by Ashley Heil While generally a positive person and not too critical on food, sometimes, I do come across disappointing restaurants. After reading some mixed reviews about Pancake Original Story (being that it's not as good as it was since it changed ownership), but hearing that the pancakes are amazing, I wanted to check it out for myself. After trying, the pancakes were really good and some of the best I've had in Seoul, but the service experienced here was awful enough for me to never want to go back. Read more to find out why. A couple of Saturday's ago, my boyfriend and my two Korean friends had a real hankering for some good brunch. So after getting a late start to our morning, we made our way over to Hannam. Our friends were running late to the subway so we decided to wait for them, and didn't get to leaving the subway until around 2:15. The walk from Hannam station happened to be a little further then what we thought, and we didn't arrive to Pancake Original Story until 2:30. Super excited to finally have my breakfast, I didn't see the sign outside that said they were closing. I had read before that they take a random break from 3-5pm, but I thought surely, it's only 2:30, there's still another 30 minutes until the break. However, as soon as we walked in, they told us "sorry, we're closed". I said "What? It's only 2:30! There is still another 30 minutes until break time". My Korean friends even tried to talk to them, and we found out that even though the break isn't until 3, they stop seating people around 2:30. They refused to seat us and told us to come back at 5. One waitress in particular was especially rude. I stormed off because I was so mad after all that I couldn't eat the brunch I had been craving. I just think that if restaurants want to stop serving people at 2:30, they should say they're closed from 2:30-5, and not 3-5. Or even maybe 2:50 or 2;55. But 30 minutes before is unacceptable. They even had people still being served and waiting to order in there. Hmph. Then, we realized we couldn't even come back the next day because they are not open on Sundays. A Sunday brunch place that is not open on Sundays. Hmm. Anyway, we gladly took our service to another restaurant that was happy to serve us. The following week, I still was craving some damn brunch. I thought, hey, I'll give this place one more try. I've worked in the restaurant business before, I guess I can understand them not wanting to sit anyone. So we went back, this time much earlier, around 12, so we could avoid the break time. I walked in and they told us there was a wait, so they got my phone number so they could call me when a table was ready. The restaurant is small with only around 6 tables inside, and a few outside. So, my boyfriend and I went to go sit at smoothie king to get an appetizer smoothie because we were so hungry. After waiting about 30 minutes for a phone call, I decided to go check and see how much longer of a wait it would be. I waited by the sign at the entrance for someone to acknowledge me, and the same rude waitress from last week saw me, served someone else, and didn't say anything to me at all. I called to her to get her attention, but then another waitress came out to tell me our table was ready. So I went back to smoothie king to get my boyfriend, and we went to the restaurant and were seated. Inside, while cutely decorated, the tables and space is very cramped and I hardly had room to put my backpack somewhere. We both immediately ordered the original pancakes, and then the double banana pancakes, as well as a side of bacon (though just a side of bacon wasn't listed on the menu). The pancakes came out pretty fast. However, when we were being served our food, I was in the middle of a conversation with my boyfriend about something else. After being served, the same rude waitress just stared at me as if seeing if I needed something (although I had already said 감사합니다), and it was just a really awkward moment. We started to eat, and I have to say, the pancakes were delicious, maybe on par with the pancakes I like to order at Butterfingers. The price is also decent, only 8300 for the regular pancakes, and they are pretty filling. They have 3 other combo plates as well, each priced at 16,000 won. While the pancakes were good, our service there was just very poor. The menu is a little small too, with the focus just being on their pancakes. If you want a wider variety and much better service, I highly recommend Butterfingers. While the food was good at Pancake Original Story and the prices are decent, it just didn't do it for me. But hey, give it a shot and maybe you'll have a different experience. And I'd like to know, has anyone been there that experienced good service or had a great time? If you did please feel free to comment! Directions:
Hannam station, exit 1(Gyeonggui-Jungang line): Walk straight from exit 1 until you get to the main road. Turn right. Keep walking until you see the bus stop sign "hannam station (한남역), and then continue to walk straight. Keep walking and you'll see a parking lot sign on your right. Then, you'll see a sign for SoonChunhyang university hospital. Then you'll see the big intersection. Cross the road to the left, and then cross the road again. Walk up the small slope and the restaurant is on your left. OR Hanganjin station (probably the easier way to go): Go out exit 2 or 3. Walk to the big road that is going downhill (hannamgogachado 한남고가차도). Walk along the road down the hill for about 5 minutes. When you reach the big intersection, cross it to the left. Go up the small hill and its right there on your left.
