Best of Pyeongtaek Poll 2019

by
Support Local Businesses and Local Ads

About the 2019 Best of Pyeongtaek Poll

South of Seoul is proud to host the 3rd Annual Best of Pyeongtaek Poll in celebration of our delicious and delightful community. The South of Seoul volunteer organization has supported area expats since 2015 and manages multiple Facebook groups, the South of Seoul Facebook page, South of Seoul blog, and South of Seoul smartphone app.

No We adore this rich life we live south of Seoul and feel honored to help new arrivals discover the hidden magic it holds. Pyeongtaek is a rewarding mix of city life and country life which can make it a challenge for new arrivals, but with a little information, Pyeongtaek is a delightful place for an extended work assignment or to put down semi-permenant roots.

For 2019 we added few new categories and withdrew a few categories In order to make the poll a bit shorter and slightly less tedious. Since South of Seoul volunteers stay closely connected with the community, each year we adjust the categories to reflect what is happening right now. This means each year the poll is a little different. We thank everyone who put in the effort to fill out the poll all the way to the end or cast a vote each day.

The South of Seoul is open to the public. We make every effort we can to reach past our community to gain a real insight into people’s preferences. We feel confirmation bias does not serve the greater good. We want our poll to hold accurate information whether that information feeds our narrative or not. We want to meet the needs of the community and the South of Seoul Best of Pyeongtaek Poll provides us with insight we need to do that. That said, nothing about this poll is scientific. It is for fun and for community development. We do try to level the playing field as much as possible by leaving the poll open for two-weeks and you to vote once a day. Over 250 people participated in the poll in 2019. 

Support Local Businesses and Local Ads

When reviewing the responses to The Best of Pyeongtaek 2018 poll we discovered something very exciting, English speaking residents in Pyeongtaek moving outside the old comfort zones! This started trend started in 2018 and has continued to grow. Each year more votes are cast for any businesses that aren’t English dominant or located in Songtan/Shinjang or Paengseong areas. That’s right! English speakers are moving about the city more! We are all enjoying more of the magic Pyeongtaek has to offer. This growing trend makes our South of Seoul hearts very happy.

We were incredibly honored to find that South of Seoul continues to be a leader in information in the Pyeongtaek. Our Pyeongtaek Food and Fun Groups has been a power house of information with the community coming together to support people every single day. This has driven it to become the most influential place for expats to gather information. However, Nothing replaces the votes and encouragement of friends. Remember that sharing information between each other is the greatest support you can give a friend and the community at large.

Sources of information for Pyeongtaek.

Enough talking, time to get down to business. *drum roll please* We are proud to announce the amazing, hard-working, talented winners of The Best of Pyeongtaek 2019. Go visit them all!

Best of Pyeongtaek Poll Results in 2019

Best World Cuisine: BRAAI REPUBLIC

We are having a steady increase in foreigner-owned restaurants cooking up specialty foods. The clear leader in this category is Braai Republic who also has a restaurant in Seoul and also won Best BBQ Restaurant in Pyeongtaek 2018. When you go you feel like you stepped out of Korea and into South Africa. The food and atmosphere are perfection.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Braai Republic’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best World Cuisine
  • 2018 Best Non-Korean BBQ

Best Irish Bar: WOLFHOUND

The Wolfhound Irish Pubs are loved from Seoul to Busan, so when they opened one in Pyeongtaek it came on the scene fast. This large but cozy feeling bar serves up cold beer and some of the best fish & chips in town. Also be sure to stop in for the Irish breakfast during brunch time. They won the Irish bar category with authority.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Wolfhound’s Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Craft Beer
  • 2018 Best Irish Bar

Best Sandwich Shop: EPHPHATHA

For the second year in a row, the sandwich shop with the impossible name, Ephphatha, has won over Pyeongtaek hearts with their hearty and delicious Philly Cheese-steaks. A well deserved win by this hardworking couple. Sandwich shops keep opening in the area, but Ephphatha has held on and kept up the great work.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Ephphatha’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Sandwich Shop

Best Non-Korean BBQ Restaurant: JP’S BBQ

JP has been working hard to bring authentic USA style smoked meat to Pyeongtaek for years! He started out working the pink carts in Songtan and grew into a catering company. In 2018 he and his wife opened their own storefront in Paengseong and in 2019 they opened a second location in Songtan/Sinjang-dong. Last year they won for Best BBQ Sandwich and this year they swept all non-Korean BBQ categories.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

 JP’s Other Awards:

  • 2018 Best Brisket
  • 2018 Best BBQ Sandwich
  • 2017 Best BBQ Sandwich

Best Korean BBQ Restaurant: HWA HWA (Paengseong)

Hwa Hwa has been a Paengseong institution for as long as we can remember. It was recently remodeled and offers Korean BBQ and sides that lean toward the western taste. It’s the perfect spot to get used to this delicious new way of eating. Once you have tried them, keep trying as many other BBQ joints as you can. The choices are limitless.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Family Restaurant: THE BIG BITE

In a food scene dominated by pubs and sports bars, where do families go? They go to The Big Bite which serves big portions, has high chairs, and unlimited soda. The prices are on the higher end, but that’s because they give you enough food for an army. 

