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. 

Daily Refreshments - Kirin Ichiban Frozen Beer

Kirin Ichiban Beer is known to be one of the popular Japanese refreshments in Seoul, Korea. For that very reason, a lot of people go to visit the many locations that have Kirin Ichiban Beer. One of the unique touches to this Japanese beer is the fact that it comes with a frozen foam. This frozen foam is the rave in Seoul because it helps to keep your beer cool as you consume it. It's definitely the go to for anyone who loves beer, with waits in the Sinsa Garosu-gil area for an hour. An hour just for a frozenbeer, yes. Although it is the most recognized pace to go for the frozen beer because of atmosphere and it's a popular tourist area, the Kirin Ichiban Frozen Beer can be found elsewhere as well. The concept is still the same where you are poured the Kirin draft beer and topped with the frozen foam that comes from a soft-serve like machine. On average, look to pay $8 for a cup of this popular beer. It's definitely worth it to try once, but then again it can be just a hype considering you can get a larger amount of beer for the same price. 

For those of you who are looking to visit the famous Kirin Ichiban beer garden in Garosu-gil, keep in mind there is a two hour down time from 3-5PM. It is definitely recommended to go on the weekdays where lines are shorter!

Straight from exit 8 of Sinsa station on line 3, take a left when you reach Tous Le Jours bakery on the corner. Go straight along Garosu-gil shopping street right after  the Fossil store. 

Address: 534-5 Sinsa-dong Gangnam Gu

신사동 강남구 534-5

Phone: 02-548-8858

Restaurant Review - Burger B

Burger B is one of the best burger places in Hongdae for an outdoor seating over amazing food, burgers to be exact. It is the one place to enjoy an outdoor view over burgers, fries, and the choice of a beer or a milkshake. Better yet, you can get the Burger B platter that serves you an amazing burger with fries and a shot of milkshake. Yes, a shot of milkshake. You can then proceed to ordering your own or going for a beer as a refreshment.

Burgers are priced at a decent $8 which makes it easy for customers to get filled without splurging too much. The one thing that is recommended is to go to Burger B with an open stomach because the food is amazing. It is also a great spot to enjoy a drink with friends before heading out for a chaotic night in Hongdae. Burger B is extremely popular among locals and foreigners because foreigners know a good burger. The meat is definitely different compared to other burger restaurants in Korea, maintaing that juicy texture.

With an open balcony area, it is the perfect place to lounge around during the day, and at night. You grasp the crisp air from outside and it's very welcoming to conversations and booze. Burger B caters to both vibes of the Hongdae community with good food and drinks, one recommended location for sure.

With three locations in town which include the popular Hongdae, Apgujeong, and Sangnam, the location visited was the one in Hongdae at 362-7 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Restaurant Review - Troika

Hidden in an alley of Itaewon, a Russian restaurant by the name if Troika, serves up some of the more traditional dishes for an extremely low price. Located on the second floor, this small, cozy restaurant may look to be a little sketchy, but it is a must visit for anyone who is looking to have some Russian goods which includes a lot of meat and breads. 

The sampled Russian dishes included, but not limited to: Mazurka beef salad, Kartofels gribami mushroom, Koleta pozharskaya, as well as Russian beer. The twist to the Russian Bajithka beer is the level of the alcohol goes by number. The most popular is number 7 which is definitely recommended, but the 9 is a great darker touch as well. 

Infused with its each flavors, every dish was a perfect blend of taste. The one must try is the chicken and beef entree which incorporates both meats in a meatloaf-like plate. If you're not sure what to order, definitely go with the most popular and recommended because it is extremely delicious. The best part about all of the dishes is the presentation. It definitely makes dining and plating look more appealing which provides an extra bonus in addition to good taste. 

All dishes are made extremely fresh when ordered. You can even see the chef leave the kitchen to grab his fresh ingredients which is located outside of the restaurant. That is definitely a plus in my book! Service is exceptional as well with English, Korean, and of course Russian services. 

Although the most Russians in Korea is not located in Itaewon, it is still one of the most popular places to go to for a sample of the world. Being in Itaewon takes you "out of Korea" with so much English around, you feel as if you are in a different country. It is definitely a good feeling to take a step back from all the Korean going around and interact in an atmosphere and with a language where you are most comfortable. 

It is definitely worth it to sample Troika's Russian goodies while bumping to Russian music. You may even recognize a few of the songs from the hit movie 007!

 

Bottoms Up - Self Bars

Self bars are a great place for foreigners in Korea because they are the one place that has a wide selection of beer and other cocktail drinks that many other bars do not have. They even have the beer glasses for each brand which helps to enhance the taste when consuming each type of beer. The best part is being able to get your booze whenever you want, without having to wait around for service (we all know how frustrating that can be at times). Simply walk up to the refrigerator, grab your drink and enjoy. For those who are lazy, there is also a bucket with ice that you can fill up with drinks to minimize the number of walks to the fridge. It's probably one of the best ideas ever and extremely efficient! 

Restaurant Review - Hotsun

One of the popular chicken and beer chains in Korea is Hotsun. On average, a chicken dish is the price of $17, which can be split between two. Although the chicken is filling, the only carbs in Hotsun is their porridge and bologna pasta. Be ready to fill off of chicken because there is no rice, this is a place strictly for drinking and chicken. 

It is best to go with a gang of friends to Hotsun and enjoy chicken and beer over chatting. Go for the double layer pitcher of beer, just $13 for a 3000 cc of draft. In addition to chicken and beer, Hotsun serves the sides of pickles, sour radish, and finger chips. It is extremely popular in Korea to have chips when drinking beer, but the pickles and sour radish compliment the chicken. Eating sour things before your meal makes it more appetizing and delicious, not that it isn't already.

Fried boneless chicken drowned in a sweet and sour sauce is a must when it comes to Korean fried chicken. Hotsun has one of the best boneless chicken that I had since I've been to Korea. Be sure to stop by and try out this dish along with some beer, it is a spot for conversation and friend bonding so do not expect a fancy place to have dinner.