TRY EVERY KOREAN RESTAURANT IN ERMITA AND MALATE

(TEKREM)

The Pitch: While working at WHO and based in the Philippines, initially by myself for 2.5 years from 2014 to 2016, I embarked on a project to eat at all the Korean eateries, including those serving Korean-Chinese fare, located in the neighborhoods of Ermita and Malate, nearby work and home.  45 establishments at the time.  Though anticipating that most of the places would be mediocre, I looked forward to the project for giving me a reason to get out and explore more of my environment.

LEGEND:

* recommended

** highly recommended

! to be avoided

!! banned

# Korean owner on site

Tier 1 (looking forward to it)

    1. * Jinsiang # (6.016 Nakji Jjajmbbong)
    2. Jeonju # (6.010 Jeonju Bibimbap)
    3. Chung Ki Wa # (6.056 Cabbage Hangover Soup)
    4. Gyumon (6.069 Jo Karubi)
    5. Café Chosun # (6.079 Chosun Set)
    6. Yuk Daejang # (6.175 Old Traditional Yukgaejang)

Tier 2 (sure, but not enthusiastically):

Tier 3 (only under dire circumstances):

Tier 4 (to be avoided at all costs):

The Play: Officially, the project was launched on 14 December 2014, starting with the 10th establishment.  The remaining 35 took 7.5 months to complete, for an average of 1 establishment per 6.5 days (compared to 10.3 for TEITY and 2.8 for TERRP).  To accelerate completion, 12 restaurants were covered for lunch/snack and featured in double postings, as here; if I hadn't done so, the 12 restaurants would've taken another 78 days to complete at the current pace, projected to end on 17 October.

The Payoff: As anticipated, most of the restaurants were kinda crappy.  A few individual items here and there were okay.  At the very least, I determined a handful of places worthy of repeat visits.  The most important outcome was simply that I finished the project - I am certain that nobody else has ever done anything like it, nor should they.