This category has been growing big time. We are very impressed that Big Bite held onto victory this year. It’s a tough category to win.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Family Restaurant
  • 2018 Best Pasta

Best Peruvian Restaurant: CEVICHE 210

When you think Pyeongtaek you probably don’t think “What an amazing place for Peruvian food!”… but you should. The best of the bunch is, hands down, Ceviche 210. It’s a show stopper. It’s hard to pick a favorite dish on their menu because it’s all friggen delicious.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Ceviche 210’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Peruvian
  • 2017 Best “World” Cuisine

Best Filipino Restaurant: ALICES’S FILIPINO CUISINE

We have been blessed with a plethora of Filipino options and Alice’s Filipino has been voted the best. It has a great location near Camp Humphreys and offers very affordable meal sets. This is the perfect cuisine for those who don’t like spicy food. Next time you need some lumpia or chicken adobo, you know where to go. Next year this category will be packed! Even more places are opening.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Alice’s Filipino Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Filipino Restaurant

Best Thai Restaurant: TASTE OF THAILAND

Are you looking for some Pad Thai or Green Thai Curry? We are lucky enough to have many Thai restaurants in the area but the community favorite in 2018 and 2019 was Taste of Thailand near Camp Humphreys. They have a solid menu that keeps their customers happy.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Taste of Thailand’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Thai Restaurant

Best Mexican or Tex-Mex: GUACAMOLE

Guacamole has been picking up steam since they arrived. The owner listens to community feedback and builds a menu that fits the community. Listening has been their secret weapon in winning one of the most tightly contested categories in Pyeongtaek. They have two locations in Paenseong.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Closed Due to 2020 Pandemic: Best Vietnamese: BONNIE’S 

Bonnie’s stole Pyeongtaek hearts fast. The chef offers up a fusion table of both Vietnamese and Thai dishes that are prefect for summer or winter. This is the kind of fancy Vietnamese you have in Ho Chi Min at the fancy cafes. The space is perfect for special events and date nights. Service tends to be slower than other places, but the food is worth it.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Bonnie’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Vietnamese

Best Middle Eastern: RED ONION

One of the oldest Turkish kebab restaurants in the area moved into a big, beautiful space and have a new name, Red Onion. The new space and their improved menu certainly wowed Pyeongtaek. They won Best Middle Eastern restaurant by a landslide despite some stiff competition. We are loving this new trend in fancy middle eastern restaurants.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Red Onion’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Middle Eastern (under the name Nazar Kebab at the time)

Best Indian: ARATI NORTHERN INDIAN

Arati has been working toward this award for many years. Their food is consistently delicious. Since Indian food in the are is excellent, they had to work hard to earn this recognition. We are so happy to see them bring this award home. They deserve it!

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Japanese Restaurant: SAM’S SUSHI

Pyeongtaek has some exceptional and unique Japanese restaurants so the fact Sam’s won this category in their first year is amazing. They have done an excellent job connecting with the community.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Sam’s Sushi Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Sushi

Best Sushi: SAM’S SUSHI

US style sushi has been popping up more and more around Pyeongtaek and it took a force of nature to win this competitive category. Sam’s creative rolls and skillful use of ingredients make his sushi standout from the crowd. He doesn’t just stuff everything imitation crab. This isn’t glorified corner store sushi. This sushi is captivating.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Sam’s Sushi Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Japanese Restaurant

Best Japanese Ramen: AORI RAMEN

This popular brand of Japanese ramen dominated the ramen votes this year. Located near AK plaza, the popular brand is the perfect place to grab a meal when you are eating alone. Not great for groups. It’s on the second floor so be sure to look up or you might miss it.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Burger: COCO SALSA TACO AND BURGER

Against all odds (they are located in a parking lot in a basement) Coco Salsa won over Pyeongtaek this year. Their In-n-Out inspired burgers are both delicious and affordable. It’s also a huge bonus that parking is never a problem and you can call in your order for pick-up. They offer the perfect combination of taste, affordability, and convenience.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Tacos: EL PINO 323

All Mexican food categories are neck in neck with only a few votes separating the top 3 contenders. In this case, the new hotspot in town —El Pino — barely beat out Guacamole and Que Rico. We are talking a difference of only 6 votes! It’s so cool to see this level of competition in a fan favorite category. Honestly though, you need to eat here.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Pizza: BRIX PIZZA (Paengseong & Sinjang)

There is a BRIX Pizzeria in both Paenseong and Sinjang. They are the same brand but different owners. Since they both racked up high votes we thought we should give it to both of them. The pizza is equally delicious.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

BRIX won best pizza in pyeongtaek in 2019

Best Pulled Pork Sandwich: JP’s AMERICAN BBQ

JP has been working hard to bring authentic USA style smoked meat to Pyeongtaek for years! He started out working the pink carts in Songtan and grew into a catering company. In 2018 he and his wife opened their own storefront and people are raving. In 2019 they opened a second store in Sinjang. JP’s Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich is the stuff dreams are made of. Also be sure to try the brisket!

