..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.

Related posts:

1. Finding the Best Mojito in Seoul
2. The Flying Pan Cafe Blue @ Itaewon – Like Grandma’s, but Better
3. “Coffee Bar K” Top-notch Bar in Korea

© SeoulGrid for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chinese, General Tsao Chicken, Holy Chow, Mao, Peking Duck, Seoul

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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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Read the rest of Berlin @ Itaewon – Like the 1920s, But No Prohibition (601 words)

© Mike Porto for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 1920, Berlin, cocktails, Itaewon

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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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Read the rest of The Flying Pan Cafe Blue @ Itaewon – Like Grandma’s, but Better (481 words)

© Guest Author for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: american, brunch, flying pan, Itaewon

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From the day I first set foot in Korea, whenever friends asked what I missed most about America, I had only one response: Mexican food. During my last visit to the States, I came to find I was not alone in this sentiment, as my smug Chipotle status updates on FaceBook were met with the jealousy and idle threats of my Seoul-bound peers.

Thus it’s understandable that last year’s rumors of a Taco Bell opening in Itaewon put Seoul’s ex-pat community into a frenzy of excitement. A mere cheap commodity taken for granted in other countries, until now it has been a sacred privilege exclusive to those with access to the army base in Korea. But fear not, my burrito-craving comrades, for as of last weekend it’s official: Taco Bell has arrived in Seoul.

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Read the rest of Taco Bell in Itaewon, Seoul — Now Open! (292 words)

© james for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bell, Korea, Mexican, Seoul, Taco

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Between Terrace

Campari and orange as a mixed drink in Seoul? As I read over the drink menu at Between, I was pleased to find a change of pace from Itaewon’s standard cocktail list, and their dinner menu impressed me as well. Although I was a bit skeptical coming into Between because it had only been open a few weeks, I left feeling impressed with their architecture as well as their drink and dinner selection. This venue has the potential to become one of the most well-known lounges in Seoul.

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Read the rest of Between @ Itaewon – Quality, not Quantity (514 words)

© Mike Porto for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: between, Itaewon, Restaurants, tapas

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Some of you might have noticed that we’ve been a little quiet recently. Now Team SeoulGrid comes out of hiding and proudly presents:

SeoulGrid Guide to Seoul Nightlife Ep. 01 — Macaroni Market, Itaewon!

A picture paints a thousand words. And a video animates a thousand pictures. Especially at a high frame rate in HD! So check it out, and let us know what you think in the comments.

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Read the rest of [VIDEO] SeoulGrid Guide to Seoul Nightlife Ep. 01 Macaroni Market, Itaewon (27 words)

© Richard for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: By Region, Club Function, guide, Itaewon, Macaroni Market, review

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Sometimes you want to break away from your dining experience that more or less is consistent with the following: pasta, galbi, pizzas, samgyupsal, chicken and repeat. Why not introduce something fresh to the menu?

One restaurant I frequent these days is… none other than Itaewon’s Greek souvlaki restaurant, Santorini, located in the alley behind Hamilton Hotel.

The interior of the restaurant is aptly decorated, colored brightly in white and blue to remind visitors of the real place.

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Read the rest of Santorini @ Itaewon – Can Never Have Enough Tzatiki with Greek Souvlaki (546 words)

© Richard for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: greek, Itaewon, Restaurants, souvlaki

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Once in a while everyone goes through the stage of craving all the carbs, protein, grease and bacon your body can take (notice how I categorized bacon separately).  Finding a good breakfast place in Seoul is not the easiest mission one can devote to.  One can find breakfast/brunch places that are alright to so-so to good, but it’s really hard to come across a GREAT place.   There are few examples of GREAT breakfast/brunch places in Seoul:

• Butterfinger Pancakes (two locations: 1.) behind Designer Club in Cheongdam, and 2.) near Club Mass, Gangnam station exit #6), serves all-American style & portion dishes
• Suji’s at Itaewon definitely won’t disappoint you either. (Call for directions: 02-797-3698)

But what is the problem with places mentioned above?  Besides contributing to your rising cholesterol levels?

The only problem with those places is that you have to wait in a line.  If you go during the weekend, you have to wait for a good 20-30 minutes before you can sit down.  After you place your order, it’ll take a good 10-20 minutes for your order, which will add up to around 40 minutes of waiting.

So unless you wake up early with the sole purpose of getting some good food, you are going to have to salivate and torture yourself while you smell all that greatness around you.  What’s an alternative?  Or better yet, is there a better option?

And thankfully the answer is YES!

Read more after the jump.

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Read the rest of Hearty & Quality Weekend Brunch @ Macaroni Market, Itaewon (497 words)

© Richard for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: brunch, butterfinger pancakes, diner, Itaewon, Restaurants, suji

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Bliss is probably one of the classiest restaurant/bar in Itaewon.  The place definitely made it to my top hot-spot list in Seoul, and SeoulGrid will cover everything there is for you to know to make your next visit to Itaewon totally blissful!

Former member of Drunken Tiger and celebrity DJ Shine (Mark Yim) runs this place, and he’s usually around his shop making sure everything is operating smoothly.  I met and talked to him on a few occasions and he was a real nice guy, and a good host as well.

So the interior is quite posh, with lighting and classy furniture to make it definitely one of the nicest places in Itaewon.  Bliss also has a nice outdoor patio seats, which I imagine will be very nice in spring, summer and fall.  For me though, I preferred to sit in a corner where I could overlook at the venue.

The inside is actually quite large, easily able to accommodate around 80 or so people.

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Read the rest of Bliss @ Itaewon – Ignorant of Bliss, not a Bliss (370 words)

© Richard for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bliss, Classy, cocktail, hamilton hotel, Itaewon, Lounge, Restaurants, Trendy

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SeoulGrid’s definition of a lounge: a venue that serves alcoholic beverages that has music in the background.  DJ booth is a plus.  The difference between a bar and a lounge is that bars tend to be more crowded or loud with people talking.  Lounge is where there is plenty of space for everyone and where you can go for a nice drink or two.  You wouldn’t typically go to a lounge to get wasted, unless you have cash to burn.

Bars, you’d  take your  college buddies out for drinks of Irish car bombs or Jaggermeister shots for a casual night of fun.  Lounge, you’d take your date; extra dry gin martini for yourself and mojito for your date.  Sure, a glass of Cosmopolitan may cost twice or even thrice how much it would cost in casual bars, but once in a while, it’s an worthwhile investment.

Now what makes a lounge great?  The differentiating factor between an awesome lounge and a lounge is that the former typically is larger in scale, serves better cocktails and of course, plays better music.  Of course once in a while you run into a lounge that feature interior decor and ambiance so unique, modern and stylish that your jaws drop.  There also are ones that are nice private lounges that isn’t open to everyone.

Below is top-pick list of the best lounges in Seoul.  Of course, I am sure there are several others that I do not know of or haven’t had the chance to visit, but if I do, you can count on me to write about it in detail in future!

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Read the rest of Best Lounges in Seoul (522 words)

© Richard for Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in Seoul, Korea, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blush, Club Function, goshen, Lound, lounges, tutti matti, Woobar

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