모이 (Moi)- pronounced "moh-ee" as opposed to the way you would think Moi is pronounced in French. This original location opened up 1 year ago in Hannam-dong behind Richensia apartment, and they just had their grand opening for their new 2nd location in Itaewon a week ago. The new location took the spot of where Pier 8 used to be and has English on their menu, while the Hannam-dong menu is all in Korean.
This is a Korean cuisine restaurant you would go to for a good quality Korean style meal designed for sharing or having the food with drinks. All menu items are claimed to be MSG free and most ingredients are locally produced unless stated otherwise. They do a set course meal of things on and off their menu every night for dinner, or you can just order a la carte from the menu. The course changes every single night and they have a couple of options at different prices depending on the menu items, but the set menus ranging from 50 000won.
We ordered a few of their more popular dishes to share. I would like to go back to try some of their many other dishes we didn't try that sounded delicious - or have a set course meal sometime. I like how they also change up the menu according to what's fresh and in season.
Traditional Korean metal plates and utensils.
Apparently there are a few reasons on why Korea uses metal chopsticks: 1) In early times, the King used to use only pure silver chopsticks because if his food was poisoned, the silver would tarnish and he would be able to detect it incase someone was trying to poison him. 2) Originally, higher grade metals like silver and brass were used for the royal families, so metal chopsticks symbolises high class or are considered a valuable. 3) When there used to be many fires in the palaces, metal utensils would survive as opposed to things made out of wood.
If you enjoy random facts like this or like learning about history, geography, culture, politics, etc of Korea, but want to learn about it in a funny comic book style format, go to Kyobo Bookstore and buy "Korea Unmasked" by Lee Won Bok. He is a famous Korean professor and cartoonist that has written many books, but this one in particular is translated into English. If you live in Korea, teach third culture kids, or have any Korean background/affiliation, I can't recommend this informative and comical book enough! I am not a huge reader, but this is a must read and I learned so many fun facts about the differences between Korean, Japanese and Chinese cultures - European too actually, and why/how things have evolved the way they have. It helped to explain so many questions I had about Korean culture and has a lot of random facts written in a hilarious page turning way! It even explains fun food related things like why all the chopsticks are different styles/lengths in different Asian countries, why Korean food is strong and spicy and how even that influences different personalities and temperments!
You can order off of the Korean Kyobo Bookstore website here: http://www.kyobobook.co.kr/search/SearchCommonMain.jsp
If you don't live in Korea, you can buy it for a higher price on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Unmasked-Country-Society-Edition-Graphic/dp/8934917717
Sorry for the random tangent - back to the food at Moi.
The 반찬 (banchan).
Free refillable side dishes that come with all meals. Nice selection of seaweed in vinegar, whie kimchi, crown daisy vegetable in soft tofu, corn in mayo, fish cakes and egg omelette.
주먹밥 - JooMukBab. 5000won.
Literally translated to "fist rice". Rice balls mixed with dried seasoned seaweed, sesame seeds and in this case, some vegetables. There were kids eating at the table with us so this was a safe and easy choice for them to eat.
새우장 (SeWooJang) - Raw Prawns. My favourite dish out of them all!
새우장 (SeWooJang) - Raw Prawns. 25 000won.
8 big succulent pieces of raw prawns that have been marinated in a savoury light soy sauce. The prawns were so fresh and firm. The sauce was light enough that it didn't overpower the taste of the prawns and was delicious on top of plain rice.
새우장 (SeWooJang) - Raw Prawns. 25 000won.
There was so much meat on the body, and the juice you suck out of the head was so flavourful. I am drooling thinking about this dish and I would definitely order it again. So fresh, so flavourful and so good!
생굴 (Seng Gool) - Raw Oysters
생굴 (Seng Gool) - Raw Oysters. 16 pieces for can't remember how much. This was an off the menu order because it was in season.
생굴 (Seng Gool) - Raw Oysters.
These were fresh and good quality, medium sized but not as meaty as I like it. I also love my oysters with the western style red wine shallot vinaigrette, lemon juice and tabasco sauce. Here in Korea, you dip the oysters in a Korean red chilli vinegar sauce (초장), which is still good, but not quite the same for me when I think of eating oysters. But still, these were good and I would order them again.
해물 백 순두부 탕 (HehMool Bek SoonDooBoo Tang) - Seafood in a white broth tofu soup.
해물 백 순두부 탕 (HehMool Bek SoonDooBoo Tang) - Seafood in a white broth tofu soup. 40 000won
They cut up a small whole octopus into the soup at the table.
