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Pusanweb Vegetarian Guide
Introduction
Welcome to the beginning of the Pusanweb guide for Vegetarians living
in Busan.With this guide we hope to fulfill the need of vegetarians in
Busan to find fresh and healthy alternatives to meat while living in the
Republic of Korea. Please help this section to grow and develop by sending
vegetarian thoughts, ideas and recommendations to [email protected].
Restaurant life.
Walking along the streets of Busan, at times it must seem like the largest
industry in the city is food and drink. Anywhere one goes one can
find restaurants, hofs, street vendors, vending machines and p'ojang
mach'a offering a wide variety of foods and beverages. Korea can,
indeed, be seen as a food-lover's paradise; especially to a meat-eater.
A traditional Korean meal, aside from meat, includes rice and panch'an
and it is the latter two that can often be the only choice of dining for
a vegetarian in Korea..
Panch'an (side dishes)Each meal is served
with side dishes. The majority of these dishes are made from vegetables
and are collectively known as namul.The vegetables are served either
cooked, or left uncooked.Some of the more commonly served vegetables are:
kim-chi - a generic term which refers to any seasoned and
fermented vegetable dish (it may be composed of cabbage, turnip, radish,
or cucumber). The main ingredient is combined with red pepper, garlic,
salt, etc, depending on the recipe. The flavour of kim-chi depends
on the region and ranges from bland to sour to spicy. - A
note of warning, kim-chi is not always vegetarian-friendly. It is
generally made with dried fish powder, so be careful. -
k'ongnamul- bean sprouts
toraji - bellflower roots
kosari - fern brake
minari - watercress
shigumch'i - spinach
naengi - shepherds purse
k'ong - black beans
tubu - tofuoi - cucumber
kajinamul - eggplant
kim - seaweed
muk - acorn curd (looks like dark tofu)
kkaetnip - sesame leaves
yon-gun - lotus root
Rice Dishes
Bi bim bap - 厚忽逛 - a bowl of white rice served with a mixture
of sliced vegetables and red bean paste (usually served with
a fried egg on top) and panchan (side dishes).
Sanch'ae pibimbap -魂盲厚忽逛 - Bi bim bap with a covering of wild
mountain vegetables.Usually found only in mountain areas.
Kim bap - 辫逛 - rice rolled with vegetables (and, on occasion,
meat) and covered with seaweed.
Ssam bap -接逛- rice served with leaves and a variety of side dishes.
The rice is combined with some of the accompanying side dishes, rolled
into a leaf and popped into the mouth.Although ssam bap is generally served
with meat or fish, it is possible to find a restaurant that serves the
meat-free variety.
Noodle Dishes
Bi Bim Guk Su - 厚忽倽家 - cold noodles served with a variety of
julienne vegetables and red bean paste. This dish can, at times,
be considered a little spicy. Served with panch'an.
Bi Bim Naengmyon - 厚忽趁搁 - cold potato noodles covered with
vegetables, spices, onion and garlic. Served with panch'an.
Stews and soups
Twoen jang jjigae - 等惑骂俺 - A variety of vegetables in a bean
paste-based stew. Served with rice and panch'an.
Suntubujjigae - 鉴滴何骂俺 - Tofu and a variety of vegetables
in a bean paste-based stew. Served with rice and panch'an. (Please
note, that depending on the restaurant, this stew may be made with clams).
Others
Bi bim man-du - 厚忽父滴 - Also known as vegetable dumplings,
this dish is easy to find in Busan. It is made of a variety of julienne
vegetables and seaweed and served with red pepper paste and dumpling shells.
The vegetables, seaweed and paste should be mixed together first.
The mixture is then rolled up in a dumpling shell and eaten. Good
for a light meal.
Requesting Vegetarian Foods
Do you serve vegetarian foods? (Ch'aesik isumnikka?) 盲侥 乐谰聪鳖?
I'm a vegetarian. (Ch'aesik man moksumnida) 盲侥父 冈娇聪促.
Please leave out the meat. (Koginun chonbu ppaeseyo.) 绊扁绰 儡何哗技夸.
Don't give me meat or fish. ( Gogi na sang saneun chu-chimasaeyo) 绊扁
唱 积急篮 林瘤付货夸.
Please take off the egg. (gaeraneun bbaejusaeyo) 拌 鄂篮 哗林技夸.
Where to go for dinner
While the number of vegetarian-only restaurants in Busan is limited, there
are a few placeswhere a vegetarian may go and feel safe.
磊楷积劝盲侥何其 (Jayounsaengwhal Ch'aesik
Buffet) This recently-opened restaurant is located in Daeyeun3Dong and
is quite easy to find.They offer a large selection of dishes, buffet-style,
for a fairly reasonable price of 6,000 won. A selection of vegetarian-friendly
products like T.V.P and veggie-meat are also available for sale.
They are open six days a week (closed Saturdays) from 11:30 am to 8:30
pm. The restaurant is located west of Kyung-sung University. It
is right next to exit number one of the Daeyeun subway station.
Their phone number is 051-625-9289.
SM Vegetarian Restaurant - It is located between
Changjeon dong subway station and Kusodong subway station across the busy
road and a block up. (Perhaps someone else can provide the phone number
and better directions)
Ipsaebaram (055-386-5695) This restaurant is located
outside of Pusan near Yangsan. It is up a country road set in a mountain
valley. The setting is quite beautiful and relaxing especially just after
the rainy season. The menu is mostly vegetarian with some seafood items.
The buses that go by the road are 147, 247, 301, 347. The road you take
is just after the big Woongsan Library. The name of the bus stop is Jujin.
After you get off the bus, it is a 1.2 kilometre walk up a windy
road. There are signs to tell you which way to the restaurant and the
temples that are near it: Bulgwang-sa and Mita-am. They have built a water
reservoir just below it so if you get that far, you know you are on the
right track.
Ravioli - The restaurant is located on Dalmagie in
Haeundae. The restaurant offers a great view of Haeundae. The selection
for vegetarians is limited but the menu has a 'V' beside the items that
are vegetarian friendly .
Pizza Hut - For the times when you are feeling desperate.
Pizza Hut offers Vegetable and Cheese pizzas for those who have a weakness.
They also offer a not-bad, but not wonderful either salad bar for 5,500
won. A variety of locations scattered throughout the republic.
Where to shop
Dar EnterprisesLocated at 389-10 Kaebubdong, Sa Sang Gu in Busan,
Dar Enterprises is a wonderful little store full of imported food
and products. They offer a range of products from Pakistan like
curry powder, spiced vegetables, beans, and basmati rice.
And note, it is an import store, if there is any product you are
looking for they will try to import it for you. A great place to
shop if you want to spice up your diet. To get to Dar Enterprises take
the subway to Sasang station. Take the McDonald's/Lotteria exit.
After leaving the station, turn right and cross the street at the lights.
Walk down the side street. Walk up the hill. At the end of
the street, turn right. Contact info - 051-316-6465, fax - 051-316-6466,
email - [email protected]
Vege-love Vege-love sells 100% pure vegetarian foods
which contain no egg, fish or meat. The owner, H. Choi, speaks passable
english. Although off the beaten path, this cute little shop is
still quite easy to find. Get off the subway at Yeonsan station.
Look for the Alak exit. After leaving the station, turn right at
Lotteria. Walk to Aram mart and cross the street at the lights.
It is, about a five minute walk from Aram mart. Contact numbers: 051)
867-0390 017-544-8009
Veggie-links
Following are a few links to vegetarian-friendly web-sites in Korea.
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