Jeonju Lunch Poll Pandemonium and Hanok Hanbok Hijinks
It was still before noon—an early lunch hour for our Jeonju tour. The car hummed along at a steady speed, and before I knew it, we'd arrived in Jeonju.
"Jeonju means bibimbap, right? Yukhoe bibimbap sounds good, and dolsot bibimbap too... Should we get both?"
"Won't that make dinner tough?"
"Nah! It'll all be digested by evening!"
With Im Nana's superhuman physical abilities, her stomach must digest like a beast too—way better than a normal person's. Lately, if I ate lunch late, I could barely manage dinner.
"Speaking of which, isn't Jeonju famous for more than bibimbap? Like water jjajang? Or omogari soup."
"Yeah! Omogari soup's like spicy fish stew, but I've never tried water jjajang myself."
"I hear it's called water jjajang but doesn't taste like regular jjajang. Kinda curious."
"Ugh... So what do we eat?"
Im Nana clutched her head in agony beside me. For just picking lunch, her face looked seriously distressed.
We'd already hit downtown Jeonju, but no menu decided yet.
"I can't choose! How about asking the viewers?"
"Viewers?"
"Yeah! YouTube has a poll feature. Let's run one—give it 10 minutes and explain."
Oh, right—polls. Handy. I should use it next time for picking camping spots.
Im Nana whipped out her phone, logged into her Nana Channel, and tapped into the community tab. Her fingers flew as she crafted the poll post.
"There! Now we wait for the... gods—no, the viewers' divine guidance."
Im Nana clasped her hands in prayer. Was lunch worth this drama?
Well... now I was curious too. Hunger made it worse.
I pulled out my phone and checked Nana Channel's community. Votes climbed live.
"Whoa... the firepower's insane."
"Right? My subs are loyal! First poll was 'What car to buy?'—nearly half voted."
Im Nana puffed up proudly, shrugging her shoulders.
Watching the votes, it was as expected. Bibimbap and water jjajang traded leads in a nail-biter.
We parked in a nearby public lot and watched eagerly.
"Bibimbap's pulling ahead! Roots can't lose!"
Bibimbap edged out slightly, and Im Nana cheered.
"Guess we search bibimbap spots then."
Right then, one comment caught our eyes.
"Huh?"
We nodded in unison at the comment.
"Makes sense. When else to try water jjajang in Jeonju?"
"...Yeah. Rarity has value."
Im Nana smacked her lips, bummed about skipping bibimbap, but excitement for the new dish won out. She brightened quick.
"Decided! Water jjajang spot it is!"
We set the top-recommended water jjajang place as our new destination. The spot was an old-school Chinese joint, weathered exterior screaming history. The name was quirky—like something from a novel. But the steady stream of customers proved it was legit.
"Whoa... that Chinese food smell is killer!"
Buzzing with hype, we stepped inside. Menu set: two bowls of water jjajang.
Glancing at other tables, I spotted the orange, thick broth in bowls.
"Looks weird. Thought water jjajang meant black like jjajangmyeon."
"Yeah? Areum, check it—TV-featured spot? Total eats haven."
Soon, steaming bowls landed before us.
"Wow! Smells amazing! Kinda spicy, but not too hot, right?"
Im Nana's eyes went wide with wonder. She snapped pics from every angle, curiosity glued to her face.
Not black jjajang sauce—instead, jjampong-red hues. Thick like porridge, packed with seafood. Perfect harmony.
"Let's dig in!"
Im Nana scooped a huge bite first. Slurrrp—noodles vanished coolly, air whooshing in.
...Not hot? Steam was rising clear as day.
"Whoa! What is this? First time, but so good! Not jjajang, not jjampong, but keeps pulling me back!"
That good? Curiosity hit; I tried a bite.
No jjajang taste... not spicy like jjampong... seafood umami with starchy smoothness... what's this addictive pull? First time, but feels familiar somehow...
Brand new flavor, yet cozy and novel—ineffably charming.
"Weird taste. Pepper kick? Or sansho? Kinda ambiguous..."
"Mmmph. Nom nom slurp."
"...Slow down, slow down... I won't steal any."
"Mmm... gulp. Yeah! So good! Like mild mixed jjampong! Less punch than jjampong, but delicious!"
Ah, got it. Faint jjampong vibe—base must be that broth. Watery bibim jjampong, basically. No wonder it rang familiar.
After that, no chat. Im Nana inhaled hers like a vacuum. By my half-bowl mark, she'd polished hers, ordered extra fried mandu.
Steaming mandu arrived; she gulped saliva, generously offering me one.
...I'm stuffed anyway. Said I wouldn't steal.
"Haa... ate well."
"Ugh... ate too much. Portions bigger than expected."
"...You mean you ate a ton?"
"......"
She knows it. Ten mandu, she scarfed nine...
"I don't usually eat this much! For real!"
"From what I've seen, always..."
"Th-that's 'cause with you, Areum, it's always tasty stuff!"
"...Camping food is pretty great."
Chuckling at her "excuse," we left the restaurant.
Hmm, too early for campsite check-in? Just past noon.
"Hours left—what now?"
"Hm... Oh, Hanok Village? Right next door!"
"Sounds good. Full stomach—perfect for walking it off."
"Yeah! Try pretty hanbok, grab street snacks... Wait, no. Skip snacks..."
Thinks of eats post-feast? Impressive.
...Wait, hanbok? Not just look—wear?
"Hanbok? Like, try it on? Not just sightseeing?"
Im Nana shot me a "duh?" look.
"Obviously! Hanok Village without hanbok? Sacrilege!"
"B-but it's winter... Freezing, right?"
Last-ditch hanbok dodge. But she snorted, patting my shoulder.
"No worries! Ancestors wore thick winter hanbok too. They managed—must have options!"
Groan... Hate wise ancestors! Too wise!
How'd they layer hanbok thick? No escape. Followed her lead.
Nav said 10 minutes—next door for real. No prep time...
Zoomed into Hanok Village lot. Even weekday morning, crowds from the entrance.
"Whoa, packed!"
"...Yeah. Hoped for fewer people."
Im Nana buzzed amid the throng, scanning excitedly. Colorful, chic hanbok walkers; tempting street snacks; craft shops drawing eyes.
Following the flow led to hanbok rental alley. Mannequins in antique silks to trendy modern—gorgeous bait everywhere.
And Im Nana bit hard, eyes sparkling.
"Areum, that shop! Hanbok looks stunning!"
Grabbed by the wrist, dragged into a rental shop.