Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea

It’s a fact…

..there are three types of Chinese food – authentic (go to China(town)), Koreanized (check your stack of local carry-out flyers), and Americanized (HOLY CHOW).  Now if only there was a restaurant that offered all three.  I didn’t mean to get your hopes up, but if you do come across one, please…share.

Until then

A friend of mine recently recommended MAO in Itaewon, and if you’re in the mood for Peking Duck, this is the spot.

The duck is grilled nice.  Crisy on the outside, juicy below the skin.  The small order is fine for two, but not filling.  And at a price of 35,000won, it’s not wallet-friendly either.  Besides their famous Peking Duck, you can expect Korean-style Chinese food.

But for some of us foreigners and expats, when it comes to Chinese food, we imagine General Tsao’s / Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, etc. just like we had back home.  You can find some great places in Itaewon and Gangnam, but after all the hype about Holy Chow, I gave it a shot. And I wasn’t disappointed.

When in doubt, at Chow’s, check out their Set Menu.

Both of these franchises have locations in Itaewon and Chungdam so definitely visit.

This is a Guest Article from Jisu of Lonely Traveler

I have no idea why Lord Sandwich isn’t the most popular restaurant in all of the Ewha University (or ‘Edae’) area by a landslide victory. As of now, it’s a favored lunch date spot for professors, older female students or business meetings that have run over late, but I sincerely suggest that anyone with a deep appreciation for good food come try it out.

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Makino Chaya

There are sushi lovers, and then there are sushi buffet lovers. Hidden away between Gangnam Station and Yeoksam Station is Makino Chaya, a decently-priced seafood buffet offering a wide array of fresh and cooked seafood and non-seafood items.

Naengmyeon, a common Korean noodle dish, is an excellent example of the creative nature of Korean food. When I first tired naengmyeon, I thought, “How did they think to put these ingredients together? The noodles are iced!” Naengmyeon is as popular as it is creative. Yookssam Naengmyeon, a naengmyeon joint in Hongdae, not only serves this unique dish, but they have also tried to recreate the galbi/naengmyeon experience.

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I was wandering around Hongdae with a friend, searching for a unique restaurant. We wanted to go somewhere out of the ordinary — not a common chain, hof, or café. Nothing seemed to fit the bill. Just as we were about to give up on our hunt, we stumbled upon Dallyeora Jogaegui Pocha (달려라 조개구이 포차), a seafood restaurant located in the heart of Hongdae. As luck would have it, Dallyeora Jogaegui Pocha was everything we wanted and more.

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Heavily salted, dripping with oil, and often slightly stale street food is still one of the most popular and, arguably, most delicious Korean cuisines. Yet, even when a serious sodium craving hits, the local street food stall doesn’t always satisfy. In fact, street food doesn’t have to equate with low quality, unhealthy ingredients. At Gukdae Tteokbokki in Hongdae, traditional Korean street food gets a makeover.

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Immediately as I stepped inside Berlin in Itaewon, I could feel an overwhelming sense that I was back in the 1920’s. The atmosphere of Berlin was carefully designed with all things from glasses to the floors kept in mind. After my first drink came out, I understood that that the atmosphere, which was so carefully crafted, was predictive of the quality the other drinks and dishes that would soon be present.
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Guest Author: Lindsey Gorfine

Located in the heart of Itaewon, this breakfast bistro offers the atmosphere and food to amply help anyone pass the day. The flying pan has a lively menu that seeks to reinvent ‘Momma’s’ old brunch favorites, and brunch is served all day from 10:30am to 11pm.

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Guest Author: KungPyo Rhee

If you have had enough of fried or greasy chicken, Bong Chu Steamed Chicken(봉추찜닭), located near Hong Dae, provides you a new and healthy experience. Unlike other traditional Korean restaurants, Bong Chu Jjim Dak facinated me with its modern interior décor. The restaurant was crowded but not disturbingly so.
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Soju is drunk in Gangnam. Champagne in Cheongdam, and coffee or wine in Garosu-gil, Sinsa.

So which drinks fit the Hongdae scene?

If anything, Hongdae has it all. Hole-in-the-wall soju and beer places are everywhere. Jagermeister and tequila shots are commonplace in clubs. There are plenty of wine bars and other bars that sell hard liquor. But can you think of a place where you can have some sangria?

El Bliss is a dining lounge that you would expect to see in Cheongdam. El Bliss is reminiscent of Bliss in Itaewon, with similar wall design and light lamps that hang low.

But if anything El Bliss feels more like a cocktail lounge. In other words, totally un-Hongdae-like.

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