Songtan Entertainment District
If you ever find yourself in the Songtan Entertainment District, South Korea, then it’s probably because:
You completely lost your way on the train and stepped off at Songtan station to ask for directions . . . or . . .
You’re in the U.S. Armed Forces and Uncle Sam sent you to Osan Airbase.
Located right outside Osan Airbase’s main gate, the SED (Songtan Entertainment District — pronounced “said”) is a spiderweb of alleys jutting away from a main thoroughfare lined on either side with hole-in-the-wall shops, eateries, and drinking holes. For those of you who visited the SED back in the day, you’d probably not recognized it now. Gone are the strip clubs, juicy girls, and unregulated soju (a distilled Korean spirit best known to U.S. service members for causing something called The Soju Experience, which sounds as bad for one’s liver and pride as it is). Today’s SED is a family friendly area with plenty of souvenir shops, and some pretty bitchin’ food. Here are some places to check out if you’re looking for a bite:
Suwon Galbi - Traditional Korean Barbecue joint. Good for big groups. Cass on tap, soju, and a simple wine selection.
SCR Rating = 4/5
Sakusaku - Fried chicken at its best. Check out the fried corn and the cheese balls. Cass and soju on tap.
SCR Rating - 4/5
Gimnejib - Specializing in one thing, and one thing only: Army Stew. So what is Army Stew? It’s a mishmash of spam, hot dogs, ground beef, peppers, onions, all in a kimchi base and topped with American cheese. Sound disgusting? That’s where everyone is wrong. It’s one of the best meals you can get in the SED. Check it out. Terra, Cass, and soju available.
SCR Rating = 5/5
Also check out:
Osan Style - Quaint, hole-in-the-wall Korean BBQ joint with a grandma’s kitchen feel to it. Plenty of beers and soju to go with your meal.
SCR rating 3/5
Star Kebab - End-of-night doner kebab takeout with little to no seating (but that doesn’t really matter at this point in the night, does it?). This is the food you eat after you’ve had a few drinks and you’re huffing it back to base before curfew.
SCR Rating = 3/5
Philadelphia Cheese Steaks - These are some of the best Philly Cheese Steaks outside of the namesake city.
SCR Rating = 4/5