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by Michael Jones I love Asian food, Korean food especially, but every once and a while I need to change it up. Yesterday after walking through the crowded streets of Myeongdong and being plagued by the smells of delicious street food, we decided to visit Din Tai Fung for a second time. For those of you unfamiliar with Din Tai Fung, here is a short history. The restaurant was started in Taiwan during the 1980s and gained critical acclaim during the 1990s. Now the restaurant has branches all over the world and Seoul has 5 different locations. The most popular item on the menu, and the dish that made them famous, are without a doubt the steamed buns, known as xiaoolongbao. The steamed buns and dumplings are made fresh, by hand I might add, every single day. One of the things I enjoy most is watching the chefs prepare the buns and dumplings in the glass walled kitchen. Every dumpling and bun is worked to perfection. Every crease and fold is done by hand and executed precisely. This is food making done with the precision and attention to detail of a Lamborghini factory line. This obsession over perfect presentation has made Din Tai Fung an incredible restaurant. The great food does not stop at the buns and dumplings, however, all the food is delicious and undergoes the same scrutiny. So to make a long story short, we decided to try as much as we could. We ordered the best set, which comes with sweet and sour pork, shrimp and egg fried rice, 10 soup dumplings, a clear onion soup, a side of cucumbers in a spicy sauce, and two tea drinks. I thought for 42,000 the price was well worth it. I’m a pork fanatic, and the pork was by far some of the best I’ve had. The batter was not overly greasy and it had a nice chewy texture. The sweet and sour sauce came in a large saucer on the side and was served hot. The sauce and pork together was absolutely phenomenal. The fried rice was good, the tea was delicious, and the dumplings and cucumbers were outstanding. We devoured everything and enjoyed the experience so much we ordered more. To finish the meal we ordered two pork and chive buns. The buns were fist sized, soft and warm like freshly baked dough, and filled with freshly chopped chives and tender pork. The buns blew me away. If money was no obstacle, I easily could have eaten more, less out of hunger more out of sheer deliciousness. Din Tai Fung is definitely not a cheap restaurant, but it is worth the price. Korean food is fantastic, but I still need to satisfy my craving for Chinese food. I’ve heard that the owner took recipes from China when he fled to Taiwan, so that’s why I’m calling it Chinese. Either way, the food is outstanding and definitely worth a try. Happy eating.
Directions Go to Myeongdong station and take exit 6 Walk down the hill towards the shopping and throngs of people Walk straight for 5-8 minutes Pass a few intersections until you get to the main Myeongdong shopping street This street is larger and runs perpendicular to the street you walked down Turn right and walk until you find the Top 10 clothing store on your left At the intersection where the Top 10 store is turn left Pass the store on your left Walk about a minute Take the next right and walk about 50 yards On your left will be a lot of chicken and beer places Across the street is Din Tai Fung The restaurant is on the second floor of the hotel (the hotel is under construction) The sign for the restaurant will be in the first floor lobby next to the guard station Walk up the stairs and ENJOY by Ashley Heil In the heart of Insadong is a wonderful Korean fusion restaurant in a traditional hanok building. This was one of the first restaurants my boyfriend and I accidentally found while walking around Insadong. Because of this restaurant's great location, in Insadong and a close walk to Gyeongbokgung and Samcheongdong, we have been back here regularly. What I love most about this restaurant is the atmosphere. When you enter, relaxing piano music plays while you sit down at nicer tables in a traditional hanok house. It's a great place to unwind after a morning or afternoon of walking around and seeing the sights. Another great thing about restaurant is the menu. While the restaurant is famous for their "special menu" of Insadong Seafood Rice,” they also have many other famous Korean foods such as bibimbap, ddeokbokki, and pajeon. Additionally, they give you a few different side dishes, a cold seaweed soup, and rice along with your meal. Not being a seafood lover, every time I go here I always order either the Chulpan Dalk Bulgogi or the Chulpan Gochujang Jeyuk Bulgogi. Each time I go, the Chulpan Dalk Bulgogi, a grilled chicken dish served in a hot pan with carrots, onions, and green onions, is always a huge hit with me and my friends. Priced at only 8,000 won, this