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

JP’s BBQ Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Brisket
  • 2019 Best Non-Korean BBQ
  • 2018 Best BBQ Sandwich

Best Brisket: JP’s AMERICAN BBQ

Let’s just say that JP is quietly dominating the western BBQ scene in Pyeongtaek. We usually include different categories because it allows restaurants in these competitive categories to shine in their own way. However, JP has truly killed it and run away with the crown. They won with authority in each area. People love this place.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

JP’s BBQ Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Non-Korean BBQ
  • 2019 Best BBQ Sandwich
  • 2018 Best BBQ Sandwich

Best Western Breakfast: JJ’s AMERICAN DINER

JJ’s has been serving up classic, affordable American style breakfasts for years. Their beautiful space and comfort food menu make it a popular place the eat the most important meal of the day – breakfast! The prices also make it perfect for families.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Fried Pickles: BEAR PAW PUB

Bear Paw has been serving hearty and heartwarming food for longer than the rest. Their Fried Pickles are a Pyeongtaek institution. When you are Northerner missing the taste of home, get your butt over to Bear Paw. They will treat you right.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Place for Craft Beers: WOLFHOUND

Wolfhound won best craft beer in Pyeongtaek

Not only is Wolfhound the best Irish bar for two years in a row, it is also the best place to grab a craft beer. This is saying a lot since each pub and bar prides themselves in their selection. Don’t be too shocked by the prices. Craft beer is still relatively new to Korea and that shows in the price tag.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Wolfhound’s Other Awards:

  • 2019 Best Irish Bar
  • 2018 Best Irish Bar

Best Elegant Cafe & Best Dessert Cafe: DEWDROP

Dewdrop has a huge, gorgeous cafe right near Brownstone in Paengseong. Their attention to detail and delicious desserts has made them a favorite spot for those looking for a place that’s extra. They are an excellent choice for dates and ladies night. Follow them on Instagram to see their latest creations.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Dewdrop’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Elegant Cafe
  • 2018 Best Dessert Cafe

Best Unique Drinks: BEE & HONEY CAFE

It is so cool that people are seeking out this cafe. It is far out in the countryside near Pyeongtaek Lake. It also isn’t open late at night. It does have amazing honey and themed drinks. It also has local honey for sale for your home.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Hipster Cafe: VACANCY CAFE

Is there anything more hipster than a cafe that looks like an abandoned lot in an older neighborhood? We think not. We were shocked people even knew where this was, but that’s what South Of Seoul does- we shine the light on the hidden gems. If you love understated, cool places, you need to go here stat.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best “Date Night” Neighborhood: SOSABEOL

One of the most common questions we get is, “Where can we go on a date?” So we decided to put it to a vote and the winning neighborhood is Sosabeol, Bijeondong! This new neighborhood is packed with restaurants and things to do so you will never be bored or hungry.

Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best “Date Night” Neighborhood
  • 2017 Best “Date Night” Neighborhood

Best Massage & Best Alternative Health Clinic: CREATE WELLNESS

When Create Wellness moved to the community we were very excited, now we know we aren’t the only ones. This sports medicine wellness clinic is helping people across the city live their best lives. If you need help with pain, these are they folks to call. They are also providing space for Adaptable Human Solutions therapy services on Fridays.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Create Wellness’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Massage
  • 2018 Best Alternative Health Clinic

Best Dentist: C & I DENTAL

We are actually lucky to have a variety of English speaking dentist in Pyeongtaek and the most loved in 2019 C&I Dental near Camp Humphreys. This dental clinic has been supporting the expat community in Pyeongtaek for many years. Their dentists and staff are excellent and familiar with what foreigners want from their dental experience.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

Best Hospital: ST. MARY’S

St. Mary’s barely squeezed out Good Morning Hospital by only a few votes. This hospital is most popular for its women’s center and extremely supportive foreigner support staff.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

St. Mary’s Past Awards:

  • 2018 Best Hospital

Best Place To Buy A Car: GORILLA MOTORS

Located near Camp Humphreys, Gorilla Motors has a strong reputation for selling cars and fixing cars. This is where many US Military go for their auto needs.

Leave them your reviews in the South of Seoul app.

That’s it for this year folks! Be sure to share this with your friends and give all the places a try. Thank you, again, to everyone who participated. Now that we have closed out 2018, we are looking forward to what 2019 brings!