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Enjoying a taste of Seoul in South Jakarta
Jakartans don’t need to go to South Korea to get authentic Korean food. They just need to drive to the south of the capital and find “Little Seoul” to satisfy their Korean cravings.
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A customer is served at Seorak Chueotang, one of the Korean restaurants on Jl Senopati, South Jakarta. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
F
rom hot tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) and crunchy kimchi (fermented vegetables) to the savory sauce of jajangmyeon (Korean-style noodles), Korean food is becoming known around the world, especially with the growing fame of K-pop, K-drama and mukbang (live eating shows).
Fortunately, Jakartans don’t need to go to South Korea to get authentic Korean food. They just need to drive to the south of the capital and find “Little Seoul” to satisfy their Korean cravings.
Jakarta’s first “Little Seoul” is on Jl Senopati in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Located near Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), Jl Senopati hosts many restaurants and cafes, including dozens that serve Korean cuisine.
One of the popular spots on Jl Senopati is Young Dabang, a 104-seat Korean restaurant located on Jl Senopati 57. Entering the restaurant, customers are greeted with rows of wooden tables under yellow light bulbs, a red neon sign and pictures that give the restaurant a retro vibe.
Manager Ella Dewa said that unlike other Korean restaurants in Jakarta, which offer fine dining experiences to their customers, Young Dabang chose to serve Korean street food in a cozy hang-out spot aimed at young people.
“We want our spot to be a hang-out for young people. In K-drama, when Koreans are stressed out or want some entertainment, they’ll go to street food vendors and enjoy a bottle of soju. We want to recreate that atmosphere here,” Ella said.
Young Dabang, which opened in 2016, serves about 30 types of street foods, including tteokbokki, jjampong (spicy seafood soup), ramyon (ramen), Korean fried chicken and soju with prices that range from Rp 75,000 (US$5.33) to Rp 200,000.
