How to use Pyeongtaek.
A local’s guide to everyday life here. We start with food, and more sections are coming.
Hello from a local
Hi, I’m a semiconductor engineer, and Pyeongtaek is my neighborhood. I made this guide for U.S. service members so your first weeks here are easier. I’m also practicing my English, so please tell me if something sounds strange.
Start with food
Six dishes every visitor should try, and the places where I like to eat them.
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부대찌개Budae-jjigae
“Army stew.” It started in the years after the Korean War, when cooks mixed Korean spices with surplus U.S. Army food like Spam and sausage. Spicy, hearty, and shared from one pot.
Local pick: 조가네부대찌개 (Jogane Budae-jjigae)
Near Seojeong-ri Station. About 10,000 won per person. Songtan is famous for budae-jjigae and has many well-known restaurants, but this is the one I like best. The stew is full of garlic flavor. The fun part: a halmoni (grandmother) brings the pot to your table and cooks it for you. Do not touch the pot or the food! She will tell you off. Sit back and wait until she says it is ready.
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삼겹살Samgyeopsal
Thick pork belly grilled at your table. Wrap it in a lettuce leaf with garlic and ssamjang sauce. The classic Korean night out.
Local pick: 두투미 (Dutumi)
Godeok New Town, Pyeongtaek. Pork belly and pork neck (moksal) are 16,000 won per serving. The premium cuts, hangjeongsal (pork jowl) and gabrisal, are 20,000 won per serving. The side dishes are really good. Look for the pig logo on the door.
Address: 경기 평택시 고덕여염10길 133
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치킨Korean fried chicken
Extra crispy, usually double fried. Pick plain, sweet and spicy, or soy garlic. Locals eat it with cold beer.
Local pick: BBQ fried chicken
Korea is a nation of fried chicken lovers, and there are a huge number of chains. I think the big three are BBQ, Goobne, and Kyochon. I recommend the classic: BBQ’s fried chicken. Any BBQ shop near you is fine. The one I use is close to Samsung Electronics. Order it half and half: half plain fried (후라이드), half yangnyeom (양념, a sweet and spicy sauce).
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짜장면Jjajangmyeon
Noodles in a sweet black bean sauce. Not spicy. A good first meal if you are nervous about heat.
Local pick: 명품짬뽕 (Myeongpum Jjamppong)
Godeok New Town, Pyeongtaek. Search “명품짬뽕” on Naver Map. An old-school Chinese-Korean restaurant with traditional-style jjajangmyeon, my favorite in the area. Jjajangmyeon is about 9,000 won. The black bean sauce is sweet. Here the noodles and sauce come in separate bowls, so pour the sauce over the noodles and mix. There are two kinds: regular jjajangmyeon is a little more moist, and ganjajang is thicker and has a deeper, richer taste. Also try the jeyuk deopbap (spicy stir-fried pork over rice). Tangsuyuk (Korean sweet and sour pork) starts at 20,000 won, so it is good for sharing.Address: 경기 평택시 고덕여염10길 14 1층
Show this to a taxi driver, or paste it into your map app.
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국밥Gukbap
Hot soup with rice, served in a stone bowl. Simple, cheap, and filling. Great after a long shift or a rough night.
Local pick: 만세해장국 (Manse Haejangguk)
It is a bit far from here, but it is very famous among Koreans. This is naejang gukbap, a spicy soup made with offal (organ meat). “Haejangguk” means hangover soup. Some visitors may hesitate because of the organ meat, but it is worth trying if you are adventurous. It is so spicy that even Korean people sweat while they eat it. -
떡볶이Tteokbokki
Chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy red sauce. Street food that locals eat as a snack, usually with fish cakes.
Say it in Korean
Five phrases that work in almost any restaurant. Servers will smile when you try.
| Korean | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이거 주세요 | ee-guh joo-seh-yo | This one, please. |
| 안 맵게 해주세요 | an maep-geh heh-joo-seh-yo | Not spicy, please. |
| 물 좀 주세요 | mool jom joo-seh-yo | Water, please. |
| 계산해 주세요 | gyeh-san-heh joo-seh-yo | The check, please. |
| 맛있어요! | mah-si-ssuh-yo | It’s delicious! |
Good to know
- Side dishes (banchan) are free, and you can ask for more.
- Many BBQ places ask for at least two servings. Going with a friend helps.
- No tipping. The price on the menu is the price you pay.
- Press the call button on the table, or say “저기요” (juh-gi-yo) to get the server’s attention. It is not rude here.
- Many small restaurants take cards, but keep a little cash for street food.
Daily life basics
- For directions, use Naver Map or Kakao Map. Google Maps is often limited in Korea.
- Papago is a free app that translates Korean signs and menus with your camera.
- A T-money card works on buses and trains. Buy and recharge it at convenience stores.
- Most convenience stores are open 24 hours. You can buy snacks, drinks, and basic medicine there.
- Trash and recycling have strict rules. See the section below.
- Emergency numbers: 119 for fire and ambulance, 112 for police. For travel help in English, call 1330.
Trash and recycling
This is the first thing that confuses most newcomers. Rules can be different in each building, so ask your landlord or building office for your schedule.
- General trash: put it in official pay-per-volume trash bags. You can buy them at convenience stores and supermarkets. Regular plastic bags are not accepted.
- Food waste: keep it separate from general trash. Many apartments have special bins, and some use a card or tag at a machine. Drain the liquid first. Bones and shells usually go in general trash.
- Recycling: paper, plastic, glass, cans, and vinyl are sorted separately. Rinse the containers, remove labels, and flatten boxes. Many buildings have a recycling area or a set day each week.
- Big items: furniture and appliances need a pickup request, and sometimes a paid sticker. Ask the building office before you leave them outside.
Things that surprise newcomers
- Many delivery apps work best with a Korean phone number. Ask a Korean friend or coworker to help you set one up.
- Speed cameras are everywhere. Navigation apps warn you, so keep the sound on.
- Apartment walls and floors are thin. Neighbors do complain about noise at night, so be careful with jumping kids, workouts, and loud music.
- People take their shoes off at home, and at some restaurants with floor seating.
- Some small restaurants only have Korean menus. Use Papago, or just point and smile.
Where to go on your day off
Places I go often on my days off, plus a few easy trips from Pyeongtaek.