Fresh on the Market - Cafe J BROWN

One of the newest chains to make its way over to Korea is the Artisan Chocolatier Cafe J BROWN.  Coffee shops are all over Korea and there's nothing special about a lot of the new ones. It is definitely great to find a new cafe that is specializing in all things chocolate and sweet, all desserts and drinks are paired with some kind of chocolate made fresh in store. With a new branch that opened in the Hongdae Hapjeong area, Cafe J BROWN is a must visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

As you pass this store on the corner, you may think it is just a storefront that sells desserts packaged to go, but in fact, there is a cafe downstairs. The concept is a little different where you pay separately for your dessert and drinks at the two different floors. Entrance is where all the dessert goodies are where you pay for your piece(s) and they will bring it downstairs to decorate and plate for your enjoyment. When you go downstairs, you will be given a drink menu where you pay again for your drinks. 

Desserts and drinks vary in price, on average costing about $6 a piece, a cup. Quite a splurge on an afternoon dessert, but this is actually average for drinks in Korea. The one good thing is that you feel as if you are getting more for your money because of the fact that they are dedicating a lot of effort into presentation. You may think that you are getting some kind of regular drink or dessert, but in fact you are in for a surprise. Desserts are decked out with some kind of chocolate addition, macarons included. The best part about the drinks is that they are all served with some kind of chocolate which makes your drink that much more amazing. Because many do not know about this, you can practically skip out on the dessert if you are consuming alone.

The one complaint to make about Cafe J BROWN is the fact that their Napoleon dessert is nothing like the traditional Napoleon that is made with layers of chocolate and cream. The Napoleon, like many other desserts in Korea is made their own way, with their own twist. Rather than using layers of flakiness, it is an actual cake. This cake is in fact great in presentation, but definitely not something I recommend for someone who is looking for more of the traditional cake. On another note, although this cake concentrates on chocolate, its cream and cake layers are overpowering to the point where you cannot really taste the chocolate, not the best splurge for $6.

Address: 298-10 Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong
마포구 서교동 298-10
Phone: 02-324-7676

Restaurant Review - Bonjour Hawaii

Bonjour Hawaii is a new restaurant in Hongdae that is bringing the concept of Hawaii to Korea. It is one of the cutest concept serving French and Pacific food over three floors of indoor and outdoor seating. Even with indoor seating of air conditioned space, it is the one restaurant where outdoor seating is more preferred. With colored beach umbrellas and plastic school-like seating, the best time to visit Bonjour Hawaii is  during the day where you are out in the sun, but an evening at Bonjour Hawaii to enjoy the food is recommended as well.

With dishes averaging about $15 a plate and topped with a flower, it is the perfect date spot to go and enjoy a few BBQ dishes. Almost all dishes are served with a side of fries, salad topped with sweet dressing and an American corn on the cob. That's right, it's not the Korean chewy corn on the cob, but a yellow buttered BBQ corn. Although the taste isn't amazing because it is a little on the dry side, it is the only places in Korea that serves actual foreign corn on the cob. Another recommended dish is their meat loaf that is topped with gravy and two sunny side up eggs that is the perfect dip for your fries immersed in their gravy. 

The concept of Bonjour Hawaii centralizes around tiki and outdoor seating with coconuts that you can enjoy a drink with friends. Because of this, it is more recommended to visit if you're looking for a place to lounge out and enjoy a drink. With a menu in English as well, ordering is extremely easy. When entering the premises, you simply order before going upstairs to the seating area. Paying first, they provide you with a buzzer that will ring when your food is ready. Simply pick it up from the second floor along with utensils and enjoy your meal. Once finished, someone will clean up after you so you don't even have to worry about putting things back.

Bonjour Hawaii is in a hidden area in between Hongdae and Hapjeong station off of the main street which may make it difficult to find. Be sure that once you see the Castle restaurant, you take a right into the smaller streets and another right after that. 

