Need I say more? It's food for your skin and can be found at Tony Moly's for only 78,000 won a bottle. Hmmm…yeah…placenta cream. Makes you wonder where they got the placentas (or is it placentis). I mean, the South Korean government seized pills made with ground up dead babies. (See here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140702/South-Korea-customs-officials-thousands-pills-filled-powdered-human-baby-flesh.html ). The vibrating applicator does make it easy to get it into the pours. I asked the salesperson about this and they told me it was a top seller at Tony Moly's. They told me, "regular use would rejuvenate skin, reduce wrinkles, and whiten skin." I wonder what they will think of next. Maybe they'll think of something for the male market.

(Click images for sources)

If you're traveling to Korea and looking for some bars in Seoul, there’s plenty to choose from. But we’re all trying to save a bit of cash, right? Find out where to go in Seoul for free refills on alcohol so you can get wasted the cheapest way possible!

(This post was originally posted at seoulistic.com)

Ssada! Maekju! in Hongdae

I'm Sexy Cheap and I Know it

The title doesn't leave much to the imagination (ssada maekju = "It's cheap! Beer!"). So if having a few beers at a cheap price is your idea of a good time, head over to Hongdae to find this college town watering hole. Hopefully, you'll be surprised by the better-than-expected interior along with the inexpensive anju (안주). But who are you kidding. The only reason you're reading this is because you want to find a cheap place to go drinking in Seoul. And this place has got what you want: free refills for draft beers (8,000 won/person) and soju (5,000won/person).

Tip: The owner knows this is a real bargain, so he asks on the bar blog that you order some sort of anju (side dish). Help the guy out. The guy's gotta make a living somehow!

Location is hard to find. Here's the owner's directions (in Korean), and a blogger pinpoints it on naver map here. (Check the blogger pictures below to see signs to look for.)
Closest Subway Stations: 홍대입구역 (Hongdae Station - Line 2) & 상수역 (Sangsu Station - Line 6)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.
Bar's blog/website.

 

Makkeolli Salon in Hongdae 

Happy Juice Refills

If you're not a fan of beer or soju, lots of people tend to gravitate to makkeolli for a nice little buzz to get them feeling happy. This milky white happy juice has been making Korean farmers sing and dance since olden times. And although this aiin't the Korean country side, you can drink at this Seoul makkeolli bar till you feel like dancing at a few clubs in Hongdae just down the block! Get your groove on for 5,600 won a person.

Address: 서울시 마포구 서교동 358-92
(Seoul, Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong 358-92)
Maps: Wingspoon (Click here for the Shinchon branch)
Closest Subway Stations: 홍대입구역 (Hongdae Station - Line 2) & 상수역 (Sangsu Station - Line 6)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

 

200 Brau Haus at Gangnam Station

BYOB - Brew Your Own Beer

You're probably expecting all of these listings to be Seoul's versions of dive bars--cheap and dirty. If you are then you'll be pleasantly surprised by 200 Brau Haus' European inspired interior. The anju (안주) looks fancy enough, and the beer they offer is better than your typical Korean bar offerings. They brew their own beers, so you'll have your choice of fruity, hoppy, or dark beers--all at the can't-beat-that-deal price of 9,900 won for free refills! Yay for not having to drink Cass!

Tip: Free refills are not available on Saturday or Sunday.

Address: 서울시 서초구 서초4동 1307-23 보성빌딩
(Seoul Seocho-gu Seocho4-dong 1307-23 Boseong Building)
Maps: Naver Maps
Closest Subway Stations: 강남역 (Gangnam Station - Line 2)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

 

O'Hara Culture Club at Seolleung Station

Drink Like a Rich Old White Guy

With a name like "O'Hara Culture Club," this bar in Gangnam is exactly what you imagine it to be: a bunch of rich old white dudes smoking cigars and getting tipsy off of scotch whiskey. Just kidding. There's not too many old white dudes. And you don't have to be rich either! For 25,000 won, you can chill like Hugh Hefner for a night at this trendy Seoul bar and sip on your choice of wine, sparkling wine, cocktails, and beer to your hearts content. Bring your own cigars to be cooler.

Tip: Look for Scarlett (restaurant name). The bar is located inside the restaurant.

