홍대 Hungover creations~

     홍대 is back, and in full force. Ugh~ devilish chocolate bar!!
There are always a few things that hit my mind faster than a shot of soju, 홍대 is: lots of dancing, lots of drinking, lots of laughing, and some sort of hangover. It's not always guaranteed that all of these things will happen, but being prepared for at least 80% is a smart thing to do.
     The past few weekends have granted me a "next morning" glory of groggy cooking, simple (or uncomfortably complex) head-healing noms. Here's nearly everything~ (I'm still stuck cooking with my eyes...ugh the repeated meals~)

green pea and chickpea white pepper hummus, whole grain mustard, smoked tempeh, sprouts, spinach, lettuce, and cucumber on balsamic toasted foccacia (from The Baker's Table)~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

red lentil, green pea, and torn tofu dahl~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

spicy cheezy (nutritional yeast) ramen, loaded with broccoli, carrots, and garlic along with chick'n style tofu~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

the best "pick-me-up" tea~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

premix 콩나물비빔밥 (soybean sprout bibim bap)~ photo taken by VeganBeats

post mix  콩나물비빔밥~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)  

     And the best cure for any 홍대 hangover (whether from too much fun, dancing legs shake, sleep deprivation, eye spoilings, etc.) kick it with your friends, spend the day laughing in bed, snuggle up~ 

본죽&비빔밥cafe (Bonjuk Bibimbap: Well-being Rice Cafe)

     About a week ago I read an article on Cnngo about Seoul's 5 best bibimbap places and one of them is a chain called Bon Bibimbap. There are over 126 branches all over the country and there are even some located in the US, Japan, and China. There's a place near my house that I had mistaken for being Bon Bibimbap! I checked the place out today to discover that it is 본죽&비빔밥cafe (Bonjuk Bibimbap: Well-being Rice Cafe). The plate design is the same, so maybe they're affiliated?
     Anyways, the menu is decent and offers the classic 비빔밥 dishes, from the meat loving crews to raw preferred me! They specialize more on the 죽 (juk), a palatable soft rice stew consisting of veggies and other ingredients. You can get shrimp juk, veggie and cheese juk, veggie, etc. The 비빔밥 selection is varied, they offer tuna, pork 김치, 도토리밥 (dotori bibimbap!), boiled vegetable, and raw veggies. I went in hopes of some dotori, but they were out so I went with the 야채. The place was really packed so I decided to go with take out...not as pretty, and I'm thinking not as tasty.

야채비빔밥~ measly veggies (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     They weren't very generous with the veggies. There were the classics involved though, shredded carrots, sprouts, cucumber, chives, purple cabbage, and green cabbage (I can't take anymore of it). The rice they spooned on the side had small yellow beans in it, which was cute, but...not a rice girl. I wish they had a brown rice option. Considering they were a bit busy, there were a lot of people working the counter and kitchen. It took much longer than planned to get this thing packaged up and on the go, I waited for over 20 minutes. People coming in after me were served first.

post mix (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The 야채뱌뱜밥 came out to 6,000W (about $5.20). This would have been reasonable if there were more veggies. When I got home I threw in some more greens and steamed soft tofu...rice I can't eat very much of (if any) but for sustenance I threw in a spoon of it. The flavor was lacking, it was pretty boring. I added more 고추장 and was still disappointed. I didn't finish this...I won't be back. The wait was too long, the quality lacking...but for something cheap, this is more than affordable. Nothing is more expensive than 7,000W. 

Location: 서울특별시 서초구 서초동 1572-15. (Seoul Teuk Byeolsi, Seocho gu, Seocho dong 1572-15)

Directions: Seoul National University of Education system (line 2 and 3) go out of exit 9. Walk straight for 3 minutes, take your second Right, it'll be on the corner diagonal from a 7eleven. 

Phone #:02-525-2909

Website: http://www.bonjuk.co.kr/bj_intro_07.asp (in Korean)

서울특별시 서초구 서초동 1572-15

sweetness,비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국

Lots of cooking...and haven't been posting any of it...ㅜ_ㅜ all of the following I have made, except the first one!!

sweet pumpkin and sweet sweet potatote with raisins, pumpkin seeds, and banana chips! I got this at Lotte one day...so cute, super pretty, 5,900W eeep
photo taken by VeganBeats

I had a ton of veggies lying around, screaming "새희 eat me!!" so I listened and made some 비빔면 which is basically 비빔밥 but with noodles instead.

비빔면
photo taken by VeganBeats

자장면 you see noodles but at the bottom, below this mess are carrot noodles I made ^^*~
photo taken by VeganBeats

 I have a new produce place I go to, near my work, the nyung hyup (녕협) and I've made some kind of friendship with one of the guys there, he hooked me up with 콩나물! My intention was to make 콩나물비빔밥 but of course...all my sad veggies were wanting to participate too....so this became a feast of 비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국!!

비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국
photo taken by VeganBeats

,,,,

김밥 천 국 중계점 (kim bop chun kuk)

So there's this 김밥 place across the street from my place that is (!!!!!) 24 hours, and on my super early wanderings home, I've found myself here getting some cheap eats that are with fresh veggies, Great portions, and a personal staff....they are called 김밥천국중계점 (kim bap chun kuk) I think there are several, but the one by me is full of great people and yummy fresh ingredients!!

I tend to go with the easy staple for every vegan in Korea, 야챼비빔밥, vegetable bibimbap, niente on the egg....

look at all the veggies! yummm~pre-mix
photo taken by VeganBeats

post mix
photo taken by VeganBeats

Everything is very well priced, this HUGE portion is 4,000W (about 3.75 US) and more than filling.
Early mornings or late nights seem to favor this place....

to Get here, it is a tad complicated, but the one in Jungyye, get out exit 2 from Jungyye station, take the bus 1135 to Eunhangsaagudee, it's across the crosswalk from KB bank, and across from Dunkin Donuts*!~

They have all sorts of stuff too*!~