Address: "Rainbow Street" 395-112 Seogyo-Dong Mapo-gu, Seoul

마포구 서교동 395-112  

Phone Number: 010-9756-5406

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Bing Bing Bing

Bing Bing Bing 빙빙빙 is one place that is serving up quick shaved ices, the Korean traditional eat of bingsu or just patbingsoo (with red bean). It is an extremely small location that seats roughly fifteen and almost always has a line. With a limited number of flavors, the most popular and recommended is the blueberry lemon and condensed milk. They also have a regular one that caters to the more traditional taste, but definitely try them all. 

Because the location is extremely small in size, locals are always lined up outside waiting for a seat. One of the better things about Bing Bing Bing is the fact that the small space allows for the locals to quickly enjoy their dessert and get on with their day (unlike most other places in Korea).  Bing Bing Bing offers extremely quick service and allows for take out as well which is one popular thing to get if you're on the go. 

Bing Bing Bing is probably the only place in Seoul that offers the bingsu to go, but it makes it that much more enjoyable as you're on the run in the heat, especially if you're trying to check out the many locations of Hongdae. It can be a little pricey for just a cup, but it is the perfect quick pick me up for you to be well on your way.

Phone: 070-7723-7191

Address:마포구 서교동 395-199 독막로7길 57, 서울특별시

395-199 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu Seoul

Hours from 12PM to 11PM daily

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Sugar De Chou

Sugar De Chou, located in Hongdae, is known to be a cupcake cafe with the cutest yet most simple cupcakes for the price of $4. The popular two flavors include Earl Grey Tea and the Chocolate, but they also offer a Green Tea and Lemon cupcake. Icing for the cupcakes differ depending on the one ordered, which includes an extremely decorative kind when ordered. 

The chocolate cupcake is extremely bold in taste, offering chunks of chocolate chips inside the cupcake which is different to other cupcake shops that finish with a basic cake base. The icing is extremely creamy in texture, offering a strong milky chocolate taste which definitely puts the chocolate over the top. Finished with a topping of sliced almonds, it is the perfect cup of chocolate in a cake. 

The best thing about the menu is that they offer a handful of other drinks to consume with their cupcakes. Opening at 1 in the afternoon and closing at 11PM everyday, it is the place to go to enjoy with a friend or just as a simple study session. They even have delivery services which can be made if you speak Korean of course. The environment is extremely cute offering indoor and outdoor seating with outlets everywhere to charge anything and everything you need, even with seating in the middle of the floor. Another bonus of the cafe is that they offer take out coffee for just $2. Nothing beats a low price and an environment that is relaxing and calm from the outskirts of the crazy Hongdae party night scene. 

Address: Seoul, Mapo, Seogyo-dong, 396-32 

Phone: 070-8221-2223

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Be Sweet On

Be Sweet On is a dessert spot in Hongdae that is constantly swarmed with people who are looking to enjoy a sweet tooth satisfaction. With pastries that are baked up fresh daily, there is a crunchy crisp to very flaky pastry, a fresh taste to every dessert. Sweets start at the price of $5 and can cost well over $10, but it is one place that is always packed with locals because the pastries are that amazing. 

The one suggestion to be made is the Mille-Feuille Chocolat Au Lait which is the perfect blend of a layered pastry consisting of mille feuille and chocolate creme topped with a sweet glazed orange, vanilla ice cream and a chocolate fan. It is then drizzled with caramel and plated to enjoy. The presentation of the dessert alone is worth splurging the $10, but the taste takes it to a whole new level. There is no perfect blend of crispy, creamy, and sweet in a pastry.

Opened in the afternoon, it caters to the later hours of the busy Hongdae area. Take exit 8 of the Hongik University station on line 2 and take a right at the block. Follow the road straight down past the curved road on your left. Go straight to the dead end and take a right at that block. Take a left at the following block and go straight and Be Sweet On will be on your right on the second floor. 

Address: 339-3 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

서울 마포구 서교동 339-3

Telephone: 02-323-2370