Hangul

English Phonetics

Description

알탕

al-tang

Fish egg soup.  Big torpedoes of pollack spawn, chunks of fish, bean sprouts, veggies and gochu.  Remarkably tasty but a very unique texture to the fish eggs.  Lunch or snack time over a beer.

추어탕

chu oh-tang

I've tried to love this soup, I really have.  And some days I succeed in liking it, especially in the winter months.  Ostensibly good for health, it takes a unique person with a strong palate to put back this unique dish with a smile.  Take few hand fulls of loach, (a brownish green eel-looking bottom feeder,before you ask) toss it in a blender or grinder, boil it up, addtwenjang, cabbage, black pepper and prepare yourself to love it or hate it.  

닭도리탕

dalkdori-tang

Again, one of those that falls in the gray between soup and stew, this is more of a stew of spicy chicken with potatoes and other veggies.

홍합탕

honghap-tang

Very light and simple but deeply refreshing clear soup/broth of mussels, made with a a few slices of gochu, garlic and green onion and a pinch of seasoning only.   

갈비탕

kalbi-tang

Remember our article on Korean barbecue meat?  This soup is made with kalbi, scallion and garlic and is incredibly filling.

Try Hanuso, Hanilkwan or Bakdaegamne for a bowl of Kalbi-tang.

감자탕

kamja-tang

This always throws me off--kamja tang ("potato soup") is as thick as any stew I know of, yet it still resides in the soup/stew purgatory.  Big hunks of boiled potato,  pork vertebrae surrounded by pieces of falling-from-the-bone roasted meat (I've had it with chicken and plenty of bones), and the rest of the usual suspects:  garlic, hot pepper and scallion.  Is spicy hot, so for lunch have a tall, cold glass of water handy, and for dinner get that frosty mug ready for your sizzling lips.

Try Sinmi Sikdang in Abgujeong, if you'd like to give this dish a try.

매운탕

maeyun-tang

Literally, "spicy soup," this soup is the soup to make you sweat.  Made of fish, a lot of spicy gochu, veggies, including daikon, bean sprouts and green onion.  Not to be trifled with. Typically served at Japanese/Korean restaurants as part of a set menu.

Try One Daegutang if you're in Yongsan.

삼계탕

samgye-tang

My favorite Korean dish.  Think chicken soup and rice.  Now add Chinese herbs, garlic, ginseng, ginger and jujube and make the rice sticky.  Koreans love it in summer, but when you feel the flu or a cold coming on while in the brutal winter months, I strongly recommend a big bowl to get your immune system back up.   Add salt, green onion and kimchi (!) to taste.

Try Yeongyang Center (Nutrition Center) for an energetic meal that's good for your body.

설렁탕 /

곰탕

solleung-tang /

gom-tang

Usually very reasonably priced, this soup is made from ox bones (selleung-tang) or parts (gom-tang) and served in a white, cloudy soup with slices of beef, green onion and clear noodles.   Recommended to add the pepper and green onions that come with the dish and to go to a restaurant that specializes only in seolleungtang, whether for lunch or dinner.

Try Hadonggwan in downtown for an authentic taste.

보신탕

bosin-tang

Dog meat soup, also known as 멍멍 (mong-mong).  Not passing judgment, just listing it.  Rumored to have strong "night time health" effects on males,  yet to be proven.