Thai Restaurant in Itaewon - Buddha's Belly

When I started blogging, I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it. At the time, it seemed like a nice idea and I liked the idea of recording the things I've done in Korea and the places I've traveled. Over the past few months, my little blog has evolved into one that records my personal experiences and stories. I'm liking how the stories have really made my life in Korea more accessible to my family and friends back home. My hope is that they can hear my voice as I retell these stories - just as if I were back in South Africa, sitting at a cafe and chatting over a cappuccino.

In keeping with the theme of blogging about my experiences, I've decided that a good addition to LeecheeLaughs is a foody section. I'm definitely not much of a cook, but I can certainly eat eat eat. I was raised in a pretty large but close knit family, all of whom LOVE to eat. Our family gatherings centered on good food, copious amounts of wine and retelling of embarrassing family stories. It's a time filled with laughter and raucous behaviour (the likes of which should never be allowed in public areas). The love of food comes straight from my family and forms part of the person I am. Dinner with friends has become such a huge part of my life in Korea, not only because I haven't got family to share my meals with but also because eating out is usually less expensive than grocery shopping.

"People who love to eat, are always the best people" Julia Child

So in the spirit of yummy food, good friends who love food, and lovely times due to food sharing... In my first edition of the foody section, I introduce:

Buddha's Belly

This wonderful Thai restaurant sits atop Itaewon's busy streets towards Noksapyeong Station.

Directions: Itaewon Station, Exit 1. Walk straight until the sidewalk splits up a hill. Walk for 2 minutes up the hill and Buddha's Belly is on your left.

The menu has a comprehensive list of Thai cuisine
and most dishes have a vegetarian, chicken or beef option which was a nice touch.

Overall impression: Great atmosphere. Good food, reasonably priced. Definitely a good time.

I ordered a Panang Curry with beef because it was a creamy and milder alternative to the other the choices on the menu. I was a little skeptical because I'd had the best curry in Thailand a few months before and I was bracing myself for some disappointment.

My friend decided to go with Pad Thai (on the agreement that we'd share).

Chicken Pad Thai

Both dishes were great and well prepared. The curry was however the clear winner and the flavour was as close to authentic Thai curry as I can remember. A lovely dish.

The Pad Thai was a little bland but still passably good. Neither dish disappointed.

Curry for the win!

All in all, the restaurant is a great place to go for a relaxed date
or to spend some quality time with friends... 

The patio doors open out onto the street
while the balcony overlooks Itaewon's bustling nightlife. 

And it successfully manages to capture the vibrancy of the city
without being right smack in the middle of it. 

We had a lovely Thai dinner. 

And enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

Definitely going back.

Let's eat & be merry

I like a lot of different things

dancing, travelling, music...

But, I LOVE FOOD ㅋㅋㅋ*

My dad has this lame joke that he loves to tell... It goes something like, 

"Liane only eats once a day... 

... 

... 

...

ALL DAY"

He cracks up every time he tells it.

My mom climbs right in there too with a follow up story about how she felt like she was dying while pregnant with me because she was SO HUNGRY.

Apparently that's how I ruined her figure.

My parentals are funny.

Since moving to Korea I've had to give up my mom's Sunday lunch cooking, family braais** and Cape Town sushi (cue inconsolable crying).

But Korea has been able to hold its own with regard to good food.

Below are some photos of my favourite dishes.

This is called Bibimbap.
It is a dish which mixes assorted veggies together with rice,
an egg and a type of hot pepper paste.
It is deeeelish. 

This is dakgalbi. It's definitely a favourite of mine.
On a grill in the middle of your table, you cook your dakgalbi by adding marinated chicken pieces, rice cakes, cabbage and other yummy veg.
Drool

This is a picture I took of an impromptu teachers' lunch.
It was crazily good. Nom nom nom.
Fruit, Kimbab (the thing that looks like sushi from back home), meat wrapped in lettuce leaves and savory rice stuffed into tofu.

Korea has good food but sometimes I cheat and visit a South African restaurant (Braai Republic) in Itaewon, Seoul. It's not really the same but it comes pretty darn close!

Lamb chops, boerewors, potjie, mashed potatoes and creamed spinich.
Everyone should eat this ALL THE TIME.

If you're in Seoul and want some South African food, music and a bietijie Afrikaans visit http://braairepublic.com/

Most importantly, 

have yourself a merry little dessert...

Life is short, 

eat yummy things, 

be thankful that you can 

and 

share your food with friends

* ㅋㅋㅋ is a Korean way of typing hahaha .... The sound is kekeke which is how some Koreans sound when they laugh (no jokes)

Alternatively you could type ㅎㅎㅎ which is the Korean equivalent of the "h" sound ... 

So that would be hahaha in Korean...

That was a nice paragraph of useless info but now you know ;)

** braai is a South African word for barbecue - this involves loads of meat, beer and some sort of sport watching... We South Africans LOVE TO BRAAI