Address: 서울시 강남구 대치동 891 B1F (대치타워 지하 1층)
[Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Daechi-dong 891 B1F (1st Fl. basement of Dachi Tower)]
Maps: Wingspoon
Closest Subway Stations: 선릉역 (Seolleung Station - Line 2)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

 

Star Flair at Gangnam Station 

No Frills, Just Drinks

Address: 서울시 강남구 역삼동 818-7 3층
(Seoul, Gangnam-gu Yeoksam-dong 818-7, 3rd Floor)
Maps: Naver Maps
Closest Subway Stations: 강남역 (Gangnam Station - Line 2)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

 

Tell me Your Wish in Bucheon

For the Broke and Hungry

Are you currently broke and on a kimbab diet cause you spent all your money on clubbing and drinking? Alcoholics deserve better. That's why this bar in Bucheon makes our list of Seoul bars to get free refills: you not only get unlimited alcohol refills, you also get access to a surprisingly wide array of food to go along with your drinks! Buffets in Korea are typically high-end deals that can cost upwards of 50,000 won a person. This 9,900 won buffet does one up on all those hotel buffets and offers unlimited alcoholic drinks. Screw the Sheraton, let's go to Bucheon!

Address: 경기도 부천시 원미구 심곡동 180-14번지 5층
(Gyeonggi-do Bucheon-shi, Wonmi-gu, Shimgok-dong 180-14, 5th floor.)
Maps: Naver Map
Closest Subway Stations: 부천역 (Bucheon Station - Line 1 of Gyeongin Line)
See pics from Korean Blogger 1 and Korean Blogger 2.

Know any other bars in Korea where you can get free refills? Share with us in the comments!

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Language Tip:

- 맥주 (maekju) - beer
- 안주 (anju) - side dishes to eat while drinking alcohol
- 무한리필 (muhanripil) - unlimited refills

(This post was originally posted at seoulistic.com)

This is a dessert from Jungsikdang. It is in the shape of an Onngi (a Korean fermenting pot) that was filled with chestnut cream.

My mother came to my house and cooked me dinner. I am such a lucky boy. I have chili leaf, potato, cucumber, and bean sprout side dish and bean sprout soup.

I am out with my mother in Seoul so we did some lunch and I did some shopping and now we are relaxing at Beans Bins Coffee having an ice cream waffle. What you get is two scoops of ice cream (my mother ordered vanilla and strawberry). The ice cream comes on a big waffle topped with banana, whipped cream, grapes and powdered sugar- oh and chocolate syrup, I just found out it was the first time she ever had this and she says it is, "cool and delicious." She asked if it was bread and I told her it was like a pancake or fish bread (뽕어빵). She likes it very much.

For me it is nothing special, but I have had this before at different places. I think the waffle is too light and there is too much whipped cream. The ice cream is good and the bananas are ripe. For 13,500, it is a bit expensive and my mother scolded me about this. But then again, we are here for the experience. To spend the afternoon with my mother is worth more than all the money in the world.

Beans Bins Coffee
Jung-Gi Chunmuro 1ga 23-1 2fl
02 3789 1980

I am in Tartine Alley in Itaewon having dinner with the chef's association at Tartine Annex. We are discussing this month's events and having a great meal courtesy of Chef Garrett of Tartine.

I know that is hard to survive as a restaurant. Especially if you are in an area that might not get too much foot traffic. Most businesses think the menu is the blame and they start to add and add and add stuff. I think that is what happened at Hu's Table. Billed as an Italian Table, they have Italian food, coffee, sandwiches, wines beer and Patbingsu. A whole lot of stuff. Which is not bad if you can do them all well. I go there for coffee once in a while and recently I tried their strawberry Patbingsu. I was imagining shaved ice with fresh strawberries but what I got was ice with frozen strawberries topped with strawberry ice cream. Fresh would have been better but frozen was pretty awful.

The atmosphere is cool. They have drawings all over the walls and an array of colored pencils. It is a cool place to relax and have coffee or wine.

Service could be better but it is run by one person. Anyway. Cool cafe but the Patbingsu could be improved.

Hu's Table
Jongno-Gi Gahwae-dong 70-2
02-766-5061
종로구 가희동 70-2

I love the Korean letter for Flower: 꽂. It looks like a firecracker going off. Here are some shots I took using different filters.

Will I like it? Check out the video and more videos at my youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/delawheresdan?feature=watch

I am at Dream Cafe which is a study room, creative space concept that is run by the Cyworld group. Cyworld could have been the Google of Korea a long time ago before they sold their concept and eventually see it slowly lose popularity due to other social networking concepts like Facebook. It seems to be trying to get some of the creative brainshare they were once known for. The cafe is quiet and people here are studying and working on projects. It's something I desperately needed because cafes in Korea are so noisy. The vibe is cool as well.

The staff are friendly and open minded and they make decent food. I had a coffee and yogurt- the cost of which is a donation. I could be cheap and pay 1,000 won but grateful for the quiet contemplative afternoon, I gave 10,000.

Dream Cafe
Open 9am-10pm
070 4225 0929
Jongno-gu Jongno 2-ga 3fl
Dream.cyworld.com

Seoul for the last two days has been a spectical. The city was lit up in lanterns for the parade down Jongno and today the temples all beautifully adorned. It is a beautiful day out and you should get out to enjoy it. In honor of Buddha's birthday I will not eat meat.