Korean Tapas (반찬 Banchan) at 청수정 Cheongsujeong

Located in the Samcheongdong area of Seoul is 청수정 Cheongsujeong is a little traditional Korean restaurant. They specialize in 반찬 or Banchan. Strangely, most restaurants Korean restaurants will have another main dish as their forte, like for example – tofu, beef, chicken, or what have you.

Banchan are the little appetizer dishes, in which I would call Korean Tapas, that is presented and served before every Korean meal. Tapas are a Spanish style of dining involving small plates, appetizers, or snacks, accompanied with wine. Like Spanish style Tapas, Korean ones are also served hot or cold.

Usually you would only get served 4 or 5 Banchan dishes at a typical Korean restaurant, in Seoul or Los Angeles’ Koreatown or anywhere else. But at Cheongsujeong, we got around 20+ different ones. Our table got small really fast with all the different plates. We had all sorts of vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, egg, and fish plates. Some of my favorite ones was the fried lotus root dish. I have always like this vegetable, and even more so with the fried crunchy texture. The mushrooms were also quite good as well. I also really enjoyed the rice in which it was steamed with a bean or nut. I am not too sure what it was. But this rice had a unique profile. We sort of had a main dish – a tofu sudubu dish that we shared. I need care for the fish or the shrimp.

I have always thought, in the back of my mind, that Banchan would be a decent meal by itself. These dishes, which are always offered as re-fillable or all-you-can(or want), can easily fill you up. The novelty and experience of little dishes is pretty interesting in its own self. But at Cheongsujeong, I wasn’t too keen on the floor sitting experience. I want to mention a special thanks to Ms. L for taking me here. I think this was a really nice lunch experience.