Empty Glass Guest · 6 stories
Writes about bars, cafes, and restaurants across Seoul and the Daegu/Gyeongbuk area. · Writes about: Bars · Cafés · Restaurants
Low Five Anguk is a pizza and pasta restaurant on Bukchon-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Anguk Station. The writer shared a half-and-half corn and hot chili potato pizza, truffle cream pasta and a classic Caesar salad at Low Five Anguk, walking in at 6pm on a weekday with no wait. Verdict: for a first visit to Low Five Anguk, a half-and-half pizza plus pasta and salad makes a satisfying order.
Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네) is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack restaurant on the B2 level of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. Two people shared the Hyeonseonine Combo Set, which brought pleasantly spicy tteokbokki, crispy fried snacks that weren't greasy, sundae (Korean blood sausage), gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and curly fish cake all at once, and both left full. The Hyeonseonine Combo Set at Hyeonseonine IFC Mall Branch is a good-value choice for anyone who wants a filling meal during a shopping trip.
Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-only bakery in Ikseon-dong, Jongno, Seoul, on Donhwamun-ro. After falling for the garlic bread and onion bagel on a first visit, the writer returned and tried 6 breads: garlic bread, coffee bread, salt bread, onion bagel, mugwort rice cake bread and injeolmi (roasted soybean powder) bread. There was a line even at opening time, but it moved fast. The verdict: at Munhwa Bakery, the breads to buy are garlic bread, coffee bread and salt bread, in that order.
Hamaru Hoegi is a Japanese-style izakaya (Japanese pub) at 11 Gyeonghui-daero 1-gil, near Hoegi Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul. At Hamaru Hoegi, the writer ordered an 8-skewer yakitori omakase, okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) with characters like Shin-chan and Shiro drawn in sauce, and stir-fried pork belly with bean sprouts, all in a mood that felt like a small bar in Japan. For a photogenic signature dish and a space that feels like a trip to Japan, Hamaru Hoegi is a good choice.
Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul. The writer worked through the sushi and sashimi, fried food, pizza, hot dishes, salad and dessert corners and was happy with the crispy fried food, friendly staff and quick plate clearing at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch. Verdict: a good-value buffet where a group with different tastes can each find something to eat.
Café Ohkam is a quiet dessert café on Dongil-ro 22-gil in Gwangjin-gu, near Konkuk Univ Station in Seoul. At Café Ohkam I ordered traditional Turkish kaymak with bread, a brûlée Einspänner and a zero lemonade, pairing nutty kaymak with sweet coffee and a refreshing, tangy lemonade. If you want something different from the usual cakes and scones around Konkuk, Café Ohkam is a great fit.
