Monday, November 14, 2016

2016 Nov: South Korea: Flavors of Seoul

Gyeonggi-do

The Farmer's Table
Location: Heyri Artinus 1F, 1652-393 Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon region, Paju town, Gyeonggi-do province | Heyri Art Village
Heyri Art Village Gate #4, straight ahead until the first intersection, first quadrant on the right.
Food: pizza (25,000 KRW = 1,000 PHP) 
Personal Preference: 9 out of 10, definitely a posh restaurant, thus expensive.
Good Morning Cafe (The Garden of Morning Calm)
Location: 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Food: Machiatto (6,000 KRW = 240 PHP), Latte (5,500 KRW = 220 PHP),  Fruit waffle (13,000 KRW = 520 PHP)
Personal Preference: 9 out of 10, I love the place and the food.

Mapo-gu

 Yeonnam-dong’s Dumb&Dumber, Wine & Live Music Bar
Location: 155-32 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Food: Pizza (8,000 KRW = 320 PHP), Chicken Teriyaki (8,000 KRW = 320 PHP)
Personal Preference: 6 out of 10; Food is good, however, what we ordered is just ordinary that we can have back in home country, so not really tasted Seoulfood.  Place at the lower ground seemed to be crowded.  While we were enjoying our food, here comes a very big dog coming from the upper floor running around the area, which is not good because I have dog trauma since I was a kid.
We were not aware that they have a dog, but it's all written at the banner outside the place.





I did not know that is was a music bar connected to the entertainment agency in Seoul.



Restaurant in Hongdae
Location: Yanghwa-ro 18-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Food: beef broth soup and pork cutlets (16,500 KRW = 660 PHP)
Personal Preference: 8 out 10, crowded, visited by celebrities as featured on their walls.

Coffeesmith Hongdae
Location: 82 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 와우산로 82) [How to get there?]
Personal Preference: 8 out of 10, for chillin'

Street Food in Ewha University


 Myeongdong 
Yoogane Dak Galbi (Myeongdong Branch)
Location: 3-1 Myeong-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | website 
Food: rice and beef (18,000 KRW = 720 PHP)
Personal Preference: 8 out of 10, you have to order same thing for how many persons in the table. Because they will mix the dish and the rice and cook it in front of you.  We were able to request to reduce the chili to enjoy the food as well. The place has a self service side dish counter too.





Insadong
Location: Insadong-gil 
Food: Steamed Egg and Mandu Dumplings (12,000 KRW = 480 PHP)
Personal Preference: 8 out of 10, affordable.  We're there on it's opening and there are still few diners.  While waiting, there were group of 8 kids about to dine and it has been a practice for the owners to treat them and help them as part of society and nation building.




 Incheon

Somoon 
Location: Incheon Airport 
Food: set menu with homeade pork cutlet, bulgogi set menu
Personal Preference: 9 out of 10, food is tasty.  Place is not crowded even if there are luggage & travelers.  Clean and attentive to needs. 



How to make it affordable?
Some say that going to South Korea is expensive.  Let me share to you tips on how you can make it affordable.
  • If you are off the city, visiting a garden or a village, you'll have limited choices of place to eat, so just enjoy the food and order something you understand (ask if it's fish, poork, beef, chicken) to set your expectation on what you'll be paying for, which may be a little expensive.
  • Going back to the city, enjoy the wide array of street food.  Vendors normally set their stall after 3pm nearby schools (like Ewha, Hongik) and street markets (like Insadong, Myeongdong)
  • I've been to cafes featured in dramas (like Angel in Us, Cafe Benne, dal.komm, De Chocolate Coffee, Mango Six, Droptop) seems to be I have enough, thus I only tried Coffeesmith at this trip.  But if you are not a drama addict (to spend 5,000-8,000krw for a cup), you can still enjoy coffee the cheaper way by buying from vending machine or convenience stores (1,200-1,500krw), they can keep you warm while walking on an autumn season.  Cantata used to be endorsed by artists like UEE, Joo Won, and Lee Min Ho. We are travelling as a group of 3, can you imagine paying just 5,500 KRW (220 PHP) instead of 15,000 KRW (600 PHP) for a sip of warm coffee. 



Itinerary Reference
For further sample itinerary, expense, trip reports and PDF guides, please visit links below:


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