A new site

I've created a new site for Where to Eat in Cheonan because I think this one is a bit confusing with everything not on the main page.  I hope this new one will be easier to navigate.

And, I also have another site listing my favorite expat restaurants in Korea (mostly Seoul).  Check it out here.

And...one last one about how to get foreign food in Korea.  All the secrets unveiled!

Welcoming the Moon...Italian Restaurant

A new restaurant just opened last week, downtown.  It's in the building next to Club Sizi, on the second floor.  They have wine, steaks, pizza and pasta.  The good things about it are the impeccable service, amazing atmosphere and impressive wine selection.  The bad thing was the overpriced, small portions of food.  I tried both the pizza and cream pasta and they were just okay. 

Anyway, I would go back if it was the only place in town.  Except, it's not.  For my hard-earned wons I'd much rather go to Cafe Riposo for the pizza, or Dono Marco for the pasta.  Prices are similar at all three places, except you get substantially more food at Riposo and the Dono.

The most delicious duck I've ever eaten

...can be found at Gwandeoksan, a local mountain just outside of Cheonan.  It's so delicious because they slow-smoke it first over an open fire before they bring it your table.  And, the side-dishes are amazing, especially the pumpkin and salad.  They also have very good samgyeopsal and sausages.

Your menu options are basically a 1/2 or whole duck (40 000 Won), or a set of assorted meat (50 000/4 people).

How to get there?  Take bus #600 from in front of the Yawoori until the very last stop.  From the bus stop, walk up the hill down the road, continuing on in the same direction the bus was going.  Walk for about 3-4 minutes and you'll see a big restaurant on your left-hand side.  They have the fire thing going on out front. 

Thai Restaurant in Baebang

There's a new Thai restaurant that just opened up about a month ago.  They have Singha beer, delicious green curry and spring rolls, decent pad Thai and lots of other stuff on the menu as well.  The restaurant is beautiful and relaxing inside.  It's run by a Korean guy, who grew up in Australia and spent a year and a half studying cooking in Thailand. The name is Baan Thai and the phone number is: 041-545-9797. 

It's located in Baebang, 1/2 way between Cheonan and Asan.  The easiest way to get there would be to take the subway to Baebang.  Then, take a taxi from Baebang Station to Samsung Electronics (Baebang-Eup, Samsung Jeon-Ja).  It's not far, maybe a 3000 Won taxi ride.  Across the street from the main gate of the factory, you'll see a Family Mart and Samsung Kindergarten (Yu-Chi-Won).  Walk between the two into the back street.  Take your first right.  Walk for 2 or 3 minutes and you'll see it on your right hand side (as an aside, there is a franchise of the most delicious Fry Pan right across from the Thai Restaurant).

The Fry Pan

This place has the best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life!  Juicy and tender.  The menu is small, only chicken (breasts/drumsticks or combo), homemade chips, salad and beer.  Prices are decent...2 people can get a beer and a set for about 20 000 Won.

Directions: Go to the Baskin Robbins across the street from the Yawoori Department Store downtown.  Walk 2 streets back.  You'll see a small park on your right.  Look around.  You'll see a red sign with English writing, "The Fry Pan."  It's on the first floor.  There's a coffee shop above it.  Hours are dinner/evening only.  

All that BBQ

A new Western Style restaurant just opened up about a month ago in downtown Cheonan. It's called "All That BBQ" and it's located right below the Art Gallery/Coffee Bean, next to the Yawoori.

The basic menu is a salad bar, for 9000-12000 won, depending on when you go. Salad, pasta, good bread, fruit and grilled veggies, rice dishes, soups, coffee, tea are all included. Everything was fresh and tasted great. It was a pretty good deal in itself.

Then, you can add on some BBQ ribs, scallops, shrimp, duck, pineapple or steak. The prices were very reasonable. I had some BBQ pork ribs, which were a generous, meaty portion for about 3000 won. My friend had scallops and shrimp and said they were amazing. Again, about 3000 won for a decent portion.

Draft beer is quite cheap as well.

Italian

Update: I know this is an old entry but it's so delicious, it's worth another one!

There's a delicious Italian place, hidden away in the backstreets at the bus terminal. The owner actually lived in Italy for a bit, so it's the real deal.

Go to Dunkin Donuts, and walk straight down that back street (your back is at the YaWooRi) for about 3 or 4 blocks. It's on your right hand side, with a yellow sign. It's called Dono Marcos.