is a great dish to try for anyone weary of spicy food, seafood, or anyone new to eating Korean food. The chicken is always very tender and all of the flavors come together very nicely. Another favorite is the Chulpan Gochujang Jeyuk Bulgogi (8,000 won), a slightly spicy pork dish (cooked with a Korean spice gochujang) with onions and peppers. Because I love pork and spicy food, this dish is amazing each time i have it. Finally, my boyfriend has tried the Nakji Deolsot Bibimbap (7,000 won) before, and told me this is his favorite nakji bibimbap that he has had. The bowl comes out burning hot, with a little bit of the rice getting burnt on the bottom. In addition to the food, the restaurant serves delicious teas, and makgeoli. On busy days there might be a little bit of a wait at the restaurant, but we are always seated very fast and the service is very good at the restaurant. I recommend this restaurant if you want some well-priced Korean food in Insadong!
Directions: Go to Anguk station, line 3. Go out exit 6, then walk a little bit until you see the walking street on your left. Turn left there, and walk a little bit down into Insadong. When you see the sign for the street Insadong 12-gil (인사동 12길), turn left. The restaurant is right there on your left. by Michael Jones For months I have wanted to try The Beastro, and today I finally got the chance. I went for lunch and it absolutely blew me away. I have to be honest, I was worried about trying The Beastro. Would it be just another pricey attempt at American fusion cuisine, or would it be worth it? Fortunately, it not only met my expectations, it blew them out of the water. The food was that good. I grew up in the southern United States, so it is safe to say that I've eaten a lot of fried chicken in my life. I can say with no reservations, that the fried chicken at The Beastro is some of the best I've ever had. The fried batter was crispy, light, and flaky, yet the boneless chicken beneath was tender and juicy. The chicken came with a house-made buffalo sauce which was outstanding. The chicken was served over a large portion of kale slaw. The slaw was a pleasant surprise; I'm a bit of a carnivore and oftentimes vegetables bore me, but the kale slaw was a great addition. I almost ordered another side of it. It really helped balance the slight spice from the chicken. I also ordered a side of smoked bacon which came with two strips. The server told us the bacon was smoked in house, so I had to have it. It's some of the best bacon I've had since moving to Seoul. I could really taste the smokey flavor in the meat and it was the perfect tenderness. Overall, The Beastro was an incredible experience and I look forward to going back. It was so good in fact, that I decided to make reservations for Friday night. The lunch menu and dinner menu are different and now I want to try everything. The owner is mixing some traditional American cuisine with French culinary techniques and the result is phenomenal. If you seek delicious high-quality food, look no further than the Beastro in Hongdae.
PRICES Fried Chicken and Kale Slaw (14,000) Smoked Bacon (4,000) Verdict: Worth Every Penny DIRECTIONS Go to Sangsu station and take exit #1 Make a U-turn and follow the sidewalk Walk until you have to cross the road Keep straight and pass Monster Pizza on your left Walk a little further and a park will be on your left Behind the park is a road lined with street food The Beastro is located in an alleyway across from the vendors ENJOY by Ashley Heil Guhl Goo Nae Wang Gob Chang (걸구네 왕 곱창) is without a doubt my favorite samgyeopsal (삼겹살)place in Korea. Because of its location in Itaewon, I think a lot of people think there could never be good Korean food in an area with such a strong focus on foreign foods. But after discovering this place I have learned that some of the best pork in Seoul can be found here. Sure, there are some other good places that are famous and delicious such as Palsaek Samgyeopsal, but I find I like this restaurant more for its focus on serving the samgyeopsal simply with just a side of some ssamjang paste, salt, and a light sauce on the side. The samgyeopsal (11,000 for 220g) is also served on a sloped grill with delicious marinated vegetables below, so the pork fat can be captured in the vegetables for extra deliciousness. After you've tried the samgyeopsal, you can try their marinated pork ribs (available in mild and spicy, 10,000 won). While me and my boyfriend were never big fans of ribs before we moved to Seoul, these ribs are tender, succulent, and simply irresistible. If you want more to eat, they also offer pork skin, doen jang jjigae (5000 won), gyeran jjim(an egg casserole), fried rice (2000 won), and a few other items. If you're looking for a new samgyeopsal or pork rib restaurant to try, then this place is for you.
