Restaurant Review - Japanese Kitchen 미카

Japanese Kitchen is a small cozy restaurant located in Sinsa behind the famous shopping street of Garosu-gil that is stirring up a lot of tasty Japanese dishes that range from udon noodles to curry dishes. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating that allows for guest to enjoy a cherry blossomed theme view with an interior that is based around a cherry blossom tree. The concept is extremely traditional, but offers a more modern and classic look. 

Japanese Kitchen serves a food menu up until 5pm where they switch over to a Hof-like location, serving dishes with their wide selection of sake bottles and Japanese beers. Being that it switches over to a Hof, you must order a small dish to consume. Dishes are rather pricey, ranging from $15 to $30, but it also has to do with location. Although it is a bit more expensive, their fried chicken is actually an amazing side dish to enjoy with your drinks. Fried crispy and topped with a sweet and salty soy sauce, it is an amazing combination. 

The one recommendation for Japanese Kitchen is to go during their regular lunch hours for authentic Japanese food. Going later in the night is perfect if you are looking to enjoy a drink with a group of friends. 

Directions to Japanese Kitchen: Directions: Straight from exit 8 of Sinsa station of the orange line 3, take a left when you reach the Tous Le Jours bakery on the corner. Take a left and a right at the following block to walk parallel to the Garosu-gil shopping street. Go straight to the very end and you will see Japanese Kitchen at the four way intersection in front of you. 

Korean Traditional Eat - 뻥튀기

Ppeongtwigi 뻥튀기 is the Korean take on the Western popcorn which is just popped grain. It comes in all different shapes, sizes, and colors which makes it a heck of a lot of fun. Watching people on the street make Ppeongtwigi is a full blast of fun and loud of course (the more traditional kind) If you ever pass a truck that is selling 뻥튀기 and see how it is made, you'll see that a frisbee like rice grain is literally popped out of a metal machine. It's quite a bit of fun to watch them make it and consuming it fresh is just as good. This cheap eat can usually be picked up for a measly price of $2 for a whole big bag that will last you quite some time. 

It is extremely common to be served in bars and hof restaurants for guests to enjoy drinks with (as shown in the photo). The smaller and bite sized 뻥튀기 is usually served in restaurants just so you can pop them in your mouth. As always, this is served as a "service" which means free with your drinks and an unlimited amount of refills. They all range in texture depending on where you go, but for the most part, they are all made of rice grain and it is the perfect snack with your beer. This extremely cheap street food is popular among children as well and it's extremely light in calories which makes it that much better. This Korean traditional eat takes it to a new level of fun, something to share with everyone in the family. 

Bottoms Up - Cheers

HAPPY NEW YEARS AND CHEERS TO ALL ! There's no better way to celebrate New Years than going out for a drink. The only problem with New Years in Korea is that it is not as big for them as it is for foreigners. Therefore, the only places to go for a celebration where they will do a countdown is probably a casino or some foreign club, especially places in Itaewon. Nonetheless, you can always go out for a drink with the Koreans in their local spots.

Cheers, a Korean hof chain, is one of the popular spots to have a drink with a group of friends. The best part about hofs is being able to enjoy drinks with delicious foods. In my opinion, Cheers is one of the best hofs that I have been to in Korea for their food and service. Although there are a handful across town, service in Korea usually refers to "free dishes" and Cheers has some of the best ones.

Knowing that customers like to munch while they drink, peanuts and shredded squid is extremely popular among Asians to pick at when consuming alcoholic beverages, most of the time being beer. Cheers is the only Hof that I have been to that provides both peanuts and shredded squid as service. The best part about the squid is they freshly grill it so it is still hot when it gets to your table. Simply shred it into pieces while still hot and enjoy!

In addition to the services being amazing, the food at Cheers is relatively delicious as well. Sometimes Hofs lack on their dishes, but Cheers has been able to live up to the standards. The only false advertisement of Cheers is their buffalo wings which is nothing like the American hot and saucy wings, it is actually just regular fried chicken wings. Keep that in mind before ordering buffalo wings in Korea because there is probably not such a thing!

Korean Traditions - Garten Bier

An obvious Korean tradition is going out eating with a group of friends which almost always includes a bit of alcohol. Usually, for late night get togethers afterwork, natives visit a Hof which includes week days. Hofs are spots that you have casual drinking usually with a few or big group of friends and enjoy a few dishes of food. It allows for mingling with the natives, but that is up to you to initiate the conversation.

My recent discovery is the Garten Bier, a Hof chain in Korea that is a spot for casual drinking with friends. I am absolutely in love with this place for a number of reasons. For starters, each table has its own mini fridge that helps to keep your drink cool so you never have to worry about a watered down drink or your beer getting warm. In addition to the mini fridge, I am in love with their unique beer glasses which almost no one orders, but it was a must for a first timer. The photo shows a 1100 cc glass of beer which is the largest and prettiest size that Garten Bier carries. I'll be quite honest, it is a bit difficult to drink out of the bubbly shape, but it sure is a great experience.

In addition to the cute glass, their pitchers of beer are served a bit classier than any other Hof I have been to which is with a glowing light that centers your beer. Yes, it does take away a bit from the amount that you are receiving, but I absolutely love the unique concept behind the theme. I definitely think it's worth the attraction to lose a few drops of beer. Plus, the price you pay for beer is still cheaper than those back at home and even at the bar!


Aside from beer and alcohol, you must order foods at most Hofs. The only dish that I have tried at Garten Bier is their chicken pizza which was not bad at all for a homemade pizza. Do not expect a pan pizza like back in the states because it is a thin flat bread that is topped with cheese, vegetables and meat, served to you on a flat board. I do hear the salad is pretty good, but I have yet to try it. There's just something about drinking beer and eating a salad that bugs me. There will be updates again about Garten Bier because I am in love with the place and design that I will return!