Photos by ChiHon Kim ()
If you’re looking for a quick bite or need a break for lunch while visiting the Seoul Botanical Park, check out the café and food court on the 4th floor of the main greenhouse. This is a great, convenient option for families with small children who don’t want to travel far for a good meal.
However, if you have the time and the energy, I recommend heading to the surrounding neighborhood and taking a walk to Son-yeosa about a 10-minute walk from the Park.
You’ll find the restaurant serving up Korean homestyle dishes on the 3rd floor of the Doosan Land Tower B. The menu items are made with fresh ingredients harvested from a farm near Mt. Jirisan, famous for its unspoiled nature.
The restaurant closes from 4 to 5:30 p.m. to turn over and prep for the dinner crowd. I arrived at 4:30 and the kind owner allowed me, their unexpected, and very early guest, in without hesitation. I had walked up quite an appetite, so I was grateful he did.
I ordered avocado pollack roe bibimbap for 12,000 won (or about $10.07), which by the photo looked like the most delicious meal on the menu. In Korea, salted pollack roe is considered a gourmet side dish to go along with steamed rice, but its salty and distinct flavor definitely makes this an acquired taste.
When my bibimbap arrived, it was love at first bite. The slightly salted flavor of the roe and the creamy avocado were complementary. I could not get enough!
And while I chose with my eyes, this dish convinced me I will have to return soon and try other items on Son-yeosa’s vast menu.
ADDRESS: 3F, 152, Magokseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (손여사) 서울 강서구 마곡서로 152 NAVER MAP: http://naver.me/xu8J8GM6 BUSINESS HOURS: Mon to Fri: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Closed every Sunday. CONTACT NUMBER: 02-6989-9339 WEBSITE: http://www.sonyeosa.com/ E-MAIL: sonyeosa_hansik@naver.com
