[Seoul] Jangsarang 장사랑

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[Seoul] Jangsarang 장사랑

Jangsarang 장사랑

Add: 624-47, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul / 강남구 신사동 624-47, 서울특별시
Tel: (02) 546-9994
Hours: 11:30am-9pm
Price: approx. 25,000 won/person
Visited: Nov 2011

I had my very first meal in Seoul at 장사랑 Jangsarang, an earthy restaurant serving simple and traditional Korean dishes like mook-sabal, deulkkae sujebi, nakji-bokkeum – at affordable prices. Go with a local friend if you can, not just because the location is hard to find but also because there is no English on the menu, and it doesn’t sound like waiters speak any English either.

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[Seoul] Budnamujip 버드나무집

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[Seoul] Budnamujip 버드나무집

Budnamujip 버드나무집

Add*: 689-12 Yeoksam-dong Gangnamgu, Seoul, Korea / 강남구 역삼동 689-12
Tel: (02) 2088 3392
Website: www.budnamujip.com
Price: approx. 50,000~70,000 won/person
Visited: Nov 2011

If you are visiting Seoul and have only one meal allotted to Korean barbecue, Budnamujip should be your choice. This small chain, widely known among locals and visitors as the best korean barbecue restaurant in Seoul, proudly serves 한우 (hanwoo, domestic Korean beef), which in Korea is considered much more superior and expensive than imported beef from American or Australia. Pricey, but it’s worth the extra wons.

*Multiple branches in Seoul, check their website for exact locations.



Upon being seated, a flurry of side dishes descended upon us – japjae, tomato salad in pineapple dressing, pickled cucumbers, grilled eggplants, green salad, fried deodeok…etc. etc. etc.


And of course, kimchi.


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[Seoul] Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul 차마시는뜰

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[Seoul] Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul 차마시는뜰

Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul 차마시는뜰

Add: 35-169 beonji, Samcheong-dong, Seoul
Tel: 2722-7006
Hours: 11am-10:30pm
Price: [tea] 7,000~8,000 won [desserts] 4,000~8,000 won
Visited: Nov 2011

Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul (차마시는뜰), literally “a garden where you drink tea”, is a hidden traditional Korean tea house in Samcheong-dong.  With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city on one side and an interior courtyard garden on other,  Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul is a tranquil spot to spend a relaxing afternoon. Pick from a wide selection of soothing tea and enjoy it alongside a freshly steamed pumpkin rice cake.

Plain wood, clean and pristine.

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[Seoul] Miel

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[Seoul] Miel

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Miel

Address: 135-100 서울1F Puzzle Haus, 94-3 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu
Tel: +82 2512 2395
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 11:00am~1:00am, [Sun] 11:00am~12:00am
Website: http://miel.kr
Price: [drinks] 8,000~12,000 won, [desserts] 8,000~16,000 won, [main dishes] 13,000~16,000 won

Miel, or “honey” in French, is an art gallery/cafe in Seoul’s ultra sleek (and jaw-droppingly expensive) Fashion and Art district Cheongdam-dong (청담동/淸潭洞). Modern decor, beautiful desserts, friendly service…I love it!

Miel

Cute design

Interior

Menu

Browsing the menu, I noticed a curious item called “Dutch baby pancake” (15,000 won). So what is it? Let’s order one and find out.


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[Seoul] Eating Live Octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market

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[Seoul] Eating Live Octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market

On our third day in Seoul, we visited Noryagjin Fish Market (鷺梁津水産市場/노량진수산시장), the city’s largest market for marine products. This 66,000 square meter facility houses over 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish and other seafood from 15 fishing ports around Korea. It was quite disorienting to face so many stalls selling so many different types of seafood (many of which I do not recognize), but I only had one goal to complete that day – eat octopus, alive.

Enough with chic cafes, it’s time to get local.

Noryangjin Fish Market

Noryangjin Fish Market

Seafood!