해물 백 순두부 탕 (HehMool Bek SoonDooBoo Tang) - Seafood in a white broth tofu soup. 40 000won
There is a ton of various seafood in this soup - scallop, clams, abalone, langoustine along with vegetables and octopus.
해물 백 순두부 탕 (HehMool Bek SoonDooBoo Tang) - Seafood in a white broth tofu soup. 40 000won
This was good and worth the value considering how much seafood was in it, but it was a bit difficult to eat. The soup was mild, but went well with the soft tofu bits. I'm glad I tried it, but I think i'll try another soup/stew they had next time!
Their famous specialty dish: 한우차돌찜 (Hanwoo Chadol Jjim) - Steamed Korean beef wraps
한우차돌찜 (Hanwoo Chadol Jjim) - Steamed Korean beef wraps. 35 000won.
Presentation is awesome, and I've never seen a dish prepared like this before. This is one of their most popular dishes.
Chadol is a thinly sliced Korean beef that has a lot of fat on it. People love this cut of meat barbequed as well, but I have never been a huge fan of chadol. To give you a better reference though, I also don't love samgyupsal and bossam, because of how much fat there is to meat ratio. I much prefer meats without the layers of fat like galbi, dengshim etc. I like my fat in different forms like battered and deep fried ie fried chicken! haha
한우차돌찜 (Hanwoo Chadol Jjim) - Steamed Korean beef wraps. 35 000won.
The chadol is wrapped around a sesame seed leaf and then steamed upon a bed of bean sprouts.
When you eat it, you pick it up with some bean sprouts and then dip it in the slightly spicy seasoned dipping sauce. This sauce was my favourite part of this dish and I put it on my rice and ate it happily with the other dishes.
You MUST eat this dish right away when it's hot, otherwise when it cools down it gets too tough, or stringy because of the fat cooling down.
Others liked this dish, but it's not for me because I don't like chadol style meat very much.
Tucked away behind Richensia Apartments, it's nestled amongst a bunch of other eateries that have popped up in this neighbourhood.
Side bar style seating.
The place itself is very small, so I recommend calling ahead to book a reservation. We went on the same day as calling, but got a table because we went right at their opening hour for dinner. Otherwise, the place was already all booked out for the evening times!
See all the post-it's on the wall on the right? Those are all their daily course menu selections they've had over the year!
The menu and pricing. Each dish is designed to share so keep that in mind. It is not a restaurant where you each order your own dish/portion.
The Hannam location's menu is all in only Korean, but their newly opened Itaewon location has English translations on their menu.
Their drink menu. I didn't even look at this since we were there just to squeeze in an early meal.
Not a place to come if you are looking for cheap food and drinks, but more of a quality food type of place. Portions are decent for each dish so make sure you have enough people to share with so you can try a bunch of different menu items!
Their 2nd location of Moi just opened up in Itaewon last week! It's right beside the Cheil building where Pier 8 used to be. Above the Spain Club and Two Bros and below Black Orchard Bar.
Check out this link for a blog on their Itaewon location and interior from their grand opening party. The food is from their special grand opening event, so it's not exactly what their menu has to offer - just look here for pics of their interior: http://jacob1999.blog.me/220197207922
Itaewon info:
서울시 용산구 한남동 736-8 2층. 2nd Floor, 736-8 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu.
Call: 02-749-2173. Open 11:30am-midnight with a break from 2:30-5:30pm.
What? 모이 (Moi). A small quaint place with Korean cuisine with a clean taste and no MSG. Dishes designed for sharing with 2-3 or more people with set course options. If you go to the Hannam-dong location, go with someone who can read/speak Korean. Otherwise, head to the Itaewon location where the menu has English translations on it.
Who? A yuppie type crowd for eating and drinking in a more chill atmosphere.
When? Everyday from 11:30am-midnight with a break from 2:30pm-5:30pm. If you want to eat quickly and leave, go right at 5:30pm when they re-open and you should be able to be seated right away. I love eating at off-peak times!
Parking? Yes, valet.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Where? 서울특별시 용산구 한남동 30-1. 30-1 Hannam-dong
Call: 02-790-7784
Directions: From Hangangjin Station, Exit 2, walk down towards Hannam Bridge for about 10 minutes. Cross the street and you will see Richensia Apartment on your left. Or just take a taxi and say "Richensia Aparte, Hannam Dong". Turn right between where there is a coffee shop and a bike store, keep going straight, take the next veer to the right and you will see it straight ahead of you.