Anyone have a couple restaurant recommendation in Hongdae? I want to something cool and hip, but the only places I can think of are bars. I was thinking Penang, but it's not that great. It's ok. Bab is the best Korean restaurant in the area. I've been to 75015 already and the Indian restaurant on the street is awful.
I've already reviewed Aa Design Museum and I was thinking of staying away from Galbi Restaurants. Also, if anyone wants to help me with a food review of Hongdae, please contact me at seouleats@gmail.com Thanks,
Dan
I've already reviewed Aa Design Museum and I was thinking of staying away from Galbi Restaurants. Also, if anyone wants to help me with a food review of Hongdae, please contact me at seouleats@gmail.com Thanks,
Dan
Daniel,it's me, Lynn R., we just met at the GOAL Xmas party. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteDae-won showed me an awesome place in Hongdae which is my favorite ever since. It's delicious and not expensive.
It's a Korean BBQ with very thinly sliced 우삼겹 (beef with fat layers) and lots of salad and side dishes. The place is called 본가 (Bonga). If you take exit 5 of Hongdae station, turn left before Pascucci, then turn right at the first possible street. The restaurant is on the right side of this street, you need to climb the outside stairs to get to the entrance.
Btw, what's the deal with the nutcracker ballet? I'd be interested to watch...
Hey Daniel,
ReplyDeleteYou've tried Shanti (Indian/Nepalese 2nd floor) between exit 4 & 5 of Hongdae, right?
Also, Saigon Hill (Thai/Vietnamese, 2nd floor), it's near the GOA'L office across from the Buy the Way on the Caffe Di-Amo side of the street.
And Shim's Tapas (uh, tapas) which is off the same street as the Coffee Prince Cafe.
~Nicole S.
Albaizyn and Pakitos deserve reviews for bringing fantastic Spanish food to Hongdae. Then NoSide (currently under renovation) for authentic Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (accept no imitators!). And of course Jenny's Cafe back near Castle Praha for great, affordable Italian fare. These days I prefer eating in Hongdae to Itaewon, I think it's really come up.
ReplyDeleteHassan, where is Albaizyn and Pakitos? Yes, I love NoSides as well. I have enjoyed going to Jenny's Cafe as well. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteWe went to Ding Dong Cafe in Hongdae and it was a really nice outside setting for brunch and coffee... (felt like you were sitting in someone's backyard). They also serve beer.
ReplyDeletehttp://r.wingbus.com/seoul/hongikuniv/dingdong_hd/
map: http://wikimapia.org/14004797/Ding-Dong-Cafe
I recommend Xiao Fei Yang [小肥羊] (샤오훼이양). It's a Mongolian Hotpot/Chinese-style Shabu Shabu chain restaurant originating from China. It is very popular, especially with people from Chinese speaking regions of Asia (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc.) I think I actually heard more Chinese than Korean when I was here, and for the most part, all of their serving staff speak Chinese, at least those I met. This place is authentic, and as most people living in Seoul know, authentic Chinese anything is near impossible to come by.
ReplyDeleteThe first day I went there was on a Saturday afternoon. Though we had to wait over half an hour for a table, it was well worth the wait.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, their vegetables and seafood are buffet style. So each person needs to only order a meat dish or so from their menu, and their buffet is self-serve, all you can eat during lunch hours (From 11:30 - 15:00).
Also, something that really separates this restaurant from other Shabu Shabu restaurants in Seoul is the broth. They have 4 types of broth, the two most common being their basic bone broth, and the other being a Chinese style spicy broth, which is just delicious. (I recommend their spicy broth).
Also, the Shabu Shabu is served Japanese style, in individual pots, verses a shared table pot. Each person can order a different broth, and has their own small pot to eat form as they please.
It was really a pleasant experience, and the Chinese pop music playing in the background really added to the nice ambiance. (Nice to hear Jay Chou again).
The menu also has some other authentic Chinese dishes (As I've been told), but I have yet to try them.
Each person came out to be around 15,000-20,000 WON.
As the winter is here, Shabu Shabu is the perfect dish to eat, so I definitely recommend Xiao Fei Yang, but be sure to go during the weekend lunch hours. It's a great way to spend your afternoon lunch, as my friend I spent around 3 hours here just chatting and eating.
This restaurant, after searching for nearly 45 minutes, I found is very easy to locate.
Walk out exit 5 of Hongdae station, and walk straight, past Citi Bank, until you reach the first full intersection, where you turn left.
Walk for about 30 seconds straight, until on the opposite side of the street, the right side of the street, you see an office building with Saboten on the ground floor. Enter the building, hop in the lift, and there you are. I can't quite remember which floor it's on, but I want to say 3rd floor maybe?
Anyways the Korean website can be found here: http://littlesheep.co.kr/html/sub01.html
And if any one is wondering, "Xiao Fei Yang" means "Little Fat Sheep" in Chinese!
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