Spicy tteokbokki can be found almost anywhere, but restaurants specialising in tteokbokki stew aren't too common a sight. After torturing myself by rewatching the tteokbokki stew scenes from Korean drama series "Let Eat", a visit to Red Holic was inevitable.

The Beef Brisket Tteokbokki gleefully bubbles away, a pot of red: tteokbokki, ramyum, glass noodles, mandu, leeks, cabbage, tender beef. It is the stuff of my dreams. It is one I willingly embrace, over and over again. It is a messy affair, but I don't care.

You can ask for the sauce to be "extra sweet" or "extra spicy" but I think it's perfect just the way it is. Don't forget the side of fish cake soup ($8), for that extra special touch of authenticity.