(Photo courtesy of Seoul Jung)
Guam is known for its diversified food culture. Whatever type of cuisine you are looking for – Chamorro, American, Mexican, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Filipino – you’ll find it on this small island packed with hundreds of restaurants.
Among the ethnic foods available in Guam, Korean cuisine is a popular choice, as the island has over 5,000 Korean residents and before COVID-19 nearly 80,000 Korean tourists visited annually.
If you are looking for authentic Korean tastes, visit Seoul Jung. Housed in Holiday Resort & Spa Guam, the restaurant offers both traditional and modern Korean dishes. Many of ingredients used at the restaurant are imported from Korea to maintain the authenticity, according to Jae Cho, marketing director of Seoul Jung.
“We consider ourselves very authentic,” said Cho. “Our food is a true reflection on what you’d get in Korea, both the traditional dishes we offer as well as the more fusion, modern dishes. Our goal is for Korean tourists to feel quite at home, and also for locals to feel like they’re getting an authentic taste of our culture.”
Traditionally, Korean food has five main colors - green, red, yellow, white, and black. Koreans believe each color has a natural element (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) and its own health benefit. Korean food often contains sesame oil, doenjang (fermented bean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, gochugaru (pepper flakes), gochujang (fermented red chili paste) and Napa cabbage, along with various spices.
Koreans always try to maintain a good balance between the ingredients for the color, taste and nutrition when they cook a dish, as they believe that well-balanced dishes are not only beautiful, but it also contributes to health, according to Cho.
“What makes Korean dishes special is that they have a great balance. Koreans don’t cook food that is overly sweet, salty, greasy, or heavy,” Cho said. “It just feels so natural to the human palate. And Koreans are not afraid of spice.”
Cho said Seoul Jung menu has well-balanced food in mind. “Seoul Jung’s Galbijjim is just so delicious, it’s very well cooked and well balanced,” he said.
The eatery serves some classic Korean dishes like Jjusam Bibimbap (octopus pork belly fried rice) and Peanut Magkeoli. Cho also recommends the Potato Pancake, as it’s crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth while the inside is chewy.
“And our Corn Cheese is wildly popular,” Choe said. “Deservedly so, because we know how to make it exceptionally cheesy and creamy.”
Cho said Seoul Jung’s authentic Korean interior contributes to the authentic Korean tastes in the restaurant. The porcelain wall in the entrance created by Woo-lm Park, the spacious interior designed by Taeho Park, along with modern Korean artwork, vases and traditional furniture is something you’d see in Seoul, South Korea, he said.
So, if you are looking for authentic Korean dishes in an authentic Korean atmosphere, head to Seoul Jung.
Seoul Jung offers a 10 percent discount for those in the military community. All you need to do is show your military or DOD ID.
Seoul Jung
Hours: Daily, Lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dinner 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Location: In Holiday Resort & Spa Guam, 881 Pale San Vitores Road, M Floor, Tumon
Tel: 671-647-0075
