In search of Korean food

One of the things I'm finding about being here in London is that I reaaaaally miss Korean food (I know! Who would have thought it??). It's probably more just the idea of a home-cooked meal that I miss, since I've basically been living on yogurt, granola bars, and fruit so far, along with the occasional microwave meal or takeaway. Anyway, today my friend Eelin said she'd show me where the Korean markets were, and also where I could find Korean food.

Rode the Tube to Tottenham Court Road, which is the nearest epicentre of Korean habitation here in London (apparently there's a Koreatown of sorts at New Malden too, but that's not really very central). We slipped down a side street and, lo and behold, Korean restaurants, Korean hairdressers, and a Korean supermarket! We perused the menus of the three restaurants on the strip before settling on one called "The Polo" (?? why? No idea!) and walking in.

It was sort of amusing because the Korean owners/workers seemed to automatically assume I didn't speak any Korean and so spoke to me in English. When we went to order, I startled the waiter into laughter by speaking Korean - I think he had assumed that since I was speaking in English to Eelin, I was Chinese or something else.

Had a yummy lunch of soondooboo chigae and then headed over to the market nearby to take a look around and pick up some groceries. I was pleased to see they had lots of prepackaged banchan (in case I ever decide I want a real Korean meal at home, I can just go buy it at the store rather than make it myself), as well as a large assortment of snacks and the rest. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have any gamja kkang, but I picked up the next best thing along with some essentials anyway ;).

Eelin showed me another Korean market up the road as well that, while smaller, carries ice cream :D. They had Melona and the red bean ice bars but, better than either of those, they had these:


Yum!!!