[Seoul: Hyehwa] Ojju Mini Octopus Fondue 오쭈 쭈꾸미 퐁듀

Posted on by Jamie Liew

I had been procrastinating on blogging about this awesome place for a bit now. and since the line is not as bad as before now it’ll be the best to visit this place! it’s a famous “matjib” (means yummy restaurant) in Hyehwa/Daehakro and they have a branch in Sinchon which I heard isn’t as good as this one here. they also have one opened up in Gangnam too! with super long lines as well. haha.

신촌과 강남도 있는 맛집 오쭈 쭈꾸미이다! 저녁시간이면 줄 써야하는 맛집이고 혜화역근처에 있는 소나무길에 있다.

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located along the Sonamu-gil (Hyehwa exit 3 take a u-turn upon exit and turn left on the 2nd junction), this restaurant had always been filled with people during dinner time.

요즘 줄이 줄여서 이 맛집 방문하기 좋은 때이다. 제가 작년 가을에 갔을 때 45분 기다렸다 ㅠ. 이근처에 살아서 예전에 지나갈 때마다 줄 써있지만 요즘은 줄이 별로 없는 것 같다. Continue reading “[Seoul: Hyehwa] Ojju Mini Octopus Fondue 오쭈 쭈꾸미 퐁듀” →

[Seoul: Buam-dong] My 23rd Birthday @ Prep 프렙 부암동

Posted on by Jamie Liew

먼저 내 생일 디너 와준 친구들에게 와줘서 고맙고 초대 받고 못 오는 친구들은 담에 나한테 밥 쏜다!!! 일어나서 메세지 미치게 들어오는 것도 고맙고 페복에서 글 남긴 사람들에게도 고마워욤.

프렙은 원래 홍대에 있었던 페페로니입니다. 작은 가게였지만 음식은 제가 한국에서 외국음식 중에서 제일 맛있다고 생각하는 가게이고 여기의 음식은 대부분 와인과 잘 어울리게 만든 음식입니다. 프렙은 이제 부암동에 있습니다. 가격은.. 저같은 학생에겐 그렇게 착하진 않고요 대신 음식질도 보장할 수 있는 거죠. 가격에 따라 품질도 다르는것과 똑같은거죠~. 여기는 넘 맛있어서 돈 모아서 올 수 있는 정도입니다 ㅋㅋㅋ.

so exactly one week ago, I celebrated my 19th 23rd (ㅠㅠ) Birthday with a small group of close friends and I am really really glad everyone made time to come despite living far, busy schedules etc.

Prep used to be called Peperoni, a small and cozy restaurant located at the convenient Hongdae (or Hapjeong) but after it had moved to Buam-dong, it was pretty difficult to access but since I was a big fan of it since its early days, I decided to hold my birthday dinner here! it’s pretty pricey but the price we paid for that night was pretty decent.

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happy birthday to me! =D. Continue reading “[Seoul: Buam-dong] My 23rd Birthday @ Prep 프렙 부암동” →

[Seoul: Sinsa-dong] Pro Soy Crab

Posted on by Jamie Liew

located only a stone throw away from Sinsa’s famous Garosu-gil, Pro Soy Crab is yet the best access to quality soy crab any time of the day as it is open for 24 hours. I hadn’t been into soy crab so much as I’ve only had low quality ones in shops that claim that they have “delicious” soy crabs. after a few bad experiences, I guess I’ll stick to Pro Soy Crab and my all time favourite Kuengiwa-jib. I heard that there’s this shop which specializes in Soy Crab in Gwangjang market except you can’t dine in and it’s only for take-away. there are also a few restaurants I’ve heard of but they always came out to be a little pricey and are normally situated at odd places (with nothing around it seriously) so…

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the entrance of Pro Soy Crab was pretty grand with their pro looking design and all. they have 3 restaurants across Korea one being in Haeundae Busan, another in Jamsil and one here in Sinsa. they also have restaurants in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka) and China (Shanghai and Beijing). but of course, the best has gotta be eaten here at where it all started right? Continue reading “[Seoul: Sinsa-dong] Pro Soy Crab” →

[Seoul: Itaewon] #1 Tiramisu in Seoul?

