Fresh on the Market - Brew 3.14

Brew 3.14 is a cozy spot in a hidden street by the famous tourist area of Jong-ro where all the traditional Korean locations are. The only thing is, Brew 3.14 is not so traditional. Serving up fresh pizzas and calzones to order, it is the perfect place to grab a drink as well as a bite without splurging your wallet. Pizzas are made on a fresh pizza base that is thin and crispy like a flat bread, topped with fresh ingredients. 

This small bar opens at 5pm, catering to the foreigners in town that live in the nearby hostels and hotels. It is the perfect place to go to for a drink that ranges from beers to their twist on bombs. Incorporating fruits, beer, and alcohol, it is a way to satisfy a big kid's stomach in a way that keeps you lingering around. 

Address: 서울 중로구 인사동 95-1번지

Jongno-gu Insadong 95-1

Phone Number: 070-418-3014

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - O'Sulloc

O'Sulloc is a store that centers around Jeju island's amazing tea leaves. They bring out the best in fresh green tea and incorporate it in a wide range of goodies that are not just limited to tea. Everything for the house that is for general well being is infused into O'Sulloc's merchandise. This includes the best sellers in the Innisfree stores and a handful of other baked goodies that are sold all around Seoul.

In addition to the amazing products that O'Sulloc carries, they also have an amazing cafe that bakes up the most amazing sweets. Incorporating green tea and fresh ingredients in their goods, the best sellers are green tea. With the green tea being the best seller, the must haves are the Green Tea Tiramisu and the Green Tea  Frap that is topped with their best selling Green Tea ice cream. With so many locations around, be sure to visit the website for a list of shops to get your taste of Jeju Island. 

The one recommended location is in Insadong where they offer three floors to the shop. The first floor consists of the shopping goods and a visible roasting pot of fresh green tea leaves, providing samples of the tea to guests. The second floor is their more modern touch of a cafe, catering to locals and tourists. The third floor is a more fancy and high class seating for a quieter environment to enjoy their goodies with a higher price as well. The third floor is definitely recommended if you are looking for a quieter place as well as a place for business purposes. The extra touch does go a long way.

Address: 170 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Phone: 02-732-6427

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Palette Macaron

An open cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, is the perfect go to place on a Fall afternoon to enjoy the lovely amazing weather and a warm drink. The one thing that caught my attention about this cafe is their unique macarons on display. Although there is not a large selection of macarons, the incorporation of flavors Palette Macaron combines sure makes the cafe stand out on it's own. It definitely caught my eyes as I passed by after visiting the traditional Korean houses which is nearby. Being that it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Korea, it is a must visit and definitely a good place to take a break until exploring the rest of popular tourist areas in the area which include the Gyeongbokgung palace!

One of the suggested is the Grapefruit Wasabi. Although it sounds to be the most disgusting thing ever, it is actually tasty. A grapefruit flavored macaron is incorporated with a touch of wasabi jam. This peculiar blend is actually complimenting at one point. It is definitely nice to break from the traditional macaron flavors and try something bold. In addition to the selection of macarons, there are a handful of drinks that the cafe stirs up, something that caters to the taste of all guests. 

Restaurant Review - Julio

The perfect place to get your Mexican fix on is Julio's. With a  few locations around Seoul including Gangnam and Jongno, this restaurant even beats out many Spanish restaurants back at home. I am a big fan that they actually have real Coronas for their Bulldogs, it feels good to have a taste of home! 

In addition to the booze, there are a handful of great dishes at Julios which includes their tasty, fresh made quesadilla, burrito, nachos, and enchiladas. Although it is a bit pricey, it is still worth it to have a Mexican fix. Keep in mind that all foreign foods in Korea is pricey, so this is average and extremely worth it!

The best part about Julio's is the mix of foreign music. It's great to take it back a notch and enjoy food over the music that you are familiar with. The best thing about the restaurant is that there is a great mix of foreigners and local, all who enjoy Spanish food. I love the atmosphere and open seating which allows for fresh air and sunlight to penetrate through the restaurant. It takes me back to New York and enjoying food out in the open, definitely a big fan of the restaurant and I do suggest going back. The food and drinks is just too delicious to give up! It is definitely worth spending $8-12 on a dish and a drink respectively. 

Korean Traditional Eat - Chicken Ginseng Soup

Korea is known for their ginseng, having the best in the world. Because there is so much nutritious value in ginseng, the cost of it is rather high. For those looking to get a bit of ginseng in their diet and is not familiar with how to cook it, there is a handful of options in Korea for you.

The most popular and famous tourists attraction by Jong-no called Tosokchon (토속촌) is the one place that is a must visit for their ginseng chicken soup (Samgyetang 삼계탕). A baby chicken stuffed with glutinous rice is boiled in a ginseng broth until soft and infused with ginseng. This healthy eat is a bit expensive, $20-30 a bowl, but extremely worth it. With only four soups to choose from, they are all on the recommendation list.

In addition to the ginseng soup, there are shreds of ginseng that is served to be added to the soup. The restaurant also serves up ginseng tea and a shot of ginseng wine for those who dare to take a drink. Wait at the restaurant can be as long as two hours, depending on the time and the number of tour buses in the area. Nonetheless, it is a must visit for all in Korea!

Directions to Tosokchon (토속촌): Take Gyeonbokgong exit 2 and go straight until the second block. Take a left and you will see the wooden front with chicken roasting and perhaps a line.
Address: 85-1 Chebu-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul