Haemong

Haemong sits in a secluded alley across the street from the Korea Customs Service building. Thanks to its odd location, you might wonder if they get many customers, but the restaurant is always bustling with people. In fact, one wall inside is covered with autographs from celebrities who have visited and proclaimed the food delicious. Haemong’s most popular menu items are roast pork neck and back ribs. Preferences may range to include pork shoulder or belly, but we recommend a course in the order of pork neck, back ribs, and a “nostalgic picnic lunch” to experience the essence of Haemong’s cookery. The pork neck comes first because the back ribs are seasoned and take longer to cook. The thick pieces of pork neck are a mild and pleasant prelude to the seasoned, toasty back ribs whose fragrants tastes are pratically addictive. That taste is heightened all the more when the meat, well-roasted over coal fire, is sprinkled with leek and soy onion seeped in Haemong’s special sauce. You have to order at least two servings of back ribs, and additional servings cannot be added once the order has been called through. The final course to wrap up the meal should be the “nostalgic picnic lunch” dish, which includes “pink sausages” from a grill, a rather untasty and yet oh-so-familiar taste for those who grew up going to Korean elementary schools.