Hello
This is my first post, so I'm not quite sure how to write it lol
I'll do my best though!
The restaurant I visited this time is Halmaejip, a Michelin Guide-listed spot in Seoul.
Since they open at 11:50 AM, I arrived about 20 minutes early to get a spot.
I've been keeping up with the Michelin Guide every year,
and this was my very first Michelin Guide restaurant, so I was pretty excited waiting in line.
It was a great pairing with the spicy main dishes.
We were first in line when they opened at 11:50 and ordered right away,
but still waited at least 10 minutes for our food.
There were three of us, and we ordered a small Jokbal and a small Gamjatang.
There's only one menu item for Jokbal — no spicy version or variations.
However, the seasoning on the Jokbal is already spicy by default.
It's spicier than you'd expect, so you might find yourself suddenly caught off guard by the heat lol
And it's incredibly tender!
Honestly, I've had tender Jokbal at other places too, but the seasoning here is what really stands out.
It's definitely worth trying at least once — the spicy seasoning was right up my alley.
The small size comes with a decent portion, but it's no secret that the price matches haha.
This is the Gamjatang, which came out a little later.
The Gamjatang here is also quite different from the usual.
It feels less like Gamjatang and more like a spicy stew (Maeuntang) with pork bones.
Halmaejip really only has two items on the menu — Jokbal and Gamjatang —
but you can definitely feel how distinct they are from anywhere else.
Personally, I prefer regular Gamjatang,
but this is still worth trying at least once.
Just to experience something a little different lol
To wrap things up...
Honestly, the prices are on the higher side.
That said, within the genre of Jokbal and Gamjatang,
there's something genuinely unique here that I haven't tasted anywhere else, and I really appreciated the bold new take on these classic dishes.
It was also really exciting that this was my very first Michelin Guide-listed restaurant.
The wait isn't too bad if you arrive right at opening time, so it's not a huge burden.
However, your entire group must be present before you can be seated — no exceptions.
One or two people cannot hold a spot in line and enter while the rest of the group arrives later.
When we visited, we saw the owner arguing with a customer over exactly this — apparently it happens quite often.
Anyway, that wraps up my first review!
Thank you~~
