Admittedly, this post is a bit random, as there’s little to connect sundae in Yongsan, watching the fountain of the Banpo Bridge and bibim guksu by my home in Itaewon other than I either consumed or visited said foods/sites this weekend.
Musuri Sundae, Yongsan
OK, so on Saturday, I had a craving for sundae, so we headed to Musuri Sundae, a place we discovered in an alley near Namyeong Station. It’s a stone’s throw from the western wall of US Army Garrison-Yongsan — not that I would ever encourage readers to throw stones at US military facilities — so if you’re reading this at said garrison, it’s probably within walking distance of Gate Number I-Have-No-Idea-So-Look-at-the-Map-Below.
No, this isn’t the restaurant. Rather, it’s a rather good example of Japanese colonial architecture, or which there’s plenty in this neighborhood of Yongsan.
This, however, is the restaurant. We found it one day exploring the back alleys here for haejangguk, and were impressed by the quality of sundae. And yes, as you can tell by the tell-tale woodwork on the roof, this place, too, was built by the Japanese in the colonial era.
Hmmm… sundae. Interestingly, I think my first-ever post as a blogger — back when I was in Gwangju in 2003 — involved photos of sundae. It appears I’ve come full circle.
Sundae, as you know, is Korean blood sausage: cow or pig intestines are filled with noodles, veggies, barley and pork blood, and then steamed or boiled. The white ones here — well, the not-red/purple ones — are “veggie” sundae prepared without the blood.
This is sundae gukbap — sundae and meat cooked in a soup, with a bowl of rice dumped in. Wonderful stuff, especially in the early morning hours after you’ve had a few drinks.
More Info
T. (02) 798-8308
Getting There: A short walk from Exit 1 of Namyeong Station, Line 1. See map below.
Banpo Bridge & Moonlight Rainbow Fountain
If you like to mix your bridges and fountains, you’re in luck.
As far as I know, the Guinness Book of Records still lists the Banpo Bridge’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain as the longest bridge fountain in the world. I had no idea such a category existed, but it apparently it does, and the Banpo Bridge — at 1,140 meters — is its king.
You can take in the fountain day or night, but night is much better — it runs at 8 and 9pm on weekdays and every hour from 7pm on weekends.
Not sure what the deal was with the fireworks — might have been a one-off thing.
Getting There
It’s a 5—10 minute walk from Exit 8, Express Bus Terminal Station, Line 3.
Itaewon Myeolchi Guksu
Now, just around the corner from my home — in fact, just to the right of the overpass from which that first photo was shot — is Itaewon Myeolchi Gugksu, a place I like to think of as a neighborhood gem. A yasikjeom — i.e., they specialize in nighttime eats — it’s a simple hole-in-the-wall that serves only noodle dishes… but what noodle dishes they are! I usually have the bibim guksu — cold wheat noodles with a spicy red pepper sauce. It’s a cheap summer favorite you can find in many noodle shops and bunsikjeom across Korea.
Incidentally, they deliver, which is nice if you live in the Gyeongnidan/Haebangchon area. Not sure what their delivery policy is, though.
More Info
T. (02) 790-4154
Map: Sundae, Banpo Bridge and a Good Noodle Shop
View Namyeong-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul in a larger map
oh god, b.guksu looks so good!
Oh God! The Namsan Sam-ho tunnel looks so good!
Robert, I live right by this place (in the building with the sauna), and have never been in it, and wouldn’t have discovered it without your blog! I’d be interested to know what other “neighbourhood gems” you enjoy around there. I always like your restaurant recommendations.
If the marker is accurate, the Sundae restaurant appears to be just outside of gate 8B, a walk-in gate for Camp Coiner. Since that gate has (very) limited hours, instead, you can take a right as you come out of Gate 1. It’s just around the corner — well within walking distance.
Also, I live very close to the Banpo bridge, having a clear view of it (and the fireworks show) right outside my main windows. It may just be a summertime thing, but just recently the fireworks have become a regular Saturday night thing. Been going on for maybe 4-6 weeks now, happens about 8 or 9pm, I think.
Freaks my dog out something fierce, though – and that’s getting old, fast. Kind of hoping they don’t go on much longer. I can hold out for the International Fireworks Festival.