Bottoms Up - The Coffee Lab

The Coffee Lab is one place to go for anyone who loves coffee for the simple reason that they offer cheap refills on their hand drip coffee. With speciality coffee beans from Brazil, many love the fresh roasted smell of the Coffee Lab along with the many other flavors they have to offer. 

It is one of the most popular places for those who are looking for a place to study for a long period of time. They're known for having specialty beverages, a place that is different from the other Korean chains around. Coffee branches are all over in Korea and for that very reason, it's difficult to distinguish between the branches. The Coffee Lab is one of the very few places that offer cheap refills so it's definitely worth making a visit when in Korea because coffee does get pretty expensive for locals.

     

Cute Eats - Noodle Box

One of the famous Korean chain restaurants in Seoul is Noodle Box, a fast food joint that whips up Thai food. It is probably one of the cutest eats in the world because your meal is actually serve in a replica of a Noodle Box. The concept is fun and makes it that much more appealing to enjoy your food, minus the metal bar that always gets in the way. For anyone who actually follows tips from buzzfeed, you'll know the real way to eat out of a noodle box is not from the opening at the top. The concept of Noodle Box is that the box can be opened into a flat plate so you're not digging into an extremely hot base of food. 

On average, a dish at noodle box costs $7. The dishes range in spicy levels, but they do have a wider selection that is not offered in a lot of Thai restaurants. One of the popular choices of course is the traditional Pad Thai, but the Mongolian is also great for those who are able to tolerate a bit of spice. Because this is a Korean chain restaurant, you have to keep in mind that the taste will differ from location to location. Nonetheless, it is a great place to go to grab a quick bite in a cute box. It probably wouldn't be the best place to take a date, but there are a lot of couples who visit Noodle Box anyway!

Kongdae location:

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Mouse Rabbit 마우스래빗

Although it is located in Mouse Rabbit (their Korean website) located in Kongdae is a well-known coffee shop amongst Kpop fans because of the famous celebrity that owns the cafe. Yesung 예성, the lead vocalist in Super Junior opened this three floor cafe with his brother that attracts locals and tourists to the area. With an outdoor patio and smoking area on the first floor, open windows for sunshine and a traditional black and white movie playing on the second floor, the cafe takes it to a whole new level offering private rooms where you have to remove your shoes in the basement. 

When visiting the shop, there is a high chance Yesung's mother will be working, but it is more difficult to see the celebrity himself. Although he has been spotted at the coffee shop, it definitely takes quite some chance since he is a celebrity after all. None the less even without the chance of seeing Yesung, it is worth visiting Mouse Rabbit for their cute mugged hot drinks and desserts. 

Their marble cheesecake is on point with the perfect blend of New York styled cheesecake, dark chocolate base and chocolate filled cake. Although they are more recognized for their Oreo cheesecake, it is nothing like an Oreo cheesecake. Anyone looking for a lighter, fluffy textured cream cake should definitely go for the Oreo cheesecake which is cream and fluff on top of a chocolate base cake, topped with an Oreo. 

In addition to the desserts, there are a variety of drinks which includes coffee, teas, and even alcoholic beverages. They are on point just like any other coffee shops. Mouse Rabbit also offers the popular Korean dessert, patbingsoo which is a shaved ice as well as a handful of small eats. 

You would think a place opened by a celebrity would charge an outrageous amount of money for their drinks and goodies, but it is actually measurable to all the average coffee shops in Seoul, even cheaper than a lot of the fancy ones. You can easily find drinks and desserts priced at less than $5 a pop which is truly amazing because you're actually spending more at a Starbucks. 

Opened from 10AM to 12AM daily, it is the perfect place for a chat, bonding, and even just to study. There are many locals that hang around the coffee shop just to enjoy a cup of coffee without it being too chaotic knowing a celebrity owns the place. Service is amazing and the staff is extremely friendly. They always have Mouse Rabbit hand fans ready to give to any fan of Yesung which makes it that much more amazing.

Directions to Mouse Rabbit is fairly easy. Take exit 2 of Konkuk University Station where Line 2 and 7 intersect. When you exit the station, take a left before the light where the Angel-in-us coffee shop is and go straight until you see the Samsung mobile store on a small corner. Take the small street that goes in on your left and Mouse Rabbit will be on your right. 

