To tell you the truth, I wasn't ready to adventure into real Korean cuisine yet. After a long flight of 11 hours, time changes and fatigue, I went down to the mall under the hotel - I heard it's the world's biggest underground mall - for dinner. Dozens of restaurants, photos and Korean titles, but one grabbed me in. I felt like having some real Asian sushi tonight.
I went into a place called Sushi Hanpan and ordered a meal for two. What caught my attention is the display showing large pieces of sushi that made my mouth water. They are fake indeed, but look so real and fresh.
No idea what to order. I read something saying a set for two so I asked to have it. The friends set of 24 pieces (flatfish, salmon, engawa, salmon gunkan, shrimp, tuna). 6 plates landed on the table.
A basket of fried tempura shrimp, with a taste I never had before. A boat of 24 pieces of sushi, all new to me. If you think you know what sushi is, think again. A small portion of rice, lightly and enjoyably sweet topped with fish. Wasabi is added on all portions of rice under the fish itself. It was the first time I enjoy wasabi and soy sauce which I avoid in Lebanon. That hard sticky rice and the quality of fish! Just perfect!
With that two soups, noodles and fried rice soup, a salad and a plate of soy and ginger.
The bizarre part are those metallic chopsticks that are hard to use - I understood later that the entire country uses them. Food simply slips away; I surely need more training.
My favorite of all are the raw white shrimp sushi.
I finished this meal for two alone. I loved those simple sushi pieces prepared without sauces or mayonnaise and the quality of ingredients and the place's mood.
