Eating like a K-Pop star in Manila
Foodies believe that to know where good food is served, go where the locals go. In the Philippines, Korean cuisine has found its way into the people's hearts. In fact, many Pinoys are familiar with Korean dishes like bulgogi, bibimbap, chapchae, kimchi, samgyupsal, and teokbukki. Filipinos embraced the many Korean restaurants in the country including the small hole-in-the-wall types as well as the big mall establishments.
For those who like Korean food, today is your lucky day because I will let you in on a delicious secret. Although I feel a little cautious about sharing this restaurant secret for fear of never having a seat ever again, the food is just too good not to share. Would you like to know where some of your favorite K-Pop stars ate when they visited the country?
Sol Seafood and Korean Restaurant located at the HK Sun Plaza Macapagal Avenue has been enjoying a regular clientele of Koreans who live in the Philippines as well as tourists for about five years now. The restaurant also boasts of having hosted, albeit quietly, a number of K-Pop artists when they visited the country for some activities. Check out the photos of K-Pop artists who had eaten at Sol. I blurred the photo of the owner, whose English name is "Bon Jovi," just in case he is shy. You'll see him anyway when you visit Sol.
But enough about the stars. What about the food? Just take a look at the abundance of tasty banchan (free side dishes) that came with my order of samgyupsal (grilled pork belly) during my recent visit to Sol and you'll know why I just had to let you in on this secret.
The food in Sol is without doubt authentic and delicious. However, let me warn you that the restaurant is wanting in ambiance. If you are looking for ambiance -- meaning good interiors, squeaky clean tables, and impeccably dressed waiters, Sol is not for you. But if you are looking for real Korean food and value for money, try to visit Sol. For the samgyupsal meal I ordered, I paid PhP500 (US$12) for two orders of samgyupsal, a free bean paste stew, eight side dishes, unlimited cold barley tea, and unlimited fixins for the meat. The samgyupsal sauce is the best I have tried and I tried a lot! My friends also swear by their bulgogi and grilled pork with squid. Whenever I visit Sol, there is almost always a group reservation and the customers seem to enjoy the dishes.
The dishes in Sol are well-prepared and served on time. The male servers (I noticed there were no female servers) are welcoming and can confidently make food suggestions. So, the next time you crave a Korean meal, why not eat like a K-Pop star and visit Sol? Jal Meokkesseumnida! I hope you eat well!
Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG!. She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas, and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.