Address: 서울 광진구 화양동 5-14번지
5-14, Hwayang-dong,. Gwangjin-gu, Seoul


BLOG UPDATE: For those TRUE fans, you will know when you see. I was a little too embarrassed to ask for a photo, plus the 23492374982374 signs that asked politely not to take a photo. At the very minimum Yesung 예성 did take my order and did speak to me in a combination of Korean and English ^.^ totally made my day and made me feel like a little girl at heart. He is actually flawless in person.

Street Food Yum - Hoddeok Revisited

My all time favorite street food yum and Korean traditional eat is the sweet Korean pancake, Hoddeok. You can find this sweet tooth satisfaction in the streets at an average price of $1, sometimes even less! Because there are so many different stands to purchase this from, everyone has their own take to it. The more recent stands are turning this flat, doughy pancake into a more fluffy, bread-like eat. This stand in Kongdae offers fluffy bread that is cut in half and filling is added before handed off to guests to enjoy. This breaks away from the traditional way of filling a dough with a pine nut based syrup and thrown in a flat pan of oil to cook. Nonetheless, it is still my favorite traditional Korean eat and I just can't get enough of it!

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Grains Cookies

Grains is a healthy option for those foodies who are looking to splurge a little on their diet. Made with healthier grains and flours, these hard cookies are extremely cheap and freshly baked. For just three dollars, cookies are weighed on a scale and roughly eight to ten pieces for the price of one bag. You are able to select and mix up your batch of goodies and the best part is, samples are offered before you purchase! The luxury of shopping in Korea always blows my mind. 

Served and packaged in a resealable bag, these cookies are made to last for a period of time, but I can never last more than a day without consuming all of them. Definitely an addiction that I have to sweets, but I am normally not a fan of hard cookies. Grains changed my mind with just one sample and dunking it in a cup of milk or coffee takes the taste to a whole new level. Be sure to check out the food court of the many department stores in Korea where you can find a Grains stand. This was picked up at the local Lotte Department Store in Kongdae.

Story of My Life - Blind Restaurant

One of the newest trends in dining is to eat at a Blind Restaurant. Yes, a blind restaurant where you eat in the dark as if you were blind. There are a few around the world which include Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, London, and one in Korea. With one in Seoul of the Kongdae area by Konkuk University, it is a popular spot for couples to attend for a new style of dating, but it is recommended for all to experience in order to heighten their senses.

The restaurant is known for the experience to dine in the dark, but it is also known as the restaurant of tears. Why? The restaurant provides you with the opportunity to write a letter and read it before the end of your dinner. It is a great surprise to those who are dining with you. Most of the time, these letters are those of love, apologies, and expressing yourself in ways that you were not able to before. I definitely recommend doing this without letting the others know. It may be at little creepy at first if you are laughing up a storm with your friends and all of a sudden you hear this voice that starts to talk. You'll know when it's coming though because they change up the music to some slow jams so it gives you some time to give your friends a heads up that someone will speak. Unfortunately for my group of friends, we were too wrapped up in chatter that I couldn't warn them ahead of time. 

In regards to the dinner, it consists of two different courses, a silver (chicken) and gold (beef) which differs in price. It is a four course dinner with a salad, appetizer, main course, and a dessert. The food was absolutely delicious which I did not expect since I thought we would be paying for the experience instead. Each week consists of a different theme. The one I experienced was a space theme where you are "blasted off to space" for your dinner with music in the background. There is a selection of music that plays throughout your dinner so you are not constantly listening to space music or eating in the complete silence. Nonetheless, if you go with a group of people, you will probably chat up a storm that the other tables can hear you so the music is a good call. 

So how does this happen? When entering the restaurant, you are situated in a dimly lit room before lead into the dark room where you consume your dinner. After given the basic guidelines and instructions, you are then to line up and walk in a straight line lead by a staff with night goggles. They test your sense of touch before bringing you into the dinner room, and you are then sat down with a plated salad to start the meal. It is a perfect way to bond over conversation with your friends or your other half. Over an hour and a half dinner, you are given a pen and paper to write a note in the dark. It's definitely funny to see what you wrote after! For writing in the dark, I think I did a pretty good job. 

Dining with a handful of good friends, this experience was definitely memorable. It was quite a challenge to eat in the dark without making a full mess or having to eat off of the plate, but we did a good job cleaning our plate as claimed by our waiter. The best part of the dinner is being able to share laughs and tears with my girls. I recommend it as something to do once in your life and test your dark dining skills!

Restaurant Review - Michelles Steak

The local spot in Kongdae, Michelle's, is the go to place for those who are looking for a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. It is almost impossible to find the right touch, but Michelle's is whipping up the closest thing.  With two types of sandwiches, the original and the mini, to cater to the foreigners who know cheesesteaks and the local Koreans who like a softer sandwich, Michelle's is a must try. Cheesesteaks are how they are back at home: beef, real cheese, vegetables, served on a fresh roll. 

