Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Mexican Food in Seoul

Mexican food in Seoul is sparse and a bit cryptic.  One will hear rumors, strange utterings; one will follow them around dark corners, through alleys, transfer stations, up hills and down them again, always wondering what was the name of the subway stop at which you were suppose to exit.  You write it down, but nothing is ever spelled like it is spoken here.  Everyword has many spellings.  You finally come upon the restaurant and feel you have been traveling for days.

The chips are placed before you and they might be stale and cold.  They might serve them to you in a bowl the size of an ash tray.  The salsa is not salsa.  It's probably just diced tomatoes.  Then the food comes and it may make you want to scream for the price you are paying.  The food is all cold and flavorless, hard and tacky.  All this is possible...but then one day you hear that there is an On The Border in Sinchon.  You tell them to shut up and stop filling you with such nonsense.  Shut up! you say.  They say, No, you shut up!

You find the On The Border, and it is real.  It is in Sinchon on the green line.  You pray over the food.  The chips are perfect.  The waiters are puppy dogs, so kind you want to pet them.  The hot cheese and beans go down and reside in your stomach as dense as mortar, but you are content.  You don't care if it is still not as good as that hole in the wall you know back home called Rosita's or El Sol.  It is good.  It is El Seoul.  Thank you, Lord. 

5 comments:

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  2. I am glad you were able find to that On The Border. I imagine it's nice to have a occasional American TexMex fix. I love your gentle humor and the way you painted the scenes with words. I felt like I was walking with you all along your journey to OTB.

    My favorite line: "The waiters are puppy dogs, so kind you want to pet them."

    Oh, and not only is it "El Seoul", I think it might be "El Seoul Food". Eh? Also, did it taste like the On The Borders here?

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  3. I felt as though I was walking with you, too. Lol.

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  4. Thanks, Mark! David, it tasted great. Good pun! It is good to have Mexican food every now and then. I hope you are well, friend!

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  5. I love mexican food and do not think i could go very long without enjoying it. Glad to see you found the "real " thing.

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