Some Like It Hot

Somehow I thought moving to Korea would be good for my diet.  I hugely underestimated the large quantities of food I would want to try here.  It seems like everything I try tastes good, and I want to try everything, so I'm always on the lookout for new places to eat.

Peter and I had read about this spicy ramyun shop in Myeongdong.  We heard it described as liquid fire.  For those of you who know me well, I love a challenge...and somehow ingesting liquid fire sounded like a challenge worth attempting.  

Here I am outside 틈새라면.  I'm ready.  I mean, it's not like it's an Eggnog Challenge or anything, right!?!

Sometimes ordering in Korean restaurants can be a bit overwhelming.  Too many options, and too little control over the language, can make it difficult to get exactly what you want.  

Especially when Emma wants to order the spaghetti.  Without any sauce.  Only spaghetti noodles.  With butter.  And salt.  Yes...it gets a bit tricky.  

Here, though, you have two options.  Spicy ramyun or not spicy ramyun.  Pretty simple. I like that.

We order one spicy ramyun and one not spicy ramyun.  Easy so far.

Here's what my liquid fire ramyun looked like.  

 

In Korea, the more red, the more fire.  I was surrounded by Koreans sweating profusely while wiping their faces with the ridiculously tiny napkins you get here in Korea.  (Yes, I think napkins have been one of the things I really miss about America.  Korean napkins are about the size of one square of toilet paper...single ply. They absorb absolutely nothing.)  Watching all the locals sweat like crazy made me a little bit nervous, but I jumped right in.  After about five bites, I have to admit, I was severely disappointed.  Yes, it was hot, but liquid fire?  Maybe that was an exaggeration.  

We talked, drew pictures (the entire restaurant is covered in little sticky notes people leave on the walls), and enjoyed our ramyun.

Yes, we talked and ate, and after about 15 bites, my lips started to burn.  10 more bites after that I couldn't feel my lips anymore.  I was sweating way more than the locals and I think my face actually started to turn the same color as the soup.  Whew...I hugely underestimated the power of this dish.  I ended up finishing all my noodles, but left a good amount of the liquid behind.  I was sufficiently humbled.  

Wow.  Kudos to the chef.  

I think the name liquid fire is a keeper.