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.

We’re back!

Seoulgrid.com resumes operations. We will continue to provide you valuable updates and reviews on Seoul’s Dining and Entertainment Culture.

We apologize for the long delay and we thank you for being patient with us! Please check back frequently!

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One of SeoulGrid’s friends, Gregory Curley, over at CNN and hermithideaways.com, has written a great little piece on clubbing in Seoul in which he has interviewed our own Richard Choi for the picks. The article can be found here. Thank you Gregory!

Pictures used in this post is from Club Eden’s official website.

Seoul Fashion Week turned out as expected. All shows were tasteful without outlandish outfits. The designers all chose to present items which could be worn, as opposed to just being pieces of art. This is why I really enjoyed Seoul Fashion Week.

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For the past year, SeoulGrid has been looking for a quality pizza joint, but we kept coming up short. Although there are some very expensive Italian restaurants that serve quality pizza, few people are willing to pay 30,000KRW for a pizza that barely feeds one person. So the SeoulGrid team had a recent discussion, and we unanimously agreed that Costco has the most bang for the buck.

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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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With summer rolling around, there are going to be a lot of people coming to Seoul on vacation. I know going out to party in a new city can be intimidating, so I invited a friend of mine who has worked as a dating coach in Seoul for the past two years to write a guest article this week. In it, he’s going to provide some basic information on Seoul’s social scene and give some advice on going out alone to meet new people and build a new social circle. So without further adieu, here it is: I hope you all enjoy it!

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Finger Lounge is one of those venues located in alleys of Cheongdam that not everyone knows about.  It’s a modern lounge located in the alley between Tom N Toms cafe and MNet building (the main road that connects ex-Circle, McDonald’s Drivethrough and Club Answer).

The interior is very modern and clean.  Bar, which is located in the center of the venue, is metal-finished.  The center of the venue space almost reminds you of a large kitchen, where as tables and seats surround the center bar is white and wooden-brown in color.  It’s an interesting blend of two different atmospheres captured within a venue.

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Hidden on the third floor of a building beside Club Cocoon in Hongdae is by far one of the most unique and fun bars in Hongdae/Shinchon area.   It goes by the name of Oi (pronounced oh-eye) and is probably Hongdae’s best kept secret.   It is a bar, a club, and a hookah bar.   Although there are other places to get a drink, to dance, or to smoke hookah, the atmosphere and drink selection in Oi is truly unique and is what has always made me come back.

When you first step out of the elevator, the first thing you will see is a sign asking you to remove your shoes and place them in a bag.   The reason is because you may not wear your shoes in the club.   After you have removed your shoes, you are funneled up a pure white concrete passageway lined with tea lights.  Once at the top, you will see a labyrinth of caves, waterways, and even a bridge which will amaze and astound you.  Everything is white and there is a “butterfly theme” for the club.  Alice in Wonderland will immediately come to mind after you explore the club.

Pics, review, directions & more after the jump!

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