Tteokbokki @ Seoul Plaza
68–69 St Johns Precinct, Elliot St, Liverpool, L1 1LR
The excitement I felt when this giant new Korean supermarket appeared in St Johns shopping centre last year was matched only by the intense anticipation which followed upon seeing they were also planning to open a hot food bar.
It was an anxious wait, but Seoul Plaza has now finally started serving very decent Korean canteen-style food like Jeyuk Bokkeum (spicy braised pork) Gaji Namul (grilled marinated aubergine) and Heoni Beoteo Chikin (honey-butter fried chicken).
Everything can be bought separately or served over rice or noodles. Also available are a handful of side dishes which run the gamut from very good Kimchi Mandu (kimchi dumplings) to pretty good Gimmari (seaweed spring rolls).
There are two truly standout dishes on offer. The first of these is the Galbi Jjim, a deeply savoury, flavourful beef stew made with potato and carrot — effectively a Korean version of Scouse.
The second is the Tteokbokki, tubes of chewy rice cake and strips of spongy minced fish in a scorching broth. Sweet and spicy, stodgy and comforting, it’s an excellent lunch at any time but best eaten in miserable winter weather.
Everything is served to take away, but you can also eat in, if you manage to find yourself a place at the small counter near the window. Once you’re finished with your food, I’d recommend taking a walk down the supermarket’s instant noodles aisles — it’s one of the most impressive selections I’ve seen.
