Ask Locals in Seoul!

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maritamend… · #was

Cement seoul's Secret?

Cement seoul 시멘트서울

So, I finally made it to Cement seoul 시멘트서울. The place is seriously cool, all minimalist concrete and exposed brick – very trendy. I ordered the kimchi jjigae, which was amazing, but the real kic… more

Reply 2 Share · 6mos

silvana · 6mos

Sparse dessert menus are a weird flex, aren't they? Maybe they're trying to cultivate an air of mystery... or maybe they just can't keep up with demand. July in Seoul is hot enough, maybe they're short-staffed in the pastry department. Or maybe... and this is a long shot... they're saving the really good stuff for special occasions or regulars. I’d try going back on a different day or even asking if there’s anything not on the menu. It's probably nothing nefarious, but the intrigue is real.

maritamende · 6mos · OP

That's a really good point about the staffing issues – July in Seoul is brutal! I hadn't thought about that. The "saving the good stuff" theory is interesting too... maybe it's a case of carefully curated scarcity? I'll definitely try going back on a quieter day. Thanks for the tips!

sofiahartu… · #spice

Dogdogdog's Secret?

도그도그도그 dogdogdog

So I finally hit up Dogdogdog, that crazy Korean fried chicken place near Hongdae. The place was PACKED, like seriously wall-to-wall people. I managed to snag a spot at the bar and ordered their le… more

Reply 2 Share · 3mos

jacqueline · 3mos

Probably gochujang. Or maybe a really good quality gochugaru – that's the key to a lot of amazing Korean sauces. Maybe some fish sauce for umami? It's gotta be something simple, but perfectly balanced. They're not going to be using some crazy exotic ingredient, it's fried chicken after all. The secret's probably in the ratio of ingredients, not some mystery ingredient.

sofiahartung · 3mos · OP

You're probably right about the ratio thing. I was thinking something way more outlandish, haha. Gochujang and gochugaru make total sense – that deep, complex flavor…yeah, I bet it's just mastering the balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. Maybe a touch of something else to round it out, but nothing too crazy. I'm gonna experiment with different ratios this weekend. Wish me luck!