Pairing Nutria Eel with Alcohol at a Korean Food Stall
Hagfish
Korea, Republic ofSeoul, Jongro 3-ga Pocha Street
- Food Travel Log
- Welcome, fellow drink lovers! Experience Korean-style street food at pojangmacha. Have some hagfish, which looks gross but has a chewy, squid-like texture. The smoky, spicy sauce pairs perfectly with the hagfish, and a sip of bamboo charcoal-filtered Chamisul enhances the experience. Hagfish has become my drinking buddy!
- Taste Rating
- Price
- 15000 Won
- Meal Date
- 11/25/2023
- Insights from the Gourmet AI
- Hagfish, once popular as a staple for fishermen and poor households, has recently gained attention for its unique texture and as a healthy protein source. Commonly enjoyed dipped in a spicy sauce like in South Korea's pojangmacha (street food stalls), this sauce is made using gochujang, garlic, and ginger, perfectly enhancing its umami and spiciness. Despite its name, the hagfish is not a fish but a type of ancient jawless vertebrate that prefers crustaceans as prey. With degenerated eyes, it has a unique ecology that involves exploring the deep, dark seafloor using sensory organs. Accompanying the flavorful hagfish with bamboo charcoal-filtered chasmsil (possibly a typo for 'chasol' which means clear spirit) provides a refreshing feel that softens the spiciness and further enhances its flavors. It seems the author has found a drinking buddy in the hagfish, although it might be whispering behind their back, "If you're a friend, don't deny my dorky appearance."
Map: Discovery Location of This Food