How in the world Braai Republic escaped a review from me I have no idea. I’ve eaten here a few times in the past few months and I somehow I believed that I’d written it up. Not so! So here we go folks!
I didn’t know what to expect when I heard the words South African food. I knew the country was a mish mash of cultures bound together through historical circumstances. I just couldn’t figure out what the food would be like with so many disparate ethnicities involved.
What I discovered basically came down to meat and plenty of it. The world Braai means barbecue in Afrikans and that’s exactly what this restaurant specializes in. Their braai features boerewors sausage (a spiced minced meat marvel that’s savory and tasty), droewors venison ( a dried boerewors super tangy and suited for a snack alongside a beer or cider), biltong which is like droewors except made of beef, then there’s something called pap which I thought was rice or maybe potato but turned out to be corn meal. Loved it. It’s served just like mashed potatoes but the consistency is very mealy.
There’s also other homemade South African dishes and drinks on hand like lamb bobotie ( a casserole type dish), oxtail stew, Ceres guava, mangoo, and lychee juice, Amarula Cheesecake which I guess would make a Saffa far from home break down and weep for joy.
You have two native South Africans, Chris Truter and Roddy Bancroft, to thank for bringing you a taste of their homeland to Seoul. It’s a most welcome change. Seoul doesn’t have enough variety for such a huge city of millions and Braai Republic fills a much needed niche.
To get a definitive opinion I think I’d have to go with a South African friend to see how they compare it to the food back in their homeland, but until then as it was my first introduction to South African food I’d say Braai Republic left my stomach feeling content, but my wallet a lot lighter.
Prices:
Depending on what you order expect to pay between 15,000 to 35,000 KRW for food and drinks.
Delivery:
You can order Delivery from Braii via Shuttle (셔틀). The prep time is 15 to 35 minutes.
Hours:
Closed Mondays.
Tue – Thu:5:00 pm-11:00 am
Fri – Sun:12:00 pm-11:00 pm
Phone:
070-8879-1967
Address:
63-4, Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Website:
Directions:
In Itaewon at the McDonalds turn right into the alley, keep walking straight cross the intersection and it will be on your left up on the second floor. Locations also in Hongdae and Pyeongtaek
Man! I cant go back and edit after proof reading my stupid mistakes! Damn you Facebook for getting me used to that luxury!
Sorry, no spell checker here! Ha!
The problem with the food here is not that it is good or mad, but that it is not like we eat it in my house. The dishes hare vary slightly from house to house, a bit like one Kimchi is just not like another. That is why it is not that easy for a Saffer to say if it is truly good or not.
I have been to the Braai Republic and the food is good. If you want a taste of Afrikaans South Africa then this is the place to be. Keep in mind that although other groups in SA sometimes eat this, traditionally they don’t eat much of it. Coloured people in the cape area will not eat what Black people in the Northern Province eat, what Indians in Durban eats, that Boere in Bloemfontein eat.
Thanks for the insight Otto, I didn’t realize this. Does that mean that the different ethnic groups primarily eat their own distinctive dishes? I was sort of picturing that everyone basically ate everything even though a particular dish would be from a particular group.