Here’s a continuation of our observations of drinking in Korea. So the question is: Where can I get a drink? And the answer is: Everywhere. Remember, this is Korea. So I’ll list down a couple of places we did drink at and what we consumed.

Soju being measured out in a shotglass before pouring into the beer

Restaurants: Have a meal with your drink – its the accepted way. At the Fish & Grill chain, we ate pork stews and hotpots. Not sure if we saw any fish on the menu – we also don’t read Korean. Yet. We drank Korean beer Max and poured soju in, for a mixed drink effect. Many people do it – judging from the paired bottles of beer and soju seen on most tables.

Dongdongju

At Insadong, the street where tourist can experience lots of traditional craft and food, we had lunch at a traditional restaurant. There, apart from having one of the best meals in Korea, we had our first taste of dongdongju, a traditional (that’s the 3rd time I used this word in this paragraph) alcoholic beverage. It looks a lot like milk but taste nothing like it. Served from an earthen jar via a scoop, dongdongju is strangely easy to drink and addictive. It almosts tastes fizzy on your tongue and has a slightly sweet and tart flavour.

Sidewalk fare: Now here’s an intersting concept that can be found all over Korea – Chicken & Beer shops. Usually fried, these small restaurants or sometimes hole-in-the-wall outlets (not unlike fish n chips shops) serve up freshly fried chicken and you get to order beer cheaply to accompany the artery-cloggin fare.

The chicken

Good for a late night take out if you don’t want to splurge on room service. I will confirm that the chicken is delicious. BTW, beer is also somtimes referred to as ‘hof’.

Chicken from a different Chicken & Hof outlet. As good as it looks.

My Korean friend Jerry explained that its a variation of the word ‘hops’.

A typical Chicken & Beer outlet

I would also consider the plethora of convenience stores in Seoul goodplaces to get a drink fix. They carry all the Korean beer selections like Hite, Max, Cass and OB (all taste like clean lager, similar un-full bodied) as well as the more common international selection of RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages. And of course soju in all flavours and packaging, for your convenience.

Selection of Korean beers

Small international selection.

Cups of plain ice sold. So you can pour in your own beverage of choice. Smart. You don't have to steal ice and cups from the Slurpee machine anymore.

Tentbars: These are literally tents set up on small sideroads and pavements during the colder months for the sole purpose of bringing late night nourishment and refreshment after a long nite of shopping or afterhours drinks. The tents stave off the cold, biting wind while hot food is prepared on the back of a van which also serves as one of the sides of the structure. Makeshift tables and stools complete the outfit. Not unlike a mini frontline mess hall during army training.

Tent bar operators preparing food. Notice the paper cups on the table - what do you suppose it contains? Hint: its not tea.

Next post: I’ll really talk about Jeju (micro)Brewery next post. And more interesting drinking places and practices in Korea.