What’s on offer?
Seoul Kitchen launched its gazebo-style market stall in 2016 and now trades at three different markets. The menu is concise, offering the Korean specialities of bulgogi, marinated beef; dakgalbi, a spicy, stir-fried chicken; japchae, stir-fried glass noodles; and jars of home-made kimchi. The food is being prepped as we order and it has one of the largest queues at Merrion Square market in Dublin.
What did we order?
The half and half option of bulgogi and dakalbi, japchae and a jar of kimchi.
How was the service?
Very friendly and efficient, with the option to add hot sauce and crispy fried onions to the dishes. You get the sense that if you were unsure about what to order, you would get a clear explanation of what is in each dish.
Was the food nice?
The food is piping hot and very tasty. There is a jellyish, slightly chewy quality to the sweet potato glass noodles which are stir-fried in a savoury, slightly sweet sauce, with spring onions, bell peppers and cabbage and spice and texture from the hot sauce and crispy onions. The classic fermented, garlic flavours of the chilled kimchi which we’ve added on top bring an added dimension to the dish.
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The half and half is served with a large helping of nicely cooked white rice. The beef slices in the bulgogi have a slight sweetness and bit of heat from the sauce – a blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, pear, kiwi and black pepper – and is mixed with stir-fried cabbage and scallions. The chicken is a bit spicier, in a gochujang-based sauce with cabbage and carrots. Again, the addition of kimchi on top is really delicious and there is plenty left over to bring home.
What about the packaging?
All containers are cardboard, so recyclable when clean, and the wooden chopsticks are compostable. There is no recyclable or compostable bin at Merrion Square Market, though, just a general waste bin.
What did it cost?
€29.50 for lunch for two people: Half and half, €12; japchae, €11; and kimchi, €6.50.
Where does it deliver?
There is no delivery. Seoul Kitchen operates at the Merrion Square Market every Thursday, 11am-2pm; St Anne’s Park in Raheny, Saturday 10am-4pm; and Dún Laoghaire Market, Sunday, 11am-5pm.
Would I order it again?
Yes, this is delicious food and portions are generous. The vegetarian/vegan option is notably good.