The best thing about this small cozy restaurant is that you can practically order any combination that you want, even if it's not on the menu. Because sandwiches are big in size, it is suggested to share with another. Sandwiches begin at the price of $9 with a drink, definitely worth every penny when you have a crazy craving. It is definitely a bit difficult to find considering it is off the main street and up a small alley, but it is worth the walk.

Your best bet is to go from Children's Park station and follow the directions via their Facebook page.
Address: 능동로 16길 35 Seoul Korea
Phone: 02-3437-0700 

Street Food Yum - Takoyaki Balls

A street version of the Japanese Okonomiyaki pancake, these squid (sometimes other seafood) pancake-made batter balls are topped with the flakes and sauce that will have you going bonkers. You can simply pop them in your mouth and have a Okonomiyaki-like pancake to go. Prices vary in the number of balls that you want, an average box of eight for three dollars or fourteen for five dollars. Definitely can't go wrong with that!

Takoyaki balls can be found all around town in Korea as a quick pick me up to eat. Ewha (the women's university), Kongdae (by the Konkuk University station), Gangnam, and many other centers of attractions. For those who are looking for a more filling meal, the Okonomiyaki Pancake is available in some locations as well. The pancake is usually topped with udon noodles, a filling meal for just $5.

The best thing about these Takoyaki balls is the way it is made. A batter is poured onto the circular cooking platform and the filing is added. It is then topped with more batter and as it cooks, a bubble will start to form. Keep in mind the batter pours everywhere. Once halfway cooked, two sticks are used to cut and pull the flat shaped filling into a ball like popper. It is something you have to see to believe. Descriptions does not work for the amazement of the technique. 

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Terrace Cafe

Terrace Cafe, a place that is in a hidden alley right off of the main street on Kongdae, is a small cafe that whips up a bunch of deliciousness. For an average price of $5 a drink and $5 a dessert, this is a must visit spot for anyone with a sweet tooth like me! These desserts measure up to the American standard, using the right amount of sweetness as well as real cheesecake. A lot of cheesecakes in Korea is made with a sponge flour cheese which is just not the same.

The must order dessert is their top seller Raspberry White Chocolate Cheese Brûlée, which is a definite hit on their marketing side. It is a mix of raspberry sauce, white chocolate cake mixed with cheese cake and a touch of creme brûlée mixed into the batter. Every bite just melts in your mouth and provides you with a different kick of each selective dessert. This slice is just absolutely amazing! I also suggest the Cafe Mint Mocha which is a blend of mocha frappe with a hint of mint. It is delicious and beats out the competitor's signature drinks!

In addition to being a cafe, there are alcohol beverages that are served so it is a perfect dessert place to go after dinner to grab a drink. This cozy "indoor garden" feel is a great place to take a date with the interior made of benches and pillows for a comfortable feel. It is a relaxing place to even have a bite with the girls or have a solo study session with a number outlets around. The best thing in addition to service and food being phenomenal is that they speak English, a definite plus for foreigners!

Restaurant Review - 스시쿠니

I'm a big fan of sushi served on a conveyer belt in the restaurant so I can take my pick and eat until my stomach's content. I have yet to visit one since my favorite East Restaurant back at home, but this long weekend lead me to great discoveries. In the Star City building of Kongdae on the east side of Seoul, there is a Japanese restaurant 스시쿠니that serves freshly prepared sushi on a rolling belt. 

I finally was able to try out the restaurant. There are two ways of ordering food. One is pick up the desired plates of sushi that you wish to consume and the other is to order from their menu. Each plate is a different color which distinguishes the pricing of each dish. It can be a bit hard to limit yourself when using the conveyer belt because everything looks to be so appealing and there are so much to choose from, you my want to sample every piece of sushi there is. The good thing is that the sushi are set off in pairs so you are able to sample each piece with a  friend and move on to the next dish. It is recommended to order plates of sushi from the menu if eating a large quantity but they are usually plain pieces of sushi which are not decorated with the various sauces and presentation is not as great. 

Although the restaurant is a little on the expensive side, and the selection of sushi is limited, the pieces are phenomenal. They do not serve the cliche sushi and sashimi pieces on a rolling belt. 스시쿠니 dresses up each piece of sushi and provide you with the best complimenting sauces they have. I am a big fan and will return again.