Friday night we got home kind of late and were both too tired to do anything but sit on the couch and sort of half pay attention to the latest episode of CSI:Miami playing on Korean cable.
Not motivated to cook after my uncharacteristic baking frenzy of the night before, I suggested Dave put his Korean skills to the ultimate expat test: calling for pizza delivery.
If you know Dave, you know that getting delivery ranks right up there with root canals and paying taxes on his list of favorite things to do. He hates to waste good money on mediocre food and paying extra just to have it brought to the door just adds insult to wallet injury. I half-expected him to insist we make do with one of the packages in the giant case of discount ramyeon he bought at Costco.
But, he didn’t. And, when he saw I was serious about busting out the instant mac and cheese, he quickly started dialing.
Could he do it?
As you can see, he could.
We got the food just fine, but were a little surprised to end up paying almost 19,000KRW ($19US) for this “large,” eight-slice pizza. I wonder what a small one looks like.
The pie, from Papa John’s, was very tasty—made with (yes!) real cheese—but a bit too pricey. Also, you can’t see it on the label in the picture, but the word 의국인 (”foreigner”) was typed in the space for customer name. Dave doesn’t recall them asking for his name when he ordered, just the address.
I think they can probably tell we’re not from here, so I guess the address and “foreigner” was all they thought the delivery guy would need to know. I do find it hard to believe we’re the only foreigners ordering pizza in this neighborhood, but maybe I’m wrong.
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Alice 11.13.06 at 11:28 am
Nope, you’re not the only foreigners in the neighborhood ordering less-than-filling pizzas from Papa John’s! We could really throw them off and order at the same time! :)
stef 11.13.06 at 4:10 pm
My area has a building full of foreigners, but they know what our orders are so it’s not like they have to bother asking for our addresses.
Gdog 11.13.06 at 10:31 pm
Small world! We did the same on Friday night but got the Regular Set for 17900w. The pizza was delicious, but very small!
http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/2006/11/ordering-papa-johns-pizzadelivery.html
Gdog 11.13.06 at 10:33 pm
One more thing, did you find that “garlic dipping sauce” extremely…revolting as well??!
MigukNamja 11.14.06 at 7:53 am
Yes, the “garlic dipping sauce” was pretty nasty. Also, we were baffled why Papa Johns pizzas here don’t come with pepperocinis (small, light-green peppers preserved in vinegar) like they do in the states. Those seem more “Korean” than the pickles.
Then again, all of the Korean-style pizzas and other Korean-western food I’ve had has come with pickles. Even our local Italian and French restaurants which have incredible food will serve you a side of pickles with your meal.
It seems there’s two rules about western food in Korea :
1) it must come with pickles on the side
2) if in doubt, make it sweet
MigukNamja 11.14.06 at 7:56 am
Combining rules 1 and 2, the pickles served with Western food are always sweet pickles.
Cat 11.14.06 at 8:21 am
Given that we weren’t sure just exactly what the dipping sauce was–is it cheese? is it butter? is it just butter-flavored oil?–it was pretty revolting. The pizza itself was delicious.
Alice, I think we should try to order at the same time, to see if they send their special for-의국s only delivery guy.
mark 11.14.06 at 8:56 am
I love the garlic dipping sauce.
Oh, and if you have any Papa John’s flyers around
they are usually good for a 15% disount
ZenKimchi 11.14.06 at 10:12 am
Yeah… the pickles. I was hoping that at least Papa John’s would not have the pickles. Thanks for scoping that for me and saving me –gasp– 19,000 won.
I think putting the name on is a formality. They really just need your address. I guess the name’s on there in case you call back to cancel or change your order.
When I worked at Domino’s, we really had no use for the names. The computer used caller ID with the database to pull up their information when they called. When you tell a person your info, they’re really just double checking it on the computer screen–if it’s not your first time ordering.
