MOKPO, SOUTH KOREA: Mokpo is located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, connected by the High-Speed Rail from Seoul. For many, Mokpo might not be the first on the list for holidays or food. However, if you want to take a ferry to Jeju Island, Mokpo is the best embarkment point as it is only 4.5 hours away.
After travelling in Korea for more than two weeks, we weren't sure what new gems we could find here. So, we were pleasantly surprised that we could sample some of Mokpo's unique cuisines that we didn't know existed until now.
Here are the Top 4 food items we found and loved in Mokpo.
장터 본점
Seong Restaurant 성식당
Yudal Kongmul Bean Noodle
영란횟집
장터 본점
장터 본점 sells raw crab, both in the shell or deshelled. Each order is for two persons. Therefore, if you have three people in the group, you have to make the hard decision to order for two or for four. There is no way this will go wrong, and the dish consists of fresh raw crab, crab roe and unknown red sauce, which is slightly spicy. To eat it, get some of the crab mixtures, put it over the hot rice seasoned with sesame oil, and mix it. It is so simple yet delicious.
Address: 23 Yeongsan-ro 40beon-gil, Manho-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Seong Restaurant 성식당
Seong Restaurant 성식당 is a fabulous restaurant at Mokpo. When we first found this restaurant on the internet, we already told ourselves we had to give this place a try. We were so fascinated by the size and the bone-in Tteokgalbi. We cannot be more wrong when we arrived around 2 pm, thinking we would have missed the lunchtime crowd. Despite there was no queue outside, the restaurant was filled with diners who had made reservations. Lucky for us, the owner was kind enough to give us a table, but it meant we had to wait more than 20 mins for our food.
Seong Restaurant 성식당 specialities are Traditional Tteokgalbi Baekban (전통떡갈비백반) and Galbitang (갈비탕). It tasted as good as it looked. Their Tteokgalbi is different from the Tteokgalbi from Gyodong Tteokgalbi in JeonJu. At Seong Restaurant 성식당, they don't over mince the meat, giving the pattie a meaty bite. Go there with an empty stomach because the smokey patties are enormous.
Address: 8-3 Yeonghae-dong 1(il)-ga, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Yudal Kongmul Bean Noodle
Have you ever wondered how cold noodles and soya bean milk taste like? It's a summer treat in Korea, and it is not bad at all. At Mokpo, you add sugar into the noodles, and you will get this thick, sweet and savoury consistency. It's very refreshing and yet very filling. Give it a try if you have not.
Address: 11-5 Daean-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
영란횟집
A trip to Mokpo is not complete without going to Mineo Street for a full course Mineo meal. Mineo 민어 (croaker) is a local favourite. 영란횟집 started 50 years ago with the restaurant named after the daughter of the founder. The best time to eat Mineo is July/August period, but you get this most of the year.
A complete course Mineo Fish dinner at 영란횟집 includes raw slices with sesame oil, fermented beans, chilli and garlic. Also, fried fish coated with egg and have it with kimchi; Raw fish tossed in salad and finally, fish soup. I think they used the whole fish, and no part is wasted. So all the fish lovers should not miss this.
Address: 1-5 Manho-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
