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The Fugetsu okonomiyaki at Pungweol / Korea Times Photo by Han Sang-hee |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Koreans enjoy eating bindaetteok, also known as Korean style pizza, but for a quick getaway to Japanese cuisine, you can find a similar dish known as okonomiyaki, complete with the round shape and toppings.
Right in the middle of the busy streets of Myeongdong, you can find a small okonomiyaki place called Pungweol, or in Japanese, Fugetsu. The famous restaurant started in Hongdae, and opened a second store due to soaring popularity.
Okonomiyaki is known to have started in 1603 in Japan and is basically made with thin cabbage strips, batter and various toppings such as pork, seafood and cheese, all mixed together and placed on a hot iron plate. The round dish is then topped with katsuobushi, or fish flakes, and normally a generous helping of mayonnaise and a dark brown sauce. They are usually prepared in front of the customers and that is exactly how Pungweol serves theirs.
The tables each have their own individual hot iron plates that servers immediately heat up as soon as guests sit down. We ordered one of the set menus, which includes the fugetsu okonomiyaki, fugetsu yakisoba (Japanese style buckwheat noodles) and a bean sprout roll (30,500 won).
The server came with a bowl of ingredients and placed it on the middle of the steamy plate. It was a generous helping of seafood, including shrimp, pieces of squid, pork, and even bits of beef, along with creamy batter and an egg. It takes about 10-20 minutes for the okonomiyaki to fully be cooked.
The yakisoba and the roll were tasty and perfect as appetizers, although the noodles did get a bit rough after staying on the hot plate for some time. While we were enjoying the two dishes, the server came back and forth to check on the okonomiyaki, flipping it over and then sprinkling katsuobushi on top of it.
When the okonomiyaki is finally cooked, the server will ask guests if they would like to have mayonnaise and the sauce. If you don't like having two different sauces literally poured on the okonomiyaki, skip the mayo and just go for the dark brown sauce.
With your own little spatula and chopsticks, divide it like you would with a pizza.
The okonomiyaki was delicious. The strips of cabbage gave the dish a delightful crunch, while the batter and eggs made it soft and moist. For those who want a slightly different experience, sprinkle red pepper flakes or some parsley.
Visitors can also choose from shrimp, pork, squid, and mixed as well. The modern okonomiyaki (10,000 to 13,500 won) is a similar dish, but the server tops the recipe with buckwheat noodles. There are also a variety of yakisoba, such as seafood, kimchi and omelet (7,500 to 12,000 won depending on size and toppings).
Pungweol is located next to the M Plaza in Myeongdong. From exit 6 at Myeongdong station, walk straight until you pass M Plaza and turn right when you see the Body Shop. The restaurant is on your left on the second floor.
Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and last orders must be made at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.fugetsu.co.kr or call (02) 3789-5920.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
