Seoul Eats

Here are some incredible shots of Korea I took around the country during my food tours and journeys.

Hongdae (Hongik Station) is youthful energy that is like a shaken bottle of champagne. Any second it could explode. When it does it just explodes into fun and excitement. This is the area where the wacky and the edgy trends start. They take a risk here and they could make it or not. Some of my favorite recent finds include the Hello Kitty Cafe. I know it is cheesy and weird but everyone I have taken there has a blast. Just go there for kicks. The coffee isn't terrible nor are the desserts. There is also Cat's Living which is like. Cafe but with 10 or so cats running around. It is gimmicky and cute but the place smells like kitty litter (gross). It is 8,000 won for entrance and this includes a free drink. If you want real coffee head over to Coffee Lab. They roast some magic beans there. Food there is Monster Pizza which sells pizza by the slice. The slices are big and are foldable. The sauce is good and the cheese is baked brown good. The only problem is that the crust is a bi...

(Click images for sources) Stop by seoulistic.com for more Korea travel tips! Seoul is home to a number of food towns and streets, clusters of specific types of Korean foods all found in one specific place. If you're a fan of Korean foods, be sure to check out these awesome food towns in Seoul! Note: Most of these dishes (besides galbi) will cost approximately less than 10,000 won a person (that is if you take it easy on the alcohol! ;)).   Where to Eat Tteokbokki in Seoul: Tteokbokki Town in Sindang Tteokbokki (떡볶이): spicy rice cakes (Korean street food) Tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) is Korea's representative street food. And although Korean street food is quite popular with tourists, it's also a local favorite for Koreans. And that's why there's a tteokbokki town in Sindang-dong. Sindang's Tteokbokki Town has represented street food in Korea since the 90's. The tteokbokki restaurants here are famous for a so-called "secret recipe." But even if it...

This was one of the better meals that I have had in awhile. The food is creative, beautiful and tasty. Everything has a Japanese flair from the styling to the bento boxes. This place is known for their desserts but their savory dishes are quite good as well. Their spicy tuna rolls are the best I have had in the city and have a good balance of rice to spicy tuna. I am always a sucker for sliders and their shrimp one is poppy and doesn't skimp on shrimp. For dessert I recommend their warm miso chocolate cake. It is sophisticated and surprising especially with their ice creams. Kyotofu Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong 682-1 02-749-1488 Go out Hanganjin Station (Line 6) exit 3. Price Range: 10,000-30,000 per person

I wanted to thank all the people that have pledged money to the Say Kimchi! Korean Food Comic. With 26 days to go we have already raised 175 dollars. The t-shirts seem to be a big hit and many people have pledged in order to get it. I wanted to show you some sample images of the comic that we have done so far. These are the images that Heejeong has drawn. The final version will have color and I think they will turn out quite nice. The purpose of this project is to define, show the process and go into the storytelling of the food. We feel that for some that would just like to browse the pictures they can, but the main idea is for those that would like in-depth knowledge, this will people new to Korean food how to eat it. When we started to approach this project, we chose foods that were quite fun but experience it from a foreign perspective. Many people that visit Korea they truly want to try Korean food, but they don't know the etiquette and the process behind it. We are not tryin...

“Discovering the Specialty foods of Andong City: Yam, Korean Omija and Sang Hwang Mushroom...” - Date: September 1st, Saturday, 2012 - Place: Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do - Tour contents: We’ll journey to beautiful Andong city, which is home to many Korean famous crops such as omija (5-spice berry), Ma (a Korean root vegetable), Sang Hwang Mushroom, and Andong Soju (a homebrewed distilled rice liquor). We’ll see the land, the crops, and the villages that the people live in and learn about the food history of Korea’s medicinal crops and how they can be utilized in the food. Omija, Ma, and Sang-hwang mushroom have deep importance in Korean food culture and they are considered more than just ingredients: they are medicine. In Andong, you’ll travel by bus led by your English speaking guide from the culinary tourism company, O’ngo Food Communications. After your long ride there, you’ll also get a full-course Andong-style Korean lunch made with local ingredients. You’ll also visit a farm to see...

This illustrated comic will tell in fun comics the story behind and the process to eat many different types of Korean food. There is more to Korean food than just kimchi and that is what this comic will try to show through fun and informative storytelling in a comic format. The Say Kimchi! Korean Food Comic will go in depth into the food history, the process for eating, and give tips on Korean eating etiquette. The comic will talk about common Korean foods like kimchi and bulgogi but also explore some of Korea’s more bizarre foods such as various Korean street foods, live octopus, and even military stew (budae chiggae). The story will be told by Jia, a young Korean foodie, who will try the various foods while explaining the food in a way that is relatable for those unfamiliar and familiar with Korean food. She’ll offer fun insight into the food and give important tips for eating it such as how to properly cut food with scissors, the drinking culture, and more. Our goal is to draw 30 di...

Last week I was invited to check out a new Italian Restaurant and Lounge in the heart of Hongdae. Bonbon was first started in Daejeon several years back where it quickly expanded to two locations. Building on the success enjoyed in Daejon, Bonbon Hongdae was opened in May of this year. First of all, the location is great. Located directly next to the infamous music park, it's not hard to find. In fact, it's hard to miss if you're heading over to NB, Club Naked, or many of the other clubs located near by. As you can see from the pictures the interior decorations are bright, modern, and tasteful. High ceilings, plenty of floor space, ample room between tables, and an open patio all help to open up the interior and make it feel very spacious. Have no fear though, the AC is blasting on the inside and kept us at a nice temperature. DJ Spencer was spinning tracks all night, and during the two hours I was there from 6-8 on a Friday night I noticed the rhythm distinctly quicken. Du...