I toyed with the idea of trying blowfish in Busan, but chickened out. On a hungry afternoon in Seoul, we headed to a highly-recommended fugu specialty restaurant for a lunch set-meal. I didn’t get any photos of a couple dishes because I imagined a numb sensation on my mouth and impending paralysis/death. Of course, it was false alarm and the fugu was especially delicious breaded + deep-fried.
Fugu soup with crunchy bean-sprouts
** A quick update in April 2014: The fugu restaurant is called Il-Bok and it’s conveniently located in Seoul’s Hongdae Area, between the Hongik University station and the Hapjeong station. They have English and Japanese translations for the set menu items at the restaurant, and you can see the main chef prepare your fish to order. I hear you can get blowfish katsu here!
Address for Il-Bok: 33, Hongik-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea (Google Map)
I spent a good part of my afternoon walking off the fugu meal around Insadong, drinking tea and visiting shops.
A cozy cafe on the rooftop of ssamziegil with handwritten notes left by people
Green-tea bingsoo (shaved ice with a scoop of green tea ice cream + mini rice cakes and shaved almonds)
A Korean temple restaurant where we had 20+ plates of vegetarian food
I loved the scallion and enoki mushroom salad paired with the fried veggies
Plenty of mountain vegetables!
Fluffy tea snacks and cold cinnamon tea
Project Fukushima! is an initiative to raise awareness through a sychronized festival held in Fukushima and around the world. Yogiga Gallery in Seoul hosted the event, where Taurin was invited to perform alongside Korean and Japanese artists.
Taurin’s set involved live recordings of salt and water to create ambient noise.
Rie Tahiti flew in from Japan. P.S. You can spot me taking photos in the darkness!
And just like that, I’ve left Korea. I’m in a brand new city where I don’t know anyone, but I’ve found a perfect two-story apartment with a spiral staircase and a cozy windowseat. More about that later this weekend!
35 Comments
ZEOLITE
August 19, 2011 at 9:13 pmhahahha, the blowfish placebo effect. I’m glad you survived! Also can’t wait to see photos of your spiral staircase!
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 2:46 amI kept asking Taurin if he was feeling it, too. And yesss, I’m moving in today! :]
Vanessa, Take only Memories
August 19, 2011 at 9:54 pmLooks like you had a fantastic time! Those fish are awesome!
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 2:47 amThank you! I know I felt a little guilty about eating those puffy fish… 😛
Crystal
August 20, 2011 at 2:02 amGreat pictures and stories to go along with them! I’ve gone back through past posts and am so happy to have found your blog! I’m incredibly jealous of your adventures but I love reading about them and seeing the pictures!
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 2:49 amThank you! xx
Sarah
August 20, 2011 at 3:28 amLooks like you went to Sanchon!
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 7:14 amYeah! I got a little lost getting there because of the rain and all those winding alleyways. A nice lady at the flower shop gave me really good directions. :]
Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys
August 20, 2011 at 4:24 amThese are such great pictures Sewon, they give me a real feel for the place. The new apartment sounds amazing though… hope there’ll be pictures of that soon too! I love windowseats. ; )
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 7:16 amThank you! I’m moving in today, so hopefully I’ll get settled in quickly. I’m really excited to not live out of my suitcase anymore!
Celsy
August 20, 2011 at 5:35 amW00t blowfish, never had one! I’m a huge fan of korean food, i live close to a korean restaurant actually! haha yumm. Your adventure is so exciting, makes me want to go on a journey right now. That cafe is amazing and your apartment sound real good. I’m sure by the time i see the post, i would want to move out form my place!
Sewon
August 20, 2011 at 7:19 amOhh I think I’ll be living fairly close to a Korean restaurant here, too. I’m sure I’ll want a kimchi fix at some point! :]
Annie
August 20, 2011 at 8:37 amI’m finding myself drooling, again, at all your pictures of food. I’m loving being able to follow your adventures 🙂
annie | WEMAKEPLANS
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:55 pmThank you! I’m in Yunnan now…I can’t wait to travel around this area and see those water buffalos!
