Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Happy Thanksgiving Week! This is my favorite holiday of the year and of course, I am only talking about the celebration of food, friends, and family (not the whole colonization part). Being almost half a year distanced from Philly can do a doozy on your food memory. I’m going to instead recommend some great Korean spots around Philly because it is getting cold in London and all I want to eat is topokki and rewatch the finale of Legend of Korra Season 2…. So let’s begin!
Koreana – Quick, Cheap, and Close
If you have Korean friends at Penn (or if you know any Penn students who like Korean food), they will most likely tell you about Koreana. Hidden behind a Chili’s and next to a strip club, the outward appearance of the place may deter people from entering. The entrance is located in a parking lot, after all. But once you enter, you will walk into a small, cramped room full of people enjoying quick Korean dishes such as Dol Sot Bibimbap ($9.75), a rice dish with various vegetables, beef, fried egg, and spicy sauce, and Samsun Jam Bong ($7.00), a noodle dish served in hot spicy soup topped with vegetables and beef or seafood. So if you are taking an afternoon or night class at Penn or find yourself in University City, check out Koreana!
Tampopo – Korean and Japanese together
Do you ever find yourself trying to make a decision between different cuisines? Fear not! Tampopo has a bit of both Japanese and Korean types of dishes. I used to frequent the 21st Street location (there is also one in University City) for their veggie Bibimbap ($8.00) and steamed dumplings ($5.50 for 5 pieces) with high school friends. This is a great place to grab a quick lunch or early dinner if you are looking for a restaurant that is nice on your wallet near Center City.
H Mart Food Court – Unrated and absolutely delicious
Have you ever adventured upstairs in the H Mart in Upper Darby? If you have not, you are in for a treat. The food court upstairs has a range of Korean dishes you can order (and even some Japanese and Chinese food!). During the summer after my freshmen year, I had a great meal with a group of Swatties who stayed in the area that summer. The food court has, by far, the best Seafood Topokki in Philly, made up of soft rice cake, fish cake, and sweet red chili sauce. It also has a great mix of spice and flavor. Definitely check out their Bulgogi (grilled marinated beef) as well!
Gu’d Tip: When you are at the food court, you can order food from multiple stores since they are divided up based on what they are serving. For example, where you order bulgogi is different from where you order topokki. Be sure to look around the entire food court (it’s not that big) so you know where to order what!
Jong Ka Jib Soft Tofu Restaurant – The Best. Period.
Ok, I admit it. Most of you won’t go here. It’s located in North Philly and most people who are able to reach the area (it takes about an hour and 30 minutes to two hours by public transportation) or by car. In addition, it is not the safest area at night so if you are not familiar with the area, it is not a place you want to get lost in. However, all of that being said, this is my favorite Korean restaurant ever. Period. Hands down the best tofu soup I have ever had. It kicks NYC’s K-town in the butt and when I was Seoul, I craved to have tofu soup that comes ever close to how great the soup is at this restaurant. It is also a lot cheaper for the quality than any other Korean restaurant I have gone to. My favorite soup, Kimchee Soon Du Bu (kimchee, beef, soft tofu, and spiced cabbage), is heaven in a stone bowl. In addition, their Dol Sot Bibimbap is delicious and they have the best Banchan I have ever had.