I haven’t tried Papa John’s in Korea. The garlic sauce at BringWell is my favorite. Nonetheless, you know it’s some transfat chemicals designed for long shelf life. I’d rather just make my own garlic butter.
Recently, our pizza has been Imsil Cheese. They’re cheese is good. Yet I’ve found in my time in Korea, Eun Jeong and I can share a “regular” size pizza, and I actually get full!
–oh… and we send the pickles back with the driver.
Brian B 11.14.06 at 12:28 pm
I’ve always assumed (and it is just that-purely an assumption) that the deal with the pickles was that in the Korean mind, no meal is complete without a pickled vegetable of some sort. Pickles become the equivalent of kimchi in western dishes.
Like I said, just a guess.
Cat 11.14.06 at 12:34 pm
I always heard that it was because so many Koreans hated the cheese aftertaste (the way it sort of coats your mouth and throat) and the pickles help get rid of that.
I made baked ziti for dinner and a Korean friend actually asked me if I had any pickles (I did), so I always thought this was true. Just a case of different palates developing differently. (er, somethin’ . . .)
Anyway, I personally *like* the pickles, because I like pickles.
Then, yes, I guess the ‘foreigner’ was all the information they would need. ;-)
maryeats 11.14.06 at 1:16 pm
You are the stuff food blogging is made of! A grumbling tummy and a camera. In fact, more food posts please!
One of Kev’s biggest complaints about having a food writer of a wife is that he never gets to order crappy pizza and that he never gets to eat at the same restaurant more than twice.
I am in alliance with David. Why spend your money on that stuff? I haven’t had Papa Johns, but by far the best delivery pizza I ever had was domino’s classic pepperoni. Kevin likes Mr. Pizza. But like I said, he gets it once every three months or so. Maybe his Korean would have improved if I had let him order more pizza. Oh well.
Your Brother 11.14.06 at 10:46 pm
I can’t believe there is a Papa Johns Pizza there. It’s the little things that blow me away.
MigukNamja 11.15.06 at 2:07 am
They even have their own specially painted delivery mopeds/motorcycles complete with an enclosed and presumably insulated pizza compartment/cabinet/holder on the back.
However, while pizza is readily available here, getting a decent burger is a challenge. The best burger I’ve had so far has actually been in TGIF’s. The places which try to pass themselves off as “authentic” American burger joints usually have horrible-tasting and small burgers.
maryeats 11.15.06 at 7:45 am
Kat, for burgers, look at Smokey Saloon. There is one in Itaewon behind the Hamilton hotel and one in Sinsa Dong. I haven’t tried them, but I have heard good things. People also love Nashville (the basement) in Itaewon. They have a fantastic mushroom burger.
http://maryeats.com/seoul/itaewonyongsan-gu-restaurants-by-cuisine/american-restaurants-yongsan-gu/
Rose Byrd 11.16.06 at 11:00 pm
Thanks to the “opposite sides of the globe issue” I’m always reading about and admiring photos of yours and David’s fine eating episodes right after the crack of dawn here. What that does to an empty tummy! But keep it up,such great titillation-sharing over cyberspace. I’m sort of concluding that the Koreans want pickles after cheese the way authentic Spanish descendants in New Mexico want sherbet between food courses of their native cuisine. And, once again, Cat, I would remind you that David is an extremely strong throwback to his West great-grandparents, especially when it comes to 1)buying nonperishables in huge quantities to get a better “deal”; and 2)refusing to pay for “frills” like delivered food! Glad he’s found a good burger in Seoul,such a relief!
Pyungchang-dong Hillbillies 12.31.06 at 12:34 pm
Great comments about Pizza ordering. Our favorite delivered pizza is from Pizza Ritto’s. We are not sure where their “manufacturing plant” is located. However, they deliver 2 large pizza’s, within 20 minutes, for 15,000 won (including the ever popular sweet pickles). The kids give the pizza 2 thumbs up. We live in Pyungchang-dong but I believe they have more than one location. bon apetit.
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