Best of Seoul: 달식탁 [Dal Ssik Tak] in Sinsa
The day before my conference I met up with a friend from college and he suggested we eat at 달식탁 [Dal SSik Tak] since he heard many good things about the restaurant. We agreed to meet at the Sinsa station, which is a short walk away from the restaurant. Sinsa is located south of the Han River, which made it convenient for me because I had a pre-conference dinner at attend by the Seoul National University campus. I also haven’t eaten that much at the more upscale Korean cuisine restaurants because I’ve been mostly traveling on my own, so this was a great opportunity to try more traditional Korean cuisine.
We met up for lunch and the restaurant was completely empty, which was very nice and a little surprising! The interior of the restaurant has some really interesting decor (for outside decor, here are some pictures). There’s nothing like eating next to a giant horse statue in the middle of the room.
I love the chandeliers – they look like little bubbles of caviar! Yum~
The walls also functioned as a art exhibit for Lee Jae-Hyo, who created these awesome canvases from bolts, nails, and wood. Even though the sign said “do not touch,” it is so hard to resist especially when a neat design is sitting right in front of your face!
But now onto the food…we ordered the set meal which came with a soup/stew course, a shared entree course, and tea. I don’t remember the price, but I think it was around 48000 won for two people (~$48 USD) including dessert, which we also ordered.
My friend ordered Doenjang Jjigae, soybean paste stew. (And he’s also taking a picture of it too.)
I don’t remember the name of the soup, but it wasn’t a kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew). I think it was a gochu (spicy pepper) stew.
The stew that I had was one of the best stews I’ve tasted! My friend said that he heard that all of their gochujang and doenjang are freshly made and shipped from the southern part of Korea to this restaurant every morning, which is probably why this stew tasted so good.
For our banchan, we received a lot of fresh vegetables and my favorite, honey potatoes.
We also received (from clockwise) kimchi, kelp chips, dried anchovies, and dollops of those fresh doenjang and gochujang. I was almost tempted to eat both of those sauces on those own – once I dipped and tried a little, I wanted to continue eating them all! The gochujang especially had a great depth of flavor and I could just imagine eating it out of one of those traditional jars…I wish I could find out more about how they make their sauces, but that would have to be for a time when I learn more Korean.
As for the meat, it doesn’t really look that impressive, but this was the best beef I have ever tasted. The delicate little strips were sliced sashimi-thin and eaten together with the chives and lettuce, there was a perfect melding of flavors and textures. The beef also had an intensely smoky, charred, and grilled flavor that I wasn’t expecting just from looking at it. Dipping the beef into the doenjang and gochujang sauces was heavenly as well. When I think back on my trip, this dish is one that I can still remember as a “perfect bite.”
Our tea course – I had the green tea. It wasn’t anything special but it was comforting and soothing to drink after eating a lot of meat!
We debated whether or not to get dessert here or elsewhere, but we decided to try the dessert here. I’m so glad we did because this dish is probably the best dessert I have ever eaten in my life and I am not exaggerating – as good as the beef was, this persimmon sorbet is what makes 달식탁 [Dal Ssik Tak] the best restaurant I’ve been to in Seoul.
The sorbet is thick and tasted almost like a persimmon puree. I’ve never had this strong of a persimmon flavor before and it tasted so fresh! The sorbet is sprinkled with walnuts and pecans and topped with some candied persimmon. Even though I was sharing with someone, I was super tempted to wrestle this bowl away and eat it all myself. Good thing the portion is pretty big! I like to think that I had a Ratatouille moment with this dessert – it was the perfect evocation of summer in Seoul and it reminded me of eating persimmon with my grandparents in their kitchen. I could continue to swoon on and on…
Big thanks to my friend for introducing me to 달식탁 [Dal Ssik Tak]! I definitely have to come back to try this restaurant again! And if I have time, I definitely want to go shopping here as well – there are so many cute stores on the main stretch of road and there’s also a Forever 21 here as well!
This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
1Sweet internet site, super layout, real clean and apply genial.
2I went over this internet site and I conceive you have a lot of wonderful info, saved to bookmarks (:.
3Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read something like this before. So good to search out somebody with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this website is something that is needed on the net, somebody with somewhat originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the web!
4Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it
5I like this web site very much, Its a really nice position to read and find info . “No one wants advice — only corroboration.” by John Steinbeck.
6I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
7Wow, wonderful blog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The whole look of your site is excellent, as neatly as the content!
8Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. With thanks
9Wohh just what I was looking for, thankyou for putting up.
10Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with almost all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this .
11Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
12I visited a lot of website but I believe this one has something extra in it in it
13I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are wonderful! Thanks!
14Definitely, what a fantastic blog and informative posts, I will bookmark your website.Have an awsome day!
15Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
16Merely wanna remark on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the written content is very superb : D.
17Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any helpful hints for inexperienced blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
18Absolutely composed content, Really enjoyed looking at.
19I think you have mentioned some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
20You are my inhalation, I possess few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand.
21Hello there, I discovered your website via Google whilst looking for a comparable subject, your site came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
22What i do not understood is actually how you’re no longer actually a lot more smartly-appreciated than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize thus considerably in the case of this matter, made me individually imagine it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved until it is something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs nice. All the time care for it up!
23Discover how SBLC and Bank Guarantee monetization works in trade finance, including liquidity access, structured funding, risk management, and global trade financing solutions.
24Discover how SBLC and Bank Guarantee monetization works in trade finance, including liquidity access, structured funding, risk management, and global trade financing solutions.
25Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I in finding It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to provide something back and help others such as you helped me.
26Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
27I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
28Perfectly written written content, Really enjoyed looking at.
29certainly like your web site but you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality however I’ll certainly come again again.
30Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!
31This web site is known as a stroll-by for all the data you needed about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll positively discover it.
32I am now not sure the place you are getting your info, but good topic. I must spend a while learning much more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic information I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.
33Very interesting subject , thanks for posting.
34Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last phase 🙂 I deal with such information much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thanks and good luck.
35I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
36Can I just say what a relief to find somebody who truly is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know how one can bring a difficulty to light and make it important. Extra people must read this and perceive this side of the story. I cant imagine youre not more in style because you definitely have the gift.
37I enjoy you because of every one of your work on this web page. My daughter really loves going through investigation and it is obvious why. My partner and i hear all of the lively tactic you present important guidance via the blog and even foster participation from other ones on this idea so our simple princess is without question being taught a lot. Have fun with the rest of the year. Your doing a very good job.
38I used to be very happy to seek out this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
39Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
40This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
41you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
42Thank you for another informative site. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect approach? I have a challenge that I am just now running on, and I have been at the glance out for such info.
43I just couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts
44I am constantly looking online for articles that can facilitate me. Thanks!
45I am not real great with English but I come up this real easygoing to translate.
46I saw a lot of website but I believe this one holds something special in it in it
47Wow! Thank you! I permanently needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I include a portion of your post to my website?
48Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this .
49My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
50