korean market in madrid, originally uploaded by suddenly.
as much as i adore spanish food, i got the kimchi craving. kind of ironic because the whole time i was living in korea, i’d have cravings for the good cured meats and stinky cheeses of europe which were in short supply or often beyond my means in seoul.
luckily, madrid has a fair number of koreans who keep the kimchi trade in business. han gang restaurante coreana is supposedly popular among the local koreans. while not great, the kimchi chigae and dolsot bibimbap were passable but the yook gejang was severely underspiced. my favorite dish there was the bibim naengmyun. they charge extra for a side of kimchi but if they think you’re korean they’ll feel guilty enough to give it to you for free. but i’m warning you now, the kimchi isn’t great. it tastes like it’s pre-packaged and not made by the loving hands of an ajumma. the only other banchan you get is a little plate of pickled peppers. the prices start at around 9 euros for most dishes.
the filipino waiter at han gang is friendly and speaks english. he told us about a korean market in town called “hans alimentación.” it’s a small shop on a tiny little street that sells korean basics like ramyun, various jangs and dried noodles. the kimchi was 10 euros a kilo — kind of steep but it’s homemade and much tastier than the stuff at han gang. we went through 2 kilos of it.
han gang restaurante coreana
calle atocha, 94
(near the reina sofia museum)
click for map
hans alimentación
calle maestro del guerrera
(near plaze de españa)
click for map
15 responses so far ↓
Chuck // May 30, 2008 at 4:05 am |
I see there is a group of people in Spain that do not have checking accounts, because writing on those little lines with spray cans is too difficult.
Chuck
suddenly susan // May 30, 2008 at 4:16 am |
^-^
Anonymous // May 30, 2008 at 5:06 am |
looks like it’s in a pretty ghetto area…why are all korean grocery stores in ghetto areas of every town?
suddenly susan // May 30, 2008 at 11:56 am |
two words: cheap rent
Anonymous // May 30, 2008 at 11:32 pm |
it’s good to see people especially women embrace their heritage. why is it that most korean females tend to avoid anything to do with their ethnicity and try to become more “white”? i know that trying to fit in and be ‘american’ is tops but they have to be real to themselves. no matter how much they try they are still of korean blood and everything that goes with that…including medical and physical things that go with that. i say embrace your ethnicity…acknowledge it once in a while.
Anonymous // May 30, 2008 at 11:34 pm |
avis! lol rent a car company has a gang in spain going around tagging buildings? talk about guerilla advertisement
suddenly susan // May 31, 2008 at 2:17 am |
oh, i dunno…maybe when korean society stops making them feel like 2nd-class citizens and gives them the freedom, power and privileges that men enjoy…maybe that’s when they might be more apt to embrace their heritage.
for me, acknowledging your ethnicity doesn’t necessarily equal blind devotion. it’s like having a crazy uncle who has beat and molested you; you can acknowledge him as your blood but you’re probably gonna keep him at arms-length till he checks into rehab and recovers.
Anonymous // May 31, 2008 at 6:00 am |
roflmao
)
tots!
i didn’t know korea was so bad…but that leads to another question of what is korean-ness? is it to identify with a nation and all that goes with it or as a group of people with certain characteristics? in fact that question can be extended to other ethnic groups too. i guess it also has to do with people learning to see people for what they are as a whole not focusing on just one bit.
your so freak’n hot susan
Jae Young // June 1, 2008 at 4:04 am |
A very young and deluded friend of mine told me that New York reminded her of Madrid. She was from LA, K-town no less. Surely she is wrong? At the very least, we don’t have plazas or that chill Spanish ‘tude, I’d say.
And my DS is back in my sweaty little palms, yay~ Soon, I will beat your high score!!! (Prolly not, seeing as how I’ve broken 1000 like once.) I could also use some kimchi too, now that I think about it~
b. young // June 5, 2008 at 8:54 pm |
If I no longer get kimchee cravings, does that mean I’m no longer Korean?
suddenly susan // June 5, 2008 at 9:51 pm |
you no longer get kimchi cravings? how is that possible?
Anonymous // June 6, 2008 at 7:49 pm |
i got kimchi craving so i went to local walmart to pick up a jar…omg does it suck…i prefer fresh crunchy ones…but the jarred ones were those stale kind.
(
suddenly susan // June 7, 2008 at 11:48 am |
walmart kimchi. that just seems wrong on so many levels.
erictop // June 8, 2008 at 5:56 pm |
Hi, Susan!
How have u been?
What an enthusiastic Kimchi supporter, Susan!!
By the way, 저기 저 깜장 고양이 = 수잔’s 고양이?
고양이도 고양이지만…사진 속 수잔님 느낌이 참 좋네요.
Anyway take care while wandering europe.
Bye Bye (^^)/))
suddenly susan // June 9, 2008 at 1:49 am |
hi erictop~
good to hear from you. 반가워요 ^-^ that black cat in the photo is my friend’s cat in seoul but i also have a black cat in new york. his name is chococat. he’s living with my parents now. i asked them to take care of my cat. ㅋㅋㅋ