(Fancy Korean Rice Cakes)

I was very surprised to see these Korean rice cakes, because of their beauty and magnificence. Some rice cakes can be easily mistaken as western style cakes, like this one.

(Wine rice cake, 3500 won (US$3.70))

It looks like a type of cheese cake but it is not. It is slightly glutinous and its topping is slightly sweet and has a familiar taste which I cannot really describe (wine I guess). It was my favourite rice cake that I tried from that shop.

The shop that sells these rice cakes is called “Jilsiru“. It is a Korean rice cake shop and also a cafe. You can eat in or take away. They serve Korean rice cakes which are a bit more fancy looking than normal rice cakes, I say “fusionized rice cakes” and some Korean tea.

(Displayed menu – rice cake lunch set, 5000 won (US $ 5.30))

The rice cake lunch set is a good example of their fusion rice cakes. The very last dish on the bottom right are rice cake sandwiches and on their left there are some Kimchi rolled rice cakes. I didn’t actually have this menu, so I don’t know about the taste. However I read other people’s opinion about this and the response was very different (Some people loved it and others hated it) .

(From the table)

Every table has a glass of water and some flowers in it. It kind of made me relaxed.

(From the inside, a display of a little boy and girl in Hanbok costumes)

(Displayed menu – milk porridge, 6000 won (US $ 6.40))

Milk porridge (Tarak Juk) is a health aid food used in the royal court (Milk was very rare in those days, so only people in a royal court ate it). The king had this porridge when he was sick or feeling weak. In modern days, people make this as a baby’s or patients’ food.

(Displayed menu – Royal court ddeokbokki, 5ooo won (US 5.30))

Royal court ddeokbokki is known as the king’s snack food. Have you tried my recipe yet? Well, my recipe isn’t as authentic as in those old days, but it tastes OK.

(Displayed menu – rice cakes that last for 3 months)

Usually rice cakes don’t taste as nice if they are more than 24 hours old. However Jilsiru made these rice cakes that can last for 3 months at room temperature. All you need to do is microwave it just before you eat it. Pretty Clever!

(Pumpkin latte and rice cakes, 8ooo won (US $ 8.50))

Michael ordered a Pumpkin latte and rice cakes. According to Michael, it was yummy and creamy, similar to a light pumpkin soup, but also a bit different. It is certainly something that would seem fairly familiar to most Westerners. (Michael is not so good at describing food, but hey, he tried).

(Seolgi ddeok and Ssamji ddeok, from the back)

(Chinese date tea with goggal ddeok and Hobak ddeok, 8ooo won (US $ 8.50))

I didn’t order Chinese date tea (Daechu cha), but they served it. Yet it gave me a good opportunity to take pictures like this.

(Citrus tea and rice cakes)

This is what I ordered, Citrus tea (Yuja cha). Then Michael said that maybe I should have drunk the Chinese date tea instead, because it is more intriguing for you to read. Is it? Citrus tea has a slightly sour but pretty sweet taste. Refreshing!

We also bought some rice cakes on the way out.

From top left – Citrus rice cake (Yuja danja), Chocolate rice cake (Choco danja),
Apple rice cake (sagwa danja), Green tea rice cake (Nokcha danja) – 1500 won (US $1.60) each

In general, the rice cakes weren’t as sweet as I usually get. They seemed to try to accentuate the natural taste from whatever ingredient they used for each rice cake. The price seems a bit expensive, but for an occasional treat it wouldn’t be so bad.

Where is it located? There are two shops in Seoul. One big one in Jongno and the other is in Insadong.

(Address : 164-2, Waryong-dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul)

• Traffic info – (Subway) line 1, 3, 5 Jongno 3 ga station Exit No.7
• Nearest Tourist info – Changdeok Palace Donhwamun (Jilsiru is about 300 m down the street that ends at the palace)

(Address :10 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul)

• Traffic info – (Subway) line 3 Anguk station Exit No.3

The whole building where the big Jilsiru is located is about Korean food. The 2nd and 3rd flour is a rice cake and kitchen utensil museum. The Institute of Traditional Korean Food is on the floors above the museum.

I will do a post about the museum in the next post, so stay tuned.