Ssambap: Korean Lettuce Wrap. Ssam literally means "wrap" and bap means "rice"; which you might be already familiar with from bibimbap and kimbap. Of all the wonderful foods and cuisines Korea has to offer, I would say ssambap is one of the healthiest. It's a great chance for you to increase your vegetable intake - something I've heard plenty of foreigners complain about in Korea. True, salads aren't always available in Korea, but there are still ways to find and eat fresh, green veggies.
This place is located about 5 minutes away from our Seocho branch. Go straight down Nambu Terminal station exit 5, turn left at the big crossroads and immediately make another left. Name of the restaurant is Shigoljip (시골집) which means "country house."
The place was already packed with people during lunchtime. We had to wait outside for a few minutes to take our seats.
The prices here are quite reasonable: 8,000 KRW for a basic meal. We ordered the first one, jeyuk ssambap, the spicy pork menu. The priciest menu, at 15,000 KRW which still isn't all that bad, includes grilled fish, beef, and dotorimuk (acorn jelly).
The table is first set with a basket full of fresh vegetables. Just look at how green and refreshing it is! I don't even know the names of half the leaves I see.
Ssamjang is a mixed paste that is used to accompany lettuce wraps. Think of it as a gunky, sort-of spicy, sauce.
Of course, rice and side dishes can never be left out in a Korean meal. These acted as our appetizers while we waited for our main dish, the pork.
Koreans also need their soups to accompany the rice. Bean paste soup is a staple Korean dish - the scent may take some getting used to, but there is nothing like doenjangjjigae to heartily fill you up and remind you of you of home. It's the dish that is common in every Korean household, the soup that is frequently present in a home-cooked meal.
And alas, our pork is out! We need to cook it for about 5 minutes, on the gas stove which is built into every table. How convenient are Korean restaurants? You get to eat right out of the pan, right when the food is just cooked and steaming hot!
Steaming, savory, spicy deliciousness right there. I just ate this 2 hours ago, and I'm super full, but my mouth is watering again. Now it's time to EAT!
So you take a leaf of any kind of vegetable from the basket and hold it in your palm. Then you place in a small spoonful of rice, along with your meat and sauce, and any other toppings you want to include (like peppers or garlic). If you're familiar at all with this kind of Korean food, you will know that the key is wrap it up in the lettuce leaf and eat everything in one bite. That's just how it's done. You don't bite half of it and hold the rest in your fingers. It'll get messy. It just doesn't work. That being said, you need to include only as much as you can chew in one bite. Not too little though, or all you'll taste is lettuce!
After devouring everything on the table, you're normally left with a craving for something warm and sweet. Something to balance out the fresh greens and spicy pork. The solution?
Instant mixed coffee! Just press the button and out comes a small paper cup with coffee, milk and sugar. It's not the healthy type of coffee, but it is the perfect step to complete your Korean meal.
Ssambap is a healthy and delicious meal that can just as easily be made at home. You can substitute the pork with anything you want in the world; another favorite of mine happens to be canned tuna! Use your imagination; all you need after that is your main dish, rice, and fresh vegetables. Kimchi and soup is an added bonus. :)
Anyway! That was a great lunch. I will definitely be returning to this place again soon.
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