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[Seoul] Le Cafe

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[Seoul] Le Cafe

Le Cafe

Add: 651-8 Sinsa hanuisol 1F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 서울 강남구 신사동 651-8 하늬솔 빌딩 1층
Tel: 02-544-3700
Hours: 11:30am-12:am
Price: [dinner] 14,000~16,000 won [brunch] 15,000~17,000 won [dessert] 6,500~11,000 won
Visited: Nov 2011

Within walking distance from Sinsa-dong is Apgujeong, another sleek and stylish neighborhood filled with upscale boutiques, shops, cafes, and restaurants. As we made our way over to Le Cafe for a friend’s birthday dinner, we stumbled upon quite a few chic spots, all very picture-worthy. It’s too bad that I never had a chance to come back here during the day before leaving Seoul – I’ll have to save this for my next trip.

Here’s Gorilla in the Kitchen, a popular restaurant owned by Korean celebrity Bae Yong-Joon 裴勇俊 (a.k.a. Yon-sama).

Paul Smith.

Across from Marc Jacobs is our dinner venue: Le Cafe.

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[Seoul] Beans Bins Coffee

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[Seoul] Beans Bins Coffee

Beans Bins Coffee

Add: 62-26, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea / 62-26 삼청점 서울특별시
Tel: 02-736-7799
Hours: 11am-11pm
Website: www.beansbins.com
Price: [waffles] 10,000~15,000 won [drinks] 4,000~5,500 won
Visited: Nov 2011

Beans Bins Coffee is a wildly popular local cafe chain in Seoul. I’ve passed by its Samcheong-dong branch during my last visit back in May 2010 and even snapped a picture of it without being aware of its fame. A year and half later, I’m back at the shop.

The signature item at Beans Bins is their Ice-Cream Waffle (11,500 won), a waffle topped with scoops of Häagen Dazs strawberry and green tea ice-cream, whipped cream, fresh fruits, drizzled with chocolate sauce and dusted with powdered sugar. I expected to be disappointed – I mean, it can’t possibly live up to its hype, right?  But the waffle was, to my pleasant surprise, very satisfying! Golden brown and crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside (with chopped walnuts in the batter to add crunch), and when accompanied by a bit of ice-cream and whipped cream…Yum.

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[Seoul] Cafe 5CIJUNG

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[Seoul] Cafe 5CIJUNG

Cafe 5CIJUNG

Add: 525-11 Sinsa-dong, Gangham-gu, Seoul, South Korea 서울시 강남구 신사동 525-11 1F
Tel: 02-512-6508
Hours: 11:30am-11pm
Website: www.5cijung.com
Price: [drinks] 6,500~10,000 won

I was bedazzled by the amount of chic cafes in Garosugil, fortunately my local friends made it easy by taking me to one of their favorites spots in the area. Cafe 5CIJUNG is a cozy little place with a lush green outdoor patio and a warm interior adorned with wooden furniture and cute knickknacks. It’s located on a side road branching off the main Garosugil path, so be sure to google map before heading over.

After a very short wait, we were seated near the window.

One of the most popular items at Cafe 5CIJUNG is Soft Persimmon (9,000 won), a very light and health-tasting blend of frozen persimmon and yogurt.

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[Beijing] NOLA

Categories beijing
[Beijing] NOLA

NOLA

Add: A-11 Xiushui Street South / 建国门外秀水南街11号
Tel: 8563 6215
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 8am-11pm [Sat-Sun] 10am-11pm
Website: nolacafe.com.cn
Price: [drinks] 20~40 RMB [desserts] 30~40 RMB
Visited: Nov 2011

This New Orleans-style cafe has received some very negative reviews online, but I was more than happy with its laid-back ambience and ultra comfortable couches during the few hours I lingered there. I can’t tell you much about the food (New Orleans classics like gumbo z’herbes, po’ boys and beignets) since we only had coffee and desserts (decent and decent), but the lush second floor patio is quite an attraction in itself, especially to those who are undeterred by the chilly Beijing air.

We settled down on the 2nd floor and ordered ourselves some coffee and a S’mores Chocolate Cake (33 RMB).  Chocolate cake, graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, and a scoop of pistachio ice-cream – happily consumed.

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