Mr. Ko's (고씨네고추장찌개): A Fiery Stew Set In Urban Nostalgia
Have you ever been to Euljiro in South Korea? For decades, it has been home to hundreds of factories and small manufacturers. Today, this aging industrial district is regaining popularity among young locals who admire its urban chic qualities. Trendy bars and eateries are now scattered throughout its fading alleyways. This gentrification rebranded a declining Euljiro into the now free spirited Hipjiro.
One of those hipster gems is Mr. Ko’s Gochujang Jjigae. You can probably guess that they are known for their Gochujang Jjigae (고추장찌개), a traditional Korean Pepper Stew. Mr. Ko’s Gochujang Jjigae is built different. According to the “oath” proudly presented on their wall, Mr. Ko’s uses aged gochujang. All gochujang is already aged several months so I’m guessing they use gochujang that is aged even more than that for extra umami flavor.
When it arrived at our table, we noticed that the broth is less thick than a typical gochujang jjigae, which made it easier to drink. As the stew continued to boil, the broth became more dense with flavor without being too overwhelming. Mr. Ko’s also placed some fried green onions on top of the stew.
Other aspects of the stew are similar to a standard gochujang jjigae in that it is filled with onions, tofu, zucchini, and pork. The meat is actually good quality too and you can tell it’s not just leftover scraps. I’m not 100% sure about the translation but the oath says something about the “pork having green tea”. Upon further research, this might suggest that the pig was fed with a green tea diet, which helps reduce the odor, grease, and cholesterol in the meat.
While this place specializes in Gochujang Jjigae, the other dishes are not to be ignored. For our visit, we also got the Deep-Fried Prawns (용튀김) and the Crispy Potato Pancake (감자면빨전). You can read more about these dishes below but I will say that Mr. Ko’s really knows how to properly fry and pan-fry.
Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Mr. Ko’s. It’s a great place have dinner and a few drinks before you continue the rest of your night in Hipjiro.
This is the entrance to Mr. Ko’s Gochujang Jjigae. The inside of the restaurant is small and a little cramped. The tables and chairs are similar to the ones you see outside the restaurant too. It has a very casual vibe but the servers are attentive and quick.
Since the restaurant is popular, expect to wait a long time during busy hours.
The Crispy Potato Pancake is a great starter. The potatoes were cut into long strings so it had an impressive crunch. Don’t forget to mix in the eggs, chives, and truffles then consume with alcohol.
(16,000 WON)
These are the Deep-Fried Prawns (용튀김). This is another perfect anju (안주), a Korean term for food consumed with alcohol. Every thing about this dish was done right. The meat was juicy and substantial. The exterior of the prawns were crispy and not over-battered. Somehow, it wasn’t oily at all. In fact, the parchment paper underneath the prawns was nearly pristine.
You can eat the entire prawn from head to tail! Make sure you don’t skip this dish.
(23,000 WON)
You can’t go to Mr. Ko’s without getting their signature Gochujang Jjigae (고추장찌개).
(20,000 WON - Small) / (26,000 WON - Large)