When it rains, the
food that comes to mind is definitely “bedae-mochi.â€
When I want to eat a bed bug cake, the sound of falling rain is similar to the sound of a sizzling bed bug rice cake cooking. Bedbug mochi is a dish made by adding pork, bean sprouts, green onions , etc. to a dough made by
grinding
mung beans and pouring it in oil. As the
popular lyric “If you don't have money, go home and eat a bedbug cake or Buddha†shows, it was a comforting food that appeased the hunger of the common people in their poor days. Various theories have been handed down
about the origin of beddae-mochi. Once upon a time, when meat was placed on sacrifices, rice crackers were used as a base. After the ceremony, poor people shared rice balls that were used as pedestals. The most
likely theory is
that it comes from the rice cake of the poor, or “empty rice cake.†Korean soul food that goes great with makgeolli. Here are some memorable flavors that come to mind on a rainy day, and Masung's Seoul bedae-mochi restaurant.
1. Healing place on the way home from work, Yeomchang Station “Old-fashioned rice cake â€
Image source: Sunnydancelover's Instagram
Image source: Sunnydancelover's Instagram
Bindae-mochi specialty store “Old-fashioned Bindae-mochi†is located near Yeomchang Station. It's a place where the savory smell that comes up to the subway entrance catches the footsteps of people passing by on their way home from work. The signature menu is “Niku Mung Bean Bun Mochi,†which has a thick yet soft
flavor. Pork is finely ground and is characterized by the crunchy texture of the meat every time it is eaten.
All menus are served on a cast iron pot lid so you can keep them warm for a long time. It's a good idea to serve sweet and sour pickled
onions with red pepper mixed with samjang. Please note that all menus can be packaged .
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 638, Gonghang-daero, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
▲ Business hours: 16:00 — 00:30 every day
â–² Price: Kimchi, mung bean, bedae-mochi, 8,000 won, meat,
mung bean, bedae-mochi, 7,000 won
â–² Testimonial (Asurajin): The truth is that you have to wait and eat at the store rather than pack it up and eat it! Freshly baked bedbug rice cake is an art
2. 'Train House' in Jongno, the oldest bed cake shop in Seoul
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
This is a bedae-mochi specialty store that has been in operation since 1950. Although the store has
moved, it is a place that is still visited by regular customers who can't forget the taste of the past. The signature menu is the “original beddae-mochi,†which boasts a
savory flavor. The characteristic of the dough is that it is made by grinding 100% mung beans and baked crispy in lard as soon as the order is placed. The salty, savory shellfish
that comes with it captures the oily flavor of the bedbug mochi. Please note that they have a variety of
famous makgeolli from all over the country that go well with beddae mochi, so you can enjoy whatever you like.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 47, Jong-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 10:00
— 24:00, Saturday 10:00 — 23:00, Sunday (public holidays) 14:00 — 22:00
â–²Price : Original bedbug mochi (3 pieces) 12,000 won, chijian
13,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami HyosuBee): Do you like oysters? If so, that alone is enough reason to
find a train station. If you put oysters on the savory bedae-mochi and take a bite, you'll find makgeolli .
3. Gwangjang Market, Jongno's “Sunhee Nebin Dae Mochi â€
Image source: Shikishin user Kim Jun-kyu
“Sunhee-nebindae-mochi†has become an essential course
for tourists visiting Gwangjang Market. This place is also a
favorite place for foreigners, and is famous for its bedae-mochi, which is delicious even when it cools down. The signature menu is “Bindae-mochi.â€
Grind the mung beans finely and add a thick layer of savory corn oil. The characteristic is that mung beans are directly ground with a mill to create particles. You can enjoy the rich flavor by adding plenty of aged kimchi , crunchy bean sprouts, and green
onions. Note that “meatballs,†which have an occasional flavor that goes well with makgeolli, are also popular, so be sure to check out
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 5, Jong-ro 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 00:00 —
24:00 every day
â–²Price: Bedae-mochi 4,000 won, meatballs 2,000 won
â–²Testimonial (
Shikigin Wannie): Bedbug rice cake is love. They even ate makgeolli together, so it's a fantastic
taste! There were so many people that I waited to go in! The amount
seemed small, but absolutely! Rather, I left it behind. I definitely recommend it~ it looks like a gourmet restaurant.
4. Grandma's skill that reminds me of a holiday, Gongdeok “The original Mapo Grandma's bedae-mochi â€
Image source: Shikigami user Yum Yum 222
Image source: Shikigami user Yum Yum 222
“Wonjo Mapo Grandma Beddaemok â€, located in Gongdeok Jeongok, is a popular restaurant that has long lines outside the market on rainy days. At the
entrance of the store, there are many types of exhibits, such as Daegu Exhibition, Gujaja Exhibition, and Shrimp Exhibition.
You can order the menu written on the menu board, or you can pick and order whatever you want. The signature menu is “mung bean bedae-mochi.†The mung bean particles are alive, so it's nice to feel the unique light flavor. The accompanying
redfish sauce and dongchimi are delicacies that enhance the taste buds and capture the feeling of beddae mochi. Please note that pre-orders are accepted during the holidays.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 23, Mallijae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 00:00 — 24:00 every day
â–²Price: Assorted rice bowl (large) 19,000 won, fried rice platter (large) 19,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Take care of your diet): Every time you go on a diet,
this is a place that makes you lose your commitment, even when it's late, so I often think of late-night meals as a habit. My husband, who can't help with his diet, really likes this restaurant.
5. Market Food Collection, Gwangjang Market 'Park Ga-neul Beddaemok'
Image source: heeeeeeee_ra's Instagram
Image Source: 88soo88's Instagram
“Park Ga-nee Bindae-mochi†is a place that is very friendly, offering
tasting bedae-mochi in front of a large teppan that is served on the spot. The signature menu is “Bindae-mochi.†The mung
bean beddae mochi, which is served as soon as you order, is covered with plenty of oil and has a crispy yet moist flavor. In addition, you can also enjoy various market foods such as yukhoe and narcotic gimbap. Check
out the
second store located nearby , where you can
enjoy the delicacy menu “Park Ga-neul Samhap,†where you eat bedae-mochi, boiled pork, and cod roe together. You can place the oysters on a thick slice of bedbug cake, dip the pork lightly in sesame salt, and
eat it all at once.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 7, Jong-ro 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 08:00 –
22:00 every day
â–²Price: Bindae-mochi 5,000 won, seafood/meat bedae-mochi 8,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Helltifoodist): Sizzling ~ ~ popping visuals. Hash brown visuals, not bedbugs. So crunchy. Eating hash brown made from healthy mung beans instead of potatoes with
pickled onions really feels like the globalization of Korean food!