Posted on by Jamie Liew

so last month for le DongSaeng’s birthday, we headed to Brera, a shop in Beotigogae (near Itaewon) owned by a humble Italian man and food here’s said to be as original as it gets. I’ve never been to Italy and most of the Italian food I’ve had were all tweaked to adjust to the local’s taste.

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despite studying in Korea, le dongsaeng seems to hang out mostly with foreigners. well that kind of happens to me too but I still have a handful of Korean friends! Continue reading “[Seoul: Itaewon] #1 Tiramisu in Seoul?” →

[Seoul: Hongdae] KAREÖ 카레오 홍대

Posted on by Jamie Liew

the no.1 Japanese curry shop in Seoul?

that must be Kareo! a restaurant that I frequent a lot in Hongdae. I am not quite a fan of most curry shops in Korea because they are normally too sweet or just.. too bland for my Malaysian taste buds. but what’s good about Kareo you ask?

well.. it’s affordable! while 8,000 and up is the price of a plate of curry at other shops, the curry here has such a big portion that.. you should only order one portion for 2. since I eat a lot, I normally order the huge portion and share it with a friend. while many shops dislike the fact that you share your portion and insist on having each person ordering one portion, in Kareo, they told me that one portion is very huge and I should not order 2 for 2 of us in case we cannot finish it. kind staff yes? they care for their customers more than their profits =D.

가끔식 카레를 땡기신적 있죠? 저두 그런 마음이 있겠죠~ 그래서 카레를 땡길 때마다 홍대 카레오로 찾으러 갑니다!

카레오와 다른 카레집의 다른 점은 보통 달달한 카레와 달리 일본카레라 약간 더 매콤하고 스파이스의 맛이 조금 더 강합니다~ 카레 꼽빼기 하나만 시켜도 2사람 먹기엔 녹녹합니다~ 나누면 생각보다 가격이 되게 착해요!

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here’s an ugly picture of myself =D. I was extra hungry because I spent hours biking before that.

자전거 배운 후에 머리가 엉망진창이네요 @@. Continue reading “[Seoul: Hongdae] KAREÖ 카레오 홍대” →

Clubbing in Korea 2015

Posted on by Jamie Liew

HELLO!

since my old post was.. really old. here’s a new one! many like Vanguard and NB2 Gangnam closed down.. but don’t fret because there are still a handful more! clubs are mainly located at Hongdae, Gangnam and Itaewon.

NOTE : please bring your passports if you want to go to a bar/club in Korea because without it, you will be denied entry. it doesn’t matter if you’re 30, you’ll still have to flash your passport/alien card. some places gives discounts to foreigners too! most clubs in Korea are free for all but if you’re way over 30, you might not blend in with the crowd and some places might deny your entry (it’s sad I know T_T). there are also a bunch of bars who don’t accept foreigners but if you’re going to a club there’s not much problems for foreigners. there are also locker rentals (3,000-5,000won) in most all clubs so don’t worry if you have a huge coat during the winter or an extra backpack. it’ll be safe ;).

NOTE 2 : although most clubs in Hongdae does not have a strict dress code, avoid full suits (black), slippers, training suits when entering a club in Korea as they might deny your entry. they may deny your entry for some stupid reasons sometimes relating to your appearance so it’s better to dress nicely than to get denied for entry.

here’s a helpful site for clubbing in Seoul and I have a list taken from Reddit at the end of my post and I will just state the ones I recommend in detail. I stopped clubbing but anyways, here’s my top 3 clubs!