Directions: From the subway: Itaewon line 6, exit 4-take an immediate left, and then turn right on the main street. Take another right on the first smaller street. Walk down a little until you see the "Hwang So ma eul" sign, and then the restaurant is to the right of that sign tucked a way a little bit. by Michael Jones On Sunday, I hiked Inwangsan for the first time, a beautiful mountain near Gyeongbokgung with fantastic views of Seoul. After reaching the peak, I was craving some food so we went to a small Korean restaurant on the way back to the station. The restaurant was a tiny mom and pop place sandwiched in a small alleyway. Like all good restaurants, I could smell the food before I saw the place. The smell of pork, duck, and stew filled the street outside. As I craned my neck to get a good look at the menu, a woman spoke out in perfect English and asked if we wanted to sit down. We said yes; it was an easy choice. The menu was small. This is the kind of place where they focus on the tried and the true. The owner spent 15 years living in Melbourne, Australia and her mother was busy cooking in the kitchen. In the back of the restaurant a small television was playing a Korean drama. The lunch options were: kimchi jjigae, doenjjang jjigae, jeyuk bokkeum, and ddukbaegi, usually a soup made with beef, but here they use duck. We decided to get one serving of jeyuk bokkeum and one serving of ddukbaegi. Jeyuk bokeum is basically thinly sliced pork cooked in a spicy sauce and mixed with onions; it is served on a hot plate. The ddukbaegi was filled to the brim with succulent duck meat and a large serving of green vegetables. The broth was a dark gray color and the soup came with a few toppings: salt, pepper, and diced green peppers. The woman told me that the soup takes 12 hours to prepare and after trying it, I don’t doubt it. The soup was incredibly rich and the broth took on the flavors from the roasted duck fat, the salt, and the pepper. It was delicious. The pork was also outstanding. The spice was perfect and not overpowering or tear-inducing. In short, it was actually enjoyable. The old lady in the kitchen watched us with a smile. She was happy watching us enjoy her food. She was clearly proud of her cooking. Her daughter told us that she has been making these dishes since she was a child. No matter where you are in the world, it is always great finding people that are passionate about the food they make and the culture in which it comes from. Korean food is incredible and Korean people are very passionate about the food they eat, and make. Whether you live in Korea, or you are on vacation, I encourage you to visit the less famous neighborhoods and eat at an authentic Korean restaurant. If you find yourself near Gyeongbokgung and you want to try a place off the beaten path, I strongly recommend trying 오리야 전야. The two dishes we bought were only 8,000 won each and the side dishes were delicious too. Embrace the authentic places and happy hunting.
