Korean Food #1 - Jjam-ppong

What's up Steemian.

Today I am going to introduce Jjam-ppong which is a common menu for Korean.
There are many different noodle based dishes. Lots of variation can be made depending on type of noodle, type of soup, additional veggies and seafood.

One of the most common and simple food is Instant Ramen.
Jjamppong has ticker noodle than instant ramen. Jjamppong is not instant food and its soup is spicy and yummy.
More details can be found by googling but in this posting, I am just describing my idea.

Below is YouTube video foreigners' reaction while they are having various instant ramen.
The British Guys who are quite well known in Korea

So many type of instant ramen, there's no such thing as the best. Everyone has own favourite.

Unlike instant noodle, jjamppong has no variation. There can be a slight difference by its veggies or seafood, but basically it is same.
Normally a Korean feel like having a noodle but tired of having instant noodle again and again, all of the sudden jjampong soup flavour comes in mind, then it's time to have it.
It is difficult to cook at home. So we go to restaurant or order delivery.

Today I went to my usual jjamppong restaurant.
We call this type of restaurant "Chinese House". This nickname is originated from "the shop selling Chinese food". But as far as I know, there is no such thing as jjam-ppong in China. I guess it is localised here.
The most popular menu in "Chinese House" is actually "jja-jang-myeon" which is stir-fried noodle with black bean sauce and vegetables.
But we are here for jjam-ppong today so let's look at it.

This is I think an average level jjam-ppong restaurant. It ranges from a hotel restaurant's $35~$40 jjam-ppong to a rural area restaurant's $4 jjam-ppong. You know, same food can have different price range. In Today's restaurant of the photo, it's about $6(7000 WON).

Looking inside, it's not a fancy interior but I like this old style restaurant. Because old-look means long period of time. Being able to continue on their business can prove people like it.

It seems the British guys are not comfortable with seafood, but seafood is very common in Korea and Japan.
We eat and see it since we're young. Just a cultural difference.

Please look at this link first.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel

Mussel is just a food. Don't think about something else.

My food here

Seafood mix of shellfish, mussels, abalone.
This is seafood jjam-ppong which contains more seafood than normal jjam-ppong.

Close-up shot

You may ask where is the noodle? It's underneath. Unlike this photo, usual noodle is white.
This restaurant has special way to make noodle with chives, sticky rice, and so on.

You may think the shell is not clean, but of course they carefully wash them before cooking. When it comes to Korean food culture, it is common way to cook by putting everything into a pot and boil.

Peeled.

Empty shells. Quite a lot.

In Korea, there are many different kind of spicy food with plenty of chili. Most people are used to having spicy food since they're young. Sometimes just childhood memory of spicy food is reason to find it again.
This restaurant uses natural ingredients. So the soup is more watery than others. If you like more spicy, you can order more spicy and they will make it for you.
I haven't even got a free candy to write this. Just my genuine favourite one.

Whenever you have chance to visit Korea, try various spicy food.