not your average korean. in the korean community, sam ohjunghas been generating quite the buzz due to its "gan-jang geh-jang," literally translated into english as soy sauce raw crab. it's a delightful and intensely flavored dish, featuring two raw whole blue crabs, guts and all, marinated in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a touch of spice, together with some onions and red peppers to offset the sliminess of the crab.
and for $24.95, you can get the entire "jung-shik" (translated to "traditional combo") that features beef ribs, spicy bean paste stew, and the always all-you-can-eat variety of ban-chan, or small dishes, to accompany your crab. really a feast for two, and easily shared by three.
another dish that they do quite well here is the "bu-deh-chee-geh," a very spicy red stew comprised of noodles, ricecakes, sausage, and the occasional chunk of spam! the history behind this dish should be compelling enough to make you order it: the stew originated in itaewon during the 1950's, the sight of the us army base in seoul, when local residents scrounged whatever meat was left behind by the soldiers to get their fill of protien. today, these nasty bits comprise a communal pot that is featured in restaurants all over korea, and here at sam oh jung. be sure to check it out for yourself, especially if you want to kill a hangover . . .