filled up on fermented rice drink, Sikhye (my absolute favourite!). 

Dessert came from about 40 square meters of varied desserts - chocolate, berry, cakes, tortes, ganache, ice cream.

The place even had a mascot running about. ALL OF THIS, DRINKS, FOOD EVERYTHING INCLUDED FOR $16.00.

ALL OF THIS, DRINKS, FOOD EVERYTHING INCLUDED FOR $16.00.

ALL OF THIS, DRINKS, FOOD EVERYTHING INCLUDED FOR $16.00.

High five!

Yes I know Andy and I have waxed lyrical about a million meals on this blog - and they truly have been stunning if we said so. But there are times when there is a new level needed, and this is one of them. Enter VOLCANO, EXCELLENT, MIND BLOWING, ANTARCTICA, BABY SEAL, AMAZING FOOD LEVEL.

The seafood buffet we failed to find the night before WAS FOUND. It was actually on the top level of the food market and was found by going up nondescript elevators which delivered you into the belly of a beast - the biggest and swankiest buffet place I’d ever been.

In a bid to make sure we had a part of the action, we arrived at 5.30pm. We weren’t even the first there, even though the place only opened at 6pm - that’s how good we are talking here. 

We were led to our table and told to begin whenever we wanted. The place was the size of about 4 tennis courts and the whole length filled with stunning food.

We started with the huge variety of sashimi so fresh it was alive about 3 minutes before. Then the tables laden with sushi, all kinds of varieties. I stupidly grabbed skate wing and a live sea creature than looked like a male appendage and wriggled its way off my plate! Of course I was certainly not put off. Just swipe away what you don’t want and continue!

More to come…

Seafood BBQ is where it’s at in Busan. Andy snooped out a famous one by the main fish markets (Jagalchi) but in our hunger-driven panic we couldn’t seem to find it anywhere despite Andrew’s careful drawn, detailed map.

We sadly gave up and wandered into a small BBQ spot doing rave business with families. JACKPOT! There was no menu (the secret ingredient to a good restaurant for those in the know and with adventurous tastes) so we just nodded at whatever the lady said to us. We were instantly served with fresh onion, green salads smothered in a peppery sauce and, garlic cubed into a sugar/salt and soybean sauce and large leaves in which to wrap our BBQ delights in. We were also kitted out in sexy floral aprons…

The owner, a joking but no-nonsense local, quickly scissored our meat (at this point we still didn’t know what it was) onto a BBQ and grilled it herself. I actually want to cry in anguish that this meal isn’t in front of me right now. The meat, which we assume was pork, was marinated in pungent garlic and charred perfectly that it took on a smokey, sweet taste. After the first round of meat went down quickly, she broke out another piece to our delight!

Shinsegae is the world’s biggest department store, located in Busan. And it really is blimmen ginormous! It was filled with amazing clothes and skin care and accesories - you name it.

But what surprised us most was the food. The lower levels of the building are dominated by the best food halls I have ever seen in my life. Everything from delicate Italian pastries through to the most traditional of Korean cuisine, it’s there. As soon as we saw the modern and manicured food areas with pristinely suited chefs, we instantly thought, ‘This is gunna cost us.’

There was so much choice we simple both headed in separate directions and ordered whatever first came into sight. For Andy that was a sushi platter with udon soup. And for me, the old trusty octopus Bi Bim Bap. As you can see the portions were literally huge and the food was miraculous. We paid a cool $4 for each of these beauties - I LOVE KOREA. 

Andrew tracked down one of Seoul’s must-have treats. 

Goong Restaurant (30 - 11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul) specialises in North Korean style dumplings (Mandu). The owner of this homely joint is a 70-something gem of a lady who has been making mandu all her life. 

We ordered two house specials, Mandu Guk Su (dumpling soup). The dumpling skins are paper thin and the filling was meaty spiked with scallions. Dipped in a mild soy sauce they were so, well, beautiful!

The soup was mildly fragrant to balance against the mandu and scattered with thinly sliced rice cakes which are so plain but moreish. And with a satisfyingly squeaky and thick bite. 

No matter how hard we tried, the local eatery (frequented mostly by well-dressed retirees) could not be beaten. At any time of the day, if one of us had a craving - this was the place to fill it.  

The proprietor got to know us and we’d always exchange awkward English and Korean words - but he was always so attentive and made sure we were taken care of. And even mixing my Bi Bim one day when I wasn’t doing it right!

This is a delicate beef bone soup heavy with lean meat. And a beef-mince Bi Bim Bap, filled with fresh rocket and ribbons of seaweed. 

Andrew planned a wonder up to one of Seoul’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods - Samcheong-dong. Filled with ornate but far from gaudy traditional Korean homes. The majority of the houses also had kim-chi jars peeping down from the roof, fermenting away in spicy juices. Yum!

This was also the site of the trip’s most costly tea. But the place was gorgeous, the service impeccable and the fact that Seoul turned on the clearest, most stunning day made it worth it and more.