Solsot, Hannam Branch (솔솥, 한남점)
Sometimes, a home-cooked meal in a cozy setting is all you need, and Solsot is here to provide that experience. Located in the neighborhood backstreets of Hannam, this branch is a popular favorite amongst many locals in the surrounding area.
Their main specialty is the steak and rice bowl, but other meats are also offered, such as chicken and salmon. Long lines are the norm around dinnertime, so it is recommended to check in at the front kiosk and not unusual to wait around twenty-five minutes or more for a table.
If you are a foreigner or do not have a Korean SIM card to place an order on the kiosk, you can let the host know and they will reserve a spot for you. Ordering is usually done ahead of time on the kiosk to let the kitchen staff know, so it is best to have an idea of what you might want.
The steak rice bowl itself comes in a large metal bowl with a healthy serving of side dishes, or banchan. The banchan consists of (from left to right) a salad, kimchi, spicy paste, wasabi with pickled peppers, miso soup, steak sauce, and hot barley tea.
To begin, you first mix all of the ingredients in the large metal bowl. After the egg yolk, steak sauce, butter, and rice have all mixed thoroughly, you transfer it to the smaller stoneware bowl to eat. Once moved over, the hot barley tea can be poured into the empty metal bowl to sit while you eat. This is known as nurungji (누룽지), and is basically the crisped rice at the bottom of a bowl mixed with hot barley tea. More on this later.
The mixed rice bowl presents an amazing flavor with an amazing texture. The steak is perfectly cooked and melts in your mouth, while the egg yolk and butter help to make the rice creamy and smooth, thus balancing out the tart sweetness of the steak sauce. It is a simple meal altogether, and it reminds one of a home-cooked meal with all of the essential ingredients.
The nurungji is to be eaten either with the main course, or as an after-course. The barley tea allows the rice stuck to the metal bowl to release, giving spoonfuls of crunchy rice bits. In addition, the barley tea helps to sweeten the nurungji itself, making it a pleasant and easy to eat dish.
While Solsot has a few other branches throughout Seoul, the Hannam branch is one that epitomizes coziness and an intimate seating atmosphere. Their steak bowls are absolute delights, and their varied meat options means that there is something for everyone at this restaurant.