IMG_2262 copy Continue reading “Clubbing in Korea 2015” →

[Seoul: Samcheongdong] the 2nd best place in Seoul 서울서 둘째로 잘하는 집

Posted on by Jamie Liew

the 2nd best place in Seoul is one of the oldest cafe/dabang around as they are open since 1976. although not as old as Hakrim Dabang, this is actually my.. 3rd time here? and my second post on it. the first post here.

ever since my good friend came with me 3 years ago and I’ve never once came here again since he passed away.. but it’s a cafe filled with our memories and the cafe stayed the same.

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located at the end of Samcheongdong street, the cafe isn’t difficult to find. Continue reading “[Seoul: Samcheongdong] the 2nd best place in Seoul 서울서 둘째로 잘하는 집” →

[Seoul: Bukchon] Keungiwajib Michelin Soy Crab 큰기와집 간장게장

Posted on by Jamie Liew

there is this one thing which I didn’t enjoy at first because I thought it was weird– Ganjang Gejang. but as time passed I opened up my mind to all types of food and when I started to think raw food ain’t that disgusting, I begin to fall deeply in love with it. and because it’s raw in a way, you need to go to a restaurant that does it right. of course, there’s “PRO Ganjang Gejang” at Sinsa but because I live in Jongro, it’s very far for me hehehe.

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Keun Giwa Jip is a famous restaurant for Ganjang Gejang in Seoul and I dare say, it’s one of the best Gejangs in Seoul although I hadn’t had too much of it (it’s expensive!). it even earned a Michelin Star! from reading Korean blogs, I heard that there are very few good gejang places in Seoul. so far, Pro ganjang gejang and Keungiwajip is the best. Continue reading “[Seoul: Bukchon] Keungiwajib Michelin Soy Crab 큰기와집 간장게장” →

[Seoul: Anguk Station/Bukchon] Meet Market Steakhouse

Posted on by Jamie Liew

I am not sure if I’ve ever said this on my blog before. but I am sure I’ve told my friends over and over again that.. I’ve never had any decent steak here and I personally do not recommend chain restaurants like TGIF for steak because they’re… not worth it.

but thanks to my friend who works nearby Anguk, my faith in Korean steaks is restored. =3.

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Meet Market is a quaint little one story building along Bukchon-ro. this restaurant was modified from a Hanok and certain Hanok architecture remains in the restaurant so I thought it was really unique! there was a glass roof in the middle too so the lightings in the afternoon’s purrrrrfect. Continue reading “[Seoul: Anguk Station/Bukchon] Meet Market Steakhouse” →

[Seoul: Euljiro] One Day in Hanbok

Posted on by Jamie Liew

hello my dearest readers!

I know many of you are following me for the Korea and Japan posts. since I wore Kimono (AND Yukata. even bought it!!!) in Japan, it was quite weird how I’ve never really thought of wearing a Hanbok despite being in Korea for my 4th year now.

okay I actually thought of it once. during my graduation ceremony in Yonsei everyone wore Hanbok but.. me. firstly, as a poor student the 150,000won~200,000won (150-200USD) rental was too much of a burden and I didn’t look good in most of the Hanbok my friends had. I think Hanbok, like Kimono, is very personal and they fit differently for every person. the colours, sizes, patterns had to fit. well that was why in the end, I wore an urban Cheongsam instead.

I had always thought that renting a Hanbok for a day costs a bomb until I came across onedayhanbok. if only I had found it 3 years ago, I would’ve got to wear a Hanbok for my graduation ceremony T_____T.

안녕하세요! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
설날 연휴 때 한복을 대여해서 촬영했다~ 한복 워낙 비싼거라 대여하기가 힘든줄 알았고 예전에 대여할려고 할 때 다 15만원에서 20만원 쯤이었으니 대여하지 않았다. 그러나 Onedayhanbok 에서 싸게 대여할 수 있다니!!! 이런 가게 생겨서 정말 다행이고 기쁘다.

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in conjunction with Seollal/Chinese New Year, I decided to rent a set of Hanbok for our team Malaysia’s shooting this time.

picture by Azri. Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Continue reading “[Seoul: Euljiro] One Day in Hanbok” →