Snack Foods

Recognize some brand names?


Frito Lay section of a convenience store.
Fanta Orange, and Pocari Sweat is a popular amino/Gatorade type of drink.

Nestle Quick!
If I remember this right, the Pringles were "Light Ranch" flavored.

Coke Light -- Diet Coke -- was a rare treat to find in Korea.
Elaborate Fanta can design.

Another great can design.
Meat and cheese on sticks. Also corn on the cob.

The two bags at left contain walnut cakes.
One of the bags has fresh-made walnut cakes.

This machine made the fresh cakes. Two halves automatically flip waffle-type batter over the fill-paste and bake.
An amazing number of microwave ovens in a convenience store to cook purchased food.

Family-style Korean Meals


More or less, the first thing I saw after leaving the subway station in Dong-dae-mun. I couldn't believe that I was actually in Seoul!
I joined some friends for dinner in one of the restaurants here. We walked back and forth weighing all the choices before deciding to have a traditional meal.

A few of the restaurants had additional choices to make.
Yes, truly fresh fish!
A traditional dinner has a hot coals or gas-fired cooking surface. Your server chops up your choice with scissors. Open areas in the cooking surface are frequently cleaned with a wet towel. This is different -- in the US we usually let charred material accumulate on a grill surface for additional flavor.

As the meat cooks, vegetables are added.
The full meal, with all of the choices.

I thought that was going to be the only Korean meal I had.

It turned out to be the first of many!

The next night the whole group dined at a "good restaurant" ...

This restaurant was even more family-style and traditional. Note the stocking feet and low tables.

At this restaurant they would change out the grill in addition to wiping the open areas with a wet towel to keep it clean.
Outside the restaurant on the third night.

Of all the meals, this was my absolute favorite! So many choices! So much good food to choose from!
Digging in! Our interpreter was very kind to walk around and explain the choices we were unfamiliar with.

Tater Tots!
My first of two plates.

Our third night restaurant.
Selections.

Additional items, ready on the table.
This time our meal came in a HOT stone bowl! Much like a Cesear salad, the components of the meal were separated. What you are supposed to do is mix it together, and the bowl heats it in the process.

Fast Food - Theme Park Food


Another Lotte brand.

I'm a huge fan of Lotteria! The food is fantastic!
Harwoo Bulgalbi, Bulgalbi, Hot Rib Sand, Tender Grill Chicken

Shrimp, Herb Porkcutlet, Squid, Chicken.

European Frico Cheese, Mega Big Paprika.
(W1000 is roughly $1.)
Some of the delicious sides.

I ate several of Lotteria Shrimp Cutlets. What a great sandwich!
Another Shrimp Cutlet, at Everland park. Note the black sesame seeds on the bun.

Some sides at a Chinese restaurant in Everland. A flat bread and honey-drenched corn fritters! The fritters were great!
Cafeteria meal at a Chinese restarant in Lotte World.

Shrimp stick at Everland. Awesome!
Peanut-cooked Squid at Lotte World. I'd give it another try, but I'd rather have another shrimp stick!

Corn came off the cob as whole kernels, rather than the sweet corn we know that has high water content. At Lotte World.
Some sort of omlet that was being prepared right in front of me, as I bought a thick cold cinnamon drink. At Lotte World.

An innovation I have not seen anywhere else. A soft drink is below, the fried food is in a smaller cup insert at the top. At Lotte World.
The only Burger King I saw. At Everland.

At Lotte World, in the mall levels. The only pizza I saw the whole time in Korea.
At Pizza Hut there!

You've heard of KFC? This was at Seoul Land.
Dunkin Donuts, at Seoul Land. The heart was both jelly and cream filled. The green donuts are a version of green tea cake.

Fries at Everland.
Pumpkin chips and a Mango soft drink from 7-Eleven. Shrimp burger and the equivalent of a McFlurry with strawberries, from Lotteria.

Vending Machines

Recognize some brand names?


Can coffee from Maxwell House.
Some local soft drink brands.

Gatorade.
Mountain Dew.

I didn't try the Milkis, but it reportedly tasted "purple".

Powerade.
This was a rice soft drink. The label showed rice floating at the top. Really, it was at the bottom and an unexpected texture.

An energy drink, Never Stop.
An amino drink

Confidence in a bottle and can.


There's a European folk tale not well-known in the USA about a donkey who poops gold coins. Parks outside the US commonly have it where you put in some coins, a mechanical donkey raises its tail, and you chase after a coin.


At Lotte World, a plastic coin contained a round gum drop that looked like the park's Racoon masket.


(This donkey poop was tasty!)

Miscellaneous


First I've seen of a hand dryer with a heat lamp!
Unique water fountain shape. Something like an upside-down faucet.


This sign above the fountain at right seems odd. What else would the fountain be?

Sign says: "This is clean water. Please feel free to drink."

Korean Air jets always have a cup holder in their seat back tables!

Onions on their way to market, as seen from the bus.
A rice field. The "castle" is German-themed hotel we stayed at in Kyungnam