NIGHT IN DAY / 나잇인데이
2023-11-06
17, Pyeonghwa-ro 562beon-gil, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do
This cafe stays open well after midnight, so one can head there without worrying about closing hours. From the entrance, the interior impresses with artistic objects with antique and retro-style motifs. There are plenty of nice backgrounds to take pictures against, so this is a famous spot for social media photography as well. The ambience is like that of a comfortable hideaway, perfect for conversations in small groups, thanks to paintings and objects that adorn the corners and the walls. The most famous of them all is the clouds, which hang from the ceiling and create the ambience unique to this cafe. The signature menu here is coffee and smoothies. It also serves croffle and cake dishes as accompaniments.
Namdaemun Market Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley) (남대문시장 먹자골목(칼국수 골목))
2023-11-06
42-1, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Namdaemun Market is a massive market in Seoul filled with history and traditions. In the market, there is a place where people can dine without worrying about time or money, in an unmistakably Korean atmosphere, and that is the Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley). The alley is lined with stalls selling similar fare, and people sit down in front of them, shoulder to shoulder, to enjoy their meal. Namdaemun Market’s Gourmand Alley specializes in noodle soup and steamed barley rice sets. The latter is a mixture of rice and barley, which is then steamed together. Its call to popularity is the nutty flavor imparted by barley. It has a healthy taste like no other, so make sure to check it out. Each order often comes with two or three separate menus (noodle soup, steamed rice, cold buckwheat noodles, etc.), along with a sumptuous array of side dishes like kimchi. Because this spot is beloved by diners of all ages, one often has to wait to get one’s turn during meal hours or on weekends. Keep in mind that the alley’s age often manifests itself in its crowdedness and lower attention to hygiene.
Another thing to note is that first-time visitors often find it difficult to find the entrance to the alley. The entrance is the transparent plastic door right next to “Segye-ro Eyeglasses Shop,” which can be found right across from Exit 5 of Hoehyeon Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. The door is rather small and difficult to find, but once you enter the doorway, you will immediately see the stalls unfolding in front of your eyes.
TV program “Life Masters (2005-)”
TV program “A Walk Around the Neighborhood (2018-2022)”
Andong Ujeong Jjimdak (안동우정찜닭)
2023-11-06
12, Beonyeong-gil, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
This restaurant specializes in jjimdak, or braised chicken, located in Andong Jjimdak Alley within the Andong Gu Market (Old Andong Market). The signature menu here is the braised aged kimchi and chicken. Aged kimchi here refers to cabbage kimchi aged additionally for more than 6 months in low temperatures, which imbues the kimchi with tangier and richer flavors. It is eaten as-is as a side dish, but many Koreans use it as a flavoring in meat dishes as well. Braised chicken is a dish that already integrates vegetables and glass noodles, and the addition of aged kimchi elevates the dish even more with its unique Korean flavor. Andong braised chicken served in this restaurant tends to be less spicy than those served in other restaurants and is braised to perfection, so even those who do not enjoy spicy food can have a great meal at this restaurant.
The Ssanghwa Coffee (더쌍화coffee)
2023-11-03
252-3 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The Sssanghwa Coffee, located near Dongdaemun Market, is a tea house serving traditional medicinal teas. In matching with their menu, the cafe is also decorated like a room found in a traditional Korean house. The cafe is comprised of three buildings, with the main building being for orders, and the Byeolgung and Ssanghwagung buildings offering seating. Each traditional tea order comes as a set with food items such as rice porriage, fruit, or rice cakes. The cafe also offers rooms which are very popular, so making a reservation is necessary.
Cafe Unt (카페언트)
2023-10-24
97, Namtaeryeongyet-gil, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Cafe Unt serves excellent handmade cheesecake in a residential district in Gwacheon-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. In addition to its signature menu, handmade cheesecake, it also offers scones, basil sandwiches, jambon beurre, and soup, along with beverages like coffee, latte, tea, and ade. The view of the forest beyond the window gives the interior space an art gallery-like atmosphere. The underground floor also has a wide space with a high ceiling, so one can enjoy a comfortable stay there with a cup of coffee.
Bada Gimbap (Dolsan Branch) (바다김밥(돌산직영점))
2023-10-24
155, Gangnamhaean-ro, Dolsan-eup, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
Bada Gimbap in Dolsan is a branch run directly by the main store in Jungang-dong, Yeosu, that opened 2 years after the original store’s opening in April 2020. As its name suggests, the store is famous for its gimbap filled with unique ingredients. Bada Gimbap Dolsan Branch specializes in take-out, so there are no dine-in tables within the store. Gimbap here is prepared with good rice, Korean beef, and sesame oil, together with unique fillings like mustard leaves (a leaf with a tangy mustard flavor, grown from mustard seeds), kimchi & tuna, Chinese-style fishcakes, and dried monkfish fillet. One can enjoy these delectable gimbap with seaweed soup, made with fresh Yeosu scallops, or bean sprout soup with leaf mustard kimchi, another local specialty. Another interesting dish here is dried monkfish (a type of fish, known in Korean as “agwi” or “agu”) fillet, tossed into a salad like a softer, more luxurious dried squid strips. But Bada Gimbap’s signature menu is its Leaf Mustard Kimchi Gimbap, which proves to be popular with its use of tuna and stir-fried leaf mustard kimchi, a specialty of Yeosu.
The Differ (더 디퍼)
2023-10-23
67, Seoseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
The Differ is located in Seoseongro 1-ga neighborhood in Jung-gu, Daegu. The first thing that visitors see is its modern exterior and luxurious interior. Indoor spaces have group seats for gatherings. The cafe is, above all, known for its photo spots and for allowing pets on the premises. Its signature menu is Cafe Americano. Other beverages include Bukseongno Coffee, Amino Coffee, Café Latte, Vanilla Latte, and Einspanner. Nearby tourist sites include Cheongna Hill, Yakjeon Medicine Alley, and Daegu Modern History Museum.
* Pets allowed (leash & waste bags required)
Seonbawi Memil Jangteo (선바위메밀장터)
2023-10-24
5-7, Dwitgol-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
This restaurant serves a delicious and springy bowl of buckwheat noodles prepared in-house. The signature menu here is buckwheat noodles with perilla oil. The best way to enjoy that is to eat all the noodles, then mop up the sauce with half a rice bowl of radish water kimchi. If you like fish, buckwheat noodles with raw pollack is the way to go, while buckwheat noodles with radish water kimchi are a great way to get the refreshing taste of water kimchi. Get some boiled pork slices and sliced raw pollack as a side dish to round out your meal. The restaurant fills up by 11:00 or so, and waiting is mandatory, so visiting early is recommended.
Yeosudang (여수당)
2023-10-24
72, Jungang-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
Yeosudang is one of the most famous foods near Yi Sunsin Plaza, one of the most well-known hangouts in Yeosu. It is best known for its spicy and crispy baguette burger, made with Yeosudang’s special sauce stir-fried for four times, as well as the Instagram favorites mugwort and sweet corn ice cream, which impress the eyes and tastebuds alike. There’s always a huge line, but many say that the goodies are worth the wait.
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