DIRECTIONS Go to Dongnimmun Station and take exit 2 Walk about 15 yards and turn left down the alley In about a minute the restaurant will be on your right ENJOY by Michael Jones I think pizza is the ultimate food. I might be a bit biased, but most people would probably agree with me. I love all the styles: New York, Neapolitan, Chicago, etc. When it comes to pizza, what I care most about are the quality of the ingredients and the passion of the people making the pizza. Having spent my childhood in New York, I was raised on great pizza. I grew up eating delicious pizzas covered in fresh sauce, shredded buffalo mozzarella, and perfectly cooked dough. So when I moved to Seoul last year, the first restaurant I wanted to find was a great pizza place. Fortunately, I found a great place in the Express Bus Terminal called the Slice House. I love the pizza there, so when I found out that the owner was opening another shop near Gyeongbokgung, called Paulie’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, I was excited to try it. I went on the night of their grand opening and I was not disappointed. I went with one of my best friends and my girlfriend. The first thing we ordered was a large cheese pizza, which is 17 inches. We also ordered some beer and I was pleasantly surprised by the options. They have a great selection of craft brews. I went with the Chocolate Hazelnut Porter by Heretic brewing and it was outstanding. My girlfriend got a Weihenstephaner and my friend got a beer by Smuttynose brewery. The drinks were great. One beverage on the drink menu excited me even more than the beer, root beer on tap! I’m a root beer fanatic and since moving to Seoul I’ve only found Dad’s Root Beer and that was only at one restaurant. Unfortunately, they didn’t have it on opening night, but it should be there next month. It’s being shipped from the United States, so the delay is understandable. But enough with the drinks, let’s talk pizza. The pizza was fantastic, just as I expected. The cheese was slightly burnt in places, I could really taste the sauce, and the crust was the perfect balance between hard and soft. Needless to say, we devoured the pizza. So what would any sensible pizza lover do in this situation? We ordered a second pizza. This time we ordered a small, which is 13 inches, godfather pizza. This pizza was covered in meat and a spicy pizza sauce. I usually tend to be a purist when it comes to pizza and stick with minimal toppings, but I’m glad I didn’t. The godfather might be the best pizza I’ve had since moving to Seoul. What really made the pizza, however, was the house-made ranch that they recommended to dip it in. As I said earlier, I’m a minimalist when it comes to my pizza, so I was doubtful about how it would taste, but it was phenomenal. The combination of mozzarella, spicy sauce, the fat from the meat, and fresh ranch dressing was like a punch to the taste buds. It’s been a long time since I’ve been that blown away by a slice of pizza. I could go on and on about how good the pizza is, but you should try it for yourself. I really admire the passion the owner has for the pizza making craft and this passion shines through in the taste of the pizza. If you love pizza, Paulie's Pizzeria deserves a visit.
DIRECTIONS Go to Gwanghwamun Station - Line 5 (purple) Take exit 3 and make a u-turn Immediately turn right at the next road and walk straight Walk until you see the Korean archaeological site Then the building will be on your right Walk through the doors and go to the second floor Enjoy the pizza by Ashley Heil Dos Tacos is probably my favorite burrito/taco restaurant in Seoul. Sure, there are some other good ones such as Vatos, but the cheaper prices at Dos Tacos and the hit-the-spot satisfaction I get from eating at Dos Tacos always keeps me coming back. I've only been to the location in Hyehwa, but I've also heard the Gangnam location is great.
I always get their chips and salsa to split with my boyfriend for 3500 won. The chips have the perfect amount of salt and you get two different salsas with it. If you want, you can get an extra order of chips for 1000 won. My favorite burrito is the go-gi (meat) and avocado burrito (I normally order it with pork). It is 9500 won and is one of the largest burritos I've seen in Seoul! It comes with a Flour tortilla, Cheese, Meat, Mild salsa, Jalapeno, Onion, Avocado, Sour cream, Lettuce, Pico de gallo, and Cilantro. This burrito is a little messy from the sauce, but is perfect in every way. Compared to Vatos, I tend to think this burrito is not as fancy, but it is delicious and just more satisfying. ) This time, my friend got the new burrito bowl for 10,000 won(which he said was good) and the french fries as an appetizer (7900 won). The french fries were hot, although the cheese on top seemed a bit fake. Finally, I ordered a draft lime beer (4000 won) to wash it all down. In addition to the above items, there are also chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, soft drinks (2000 win with unlimited refills), margaritas, coronitas, nachos, and flautas available. Directions: From Hyehwa station exit 4, come out and go to the left. Keep walking a while until you get to a big intersection at 대학로 11 길. Turn right, and look for the starbucks across the street and to the left a little. Cross the street, and turn right in front of the Starbucks. It will be a little ways down on the left. From 성균관 (Sungkyunkwan) bus stop facing toward the big Dunkin Donuts shop, then take the little alley between Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. It's a little ways down the road on the left. by Ashley Heil. Yesterday my boyfriend and I decided to introduce two of my friends to our favorite pizzeria in Seoul. This delicious pizza is cooked on a gas-fired brick-top oven and is served New-york style (thin crust). The prices are average for Seoul (decent if you split a pie between 3-4 people, but of course more expensive than pizza in New York due to the cost of importing quality ingredients), but the pizza is probably the best I've had in Seoul. Slice House is great because they do offer individual slices of pizza (cheese slice: 4,000 won, pepperoni: 4500 won), or the option to buy a whole pie if you're more hungry or have more people. The slices are served immediately when you order, but ordering a whole pie takes about 10 minutes to go, depending on the wait. My friends and I ordered our good-ole, standard favorite cheese pie (29,000 won), and it did not disappoint. Add on a couple of sodas (2500 won, 1 free refill) or a beer (Boont Amber ale: 8,000 won), and you're pizza cravings are covered. What I like most about this pizza is the freshness of the pizza crust, and the simplicity and true to New-york style flavors. This isn't your standard Korean pizza with sweet potatoes and other odd toppings being thrown in. I went with 3 of our friends, and after all splitting the 8-slice pie, my boyfriend and I loved it so much we wanted a 3rd slice. We decided to get the pepperoni slice (4500 won), and a spicy italian slice (5000 won). The pepperoni and spicy italian slices were just as good as the cheese pie. Still fresh and hot, and the dough and cheese are perfect. Also available at Slice House are some appetizers such as hot wings, french fries, and pasta dishes (not tried). This place is great to satisfy your pizza cravings, but the seating selection is limited. If you're looking for a more relaxed, sit-down restaurant, this might not be the place for you. However, the owner of Slice House recently opened up a new restaurant which is more of a sit-down restaurant called Paulie's Pizzeria near Gwanghamun.
Here are some directions to Brick Oven Slice House: Coming from Express bus terminal subway line: go out exit 8 to connect with the Famille station mall. If you are in Shinsegae, go to the B1 food hall. Exit out the Paul Bassett direction, go straight and take the smaller escalator that goes up to the 2nd floor where the restaurants are. It's right in front of you. If you're at exit 4 (near the beautiful giant Starbucks) take the escalators down and look for Brick Oven Pizza. By Ashley Heil. After months of only eating Subway sandwiches, I decided to see what the hype was all about and go to Casablanca. :Loads have friends have told me Casablanca serves the best sandwich in town, and it did not disappoint. The prices are reasonable (6,000 to 7,000 won), and the sandwiches are large and filling. Each sandwich comes on a delicious, flaky, soft french baguette (similar bread to Banh Mi sandwiches in Vietnam). We ordered the famous Moroccan chicken sandwich (7000 won), a Lamb Chili sandwich (7000 won), a spiced carrot salad (2000 won), and a Thai beer (3000 won). I could definitely see why the Moroccan chicken sandwich got dubbed the best sandwich in Seoul (http://groovekorea.com/article/best-sandwich-seoul/). What I loved about my sandwich was how thick it was and the quality of ingredients. The grilled chicken pieces were large and perfectly marinated and seasoned with the perfect amount of spices. The sandwich also comes with fried potatoes, mayo (although it tasted more like a tzatziki sauce to me), and salad. While I didn't try it, my friend ate the Lamb chili sandwich and loved it. So, if you're craving a sandwich and want a change from boring Subway, I highly recommend checking this restaurant out.
Hours: Casablanca opens at 1PM everyday, and is open until 10. However, when we went at around 8:30 they only had 2 Moroccan chicken sandwiches left, and shortly after they were sold out of most of their sandwiches. So going late at night might not be the best option. Directions:take subway line 6 to Noksapyeong station, and go out exit 2. Keep walking for about 5 minutes until you see a road on your left. Walk up this street for about 5-8 minutes and Casablanca will be on your left. |
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