Maria
August 20, 2011 at 11:10 amalways love your photos.
can’t wait to see your new apartment!
have a wonderful weekend.
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:55 pmThank you! I’ll have to finish unpacking my things so I can post photos soon!
yujean
August 21, 2011 at 2:10 pmohhh everything looks amazing!
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:56 pm:]
STARR
August 21, 2011 at 10:10 pmdefinitely somthing I want to try one day!
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:56 pmYou should, but only ones prepared by master fugu chefs!
vicky
August 22, 2011 at 4:26 pmoh your adventures sound/look just so brilliant. wish i could have heard one of taurin’s shows! and tried togu! even though it sounds/looks lethal! haha. xx vicky
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:58 pmThanks! I think you’d really like Seoul. I’m loving your festival photos, by the way!
Rina
August 23, 2011 at 5:55 amWhat a fun story! If I get the chance, maybe I’ll try blowfish…
yummy food!!!
Ms. Sewon you are so pretty! Your facial expression is so cute!!
Project Fukushima looks fun. I think I do see you in the video! haha
Looking forward to seeing some pictures of your new apartment!
Happy moving!
xoxo
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 4:59 pmHaha, thank you! I know I’m in the darkness trying to take photos discretely, as usual. :] xx
catarina
August 23, 2011 at 1:38 pmhow i wish i’d been there. would you send me some green-tea bingsoo?
Sewon
August 23, 2011 at 5:00 pmYes! I wish I could somehow send you a bowl of green-tea bingsoo. It’s sooo delicious.
Eileen
August 23, 2011 at 6:08 pmYou make me want to visit South Korea. Amazing.
I do agree: You have the cutest expression.
Paolina
August 24, 2011 at 2:21 amit looks like your having a lot of fun. you do so many cool things
Paolina
check me out!
calurvillade.blogspot.com.
Ashley
August 25, 2011 at 3:11 amGosh you take the best photos. Also, re: fugu–you’re so brave! I’m too much of a baby to try stuff like that but I do believe you when you say that it was delicious 🙂
Amelia
August 25, 2011 at 1:26 pmSo much deliciousness in one post!
I like your hair ribbon, it’s very cute!
Good luck wherever you are!
Cin
February 15, 2013 at 6:28 pmFugu!! We’re going to be in Seoul late april. Could you tell me what the name of the Fugu place is? Where in Insadong? Thanks so much!!
Sewon
February 16, 2013 at 2:20 amHi Cin, the Fugu place was not in Insadong, actually. It’s called Il-bok (http://www.ilbok.com/). They have blowfish set-menu courses you can choose from, and you can see the main chef handling the blowfish once you place the order.
Cin
February 18, 2013 at 1:48 pmMorning Sewon!
Ah I see! I think the one I saw on Bizarre Foods was of a place on Insadong (but can’t tell for sure since I can’t read Korean). I just wanted to go there because it has been in business for 6 generations, so I can rest assure that they know what they’re doing =)
Thank you for the link. Im not sure if it’s a glitch in my computer, but it’s not translating the website….so I can’t tell where the location is/which neighborhood,etc.
Alll i can understand is the prices listed, but not what dishes it’s for. Lol!
Any other suggestions is helpful. I’m going to be staying in Itaewon, but planning on going to a different neighborhood every day. I wish Seoul had Yelp! It would be so much easier to look things up, lol
Sewon
April 14, 2014 at 10:42 pmHi Cin,
I’m so sorry this is a belated reply, but I wanted to add it, in case anyone else is looking for the same information!
The fugu restaurant is called Il-Bok and it’s conveniently located in Seoul’s Hongdae Area, between the Hongik University station and the Hapjeong station. They have English and Japanese translations for the set menu items at the restaurant, so it shouldn’t be too difficult!
Address for Il-Bok: 33, Hongik-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea (Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/nvaQ0)
BlowFish SEO
June 5, 2016 at 5:45 amI came across this post while I was looking for my site really great pictures and stories to go along with them!I am so happy to have found your blog! I’m excited to see your adventures and like reading about them and seeing the pictures