Sanchon Korean Temple Cuisine

When you eat at Sanchon, you don’t just get a great vegetarian meal, you get to experience divine Korean temple food in a magical setting. Sanchon is located in a traditional Korean hanok in a quaint back alley of Insadong. Kimchee pots and fuchsia-colored lotus lanterns greet you at the entrance. Behind the reception desk is a dark place where home-made fruit teas are sold alongside antique Korean knick-knacks. Candles with Korean prayers written on them burn mysteriously on the shelves and the waiters, who shuffle quietly about, are real monks dressed in traditional temple garb!
Sanchon was founded by a former Buddhist monk who loved temple food so much; he decided to introduce this unique cuisine to the rest of Seoul. Korean temple food is made with roots, herbs, plants and vegetables which can be found growing in forest and mountain areas. Chemical additives and stimulant spices are not used in temple cuisine. A full course meal can include things made with tofu, mushroom, potatoes, rice, mugwort beans. Vegetable pancakes, different kinds of stews and steamed veggies are oftentimes part of the set menu. This kind of food may not be something you want to eat every day, but it’s healthy as well as delicious. Some of the food even has medicinal purposes. The home-brewed fruit wine is a good accompaniment to your meal. A set dinner with 16 different dishes will run you 31,900 won. There are also a few a la carte choices. Most nights around 8 pm, there’s a traditional Korean performance with dinner. If you want a truly unique dining experience, you should definitely try Sanchon. It’s a great place for visitors and locals to get a taste of Korea.$$$ 02-735-0312 www.sanchon.com


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