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Showing posts with label korea seoul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korea seoul. Show all posts

Wednesday 31 July 2019

SEoul Free and EAsy : Gwangjang market ( BEWARE! SCAM? HYGIENE? )



I have not been to Gwangjang Market for many years as it is touristy and crowded market. Recently,  I  accompany a friend who is in Korea for the first time and wants to visit more popular spots so we went there. There are Korean traditional food, also Kimchi, food and snacks to buy. It seems like a good place for sometimes who wants to eat Korean traditional food at a convenient location.

We ate at 2 different stalls. The first stall was fine and the food was not bad. The second hand was expensive and the hygiene of the food was not really not a turn off.

  The second stall, we order a japchae and 2 oden soup. The price should be something around 5000won but we were charge 14 000 won. Oden usually a stick is around 500 to 1000 won. The Japchae should be around 3000 won. Even the Koreans sitting beside us were shocked at the price that they have to pay. The Japchae was really bland. I saw the stall owner stretch out her hand to attract customers and she rested her armpit on the big basin of japchae. We also saw them throwing all the food away except the Kimbap, which nicely back in a plastic bag. MAybe they are going to the food. We have no idea.. If you are going there, ask the price first. The shop is right in the middle. Do take note if you visiting here.




the second stall





We ate bimbap and tempura at the first stall. The tempura was freshly fried so it taste quite good.





More photos










More photos of Gwangjang Market

























Tuesday 30 July 2019

Korea SEoul free and easy : The Grand Hotel Myeongdong


I have stayed at Hongdae, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun for my Seoul Trip.

I still prefer staying at Myeongdong compare to other two places.

There is so many brands, it is easy to get shopping done here if you are buying facial and beauty products. The shops here have English and Chinese staff ( although they may be more pushy at times.), who can provide you with information of the things you are buying.

Location wise: It is on subway line 4 , 2 train stops from Seoul STation and Dongdaemun. It is walking distance from Namdaemun. It is 5-10 minutes walk away from Euljiro-1-ga which means there is a direct train to Hongdae and Ehwa. The location is quite centralised for me to travel around Seoul. There is a direct bus from Myeongdong to the airport. The negative thing about living around Myeongdong is that it is always crowded, the food is expensive and the most decent supermarket nearby is at Seoul Station.

I used to stay at another hotel at Myeongdong till I discover this hotel. The hotel is at quieter part of Myeongdong which is better. It is quite close to the bus stop for the airport bus to the airport and it is a relatively new hotel.




There is a table and free good quality wifi

This room is the deluxe twin, there is more space. Ample space for 2 big luggages.

This is the standard room. The room is smaller and a bit cramp after 2 big luggage are opened



There is a bidet and a bathtub. The water pressure and temperature is quite good.




Thursday 29 May 2014

Korea seoul free and easy : Food PArt 2 by location

1. Ewha women's university


Great place for cafe hopping.
And if you decide to start your day early, some cafes opens at 8am but not a lot

Kong Rice ball..
Some Recommend it online. 
It is located near to Ewha's university.
Quite interesting but I did not find it very delicious.
However, I only try one riceball so my review is not accurate.

How can I go without eating the street food?
Lots of liitle stall at Ewha selling street food.
These 2 are my favourite, BBQ chicken stick and this chicken cup with ricecakes, potatoes and chicken.






They have this little shop seling the Korean street food we also see them goobling up on televesion.
We even tried the fried green chilli, was not that spicy.

Getting a cold drink on a hot day. Looks true photo and taste as good as it looks
Street food: Pan cake looks like Hoddeok but is a healthy version which is not fried.



2. Dongdaemun

Fruits for a healthy diet and for a happy trip

The above 2 photographs are taken at dongdaemun. If you are in hurry or looking for affordable breakfast, just grab a bread from here.
I did not try so can't comment much except they looked fresh and delicious.



Another breakfast in a cafe. 
The is more mainstream as this is under one of the big franchise so you can find it at a few location.
The breakfast was yummy but nothing unique.
I tried not the original restaurant, taste just as good.
You can choose half a chicken, one chicken or more.
Can choose to add rice cakes, noodles or other items.
The Koreans add the kimchi in.
It is good for people who are not into spicy food.

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari (Jin Ok-hwa Original Chicken Restaurant) (진옥화할매원조닭한마리)
Dongdaemun Station (Subway Line 1, 4), Exit 9.
Go straight 160m and turn left at the Industrial Bank of Korea (기업은행).
Go straight 50m and turn onto the first side street to the right. Continue 100m straight until you see the restaurant.
Jongno 5-ga Station (Subway Line 1), Exit 6.
Turn left onto the first side street and walk 300m.

 If you are shopping at night at Dongdaemun, they also have street food for sale outside migliore or cafe in Doota for you to get food to replenish your energy.

More on Dongdaemun

3. NAndaemun

  


 Yummy Korean snacks like nuts, cuttlefish and dried fruits at namdaemun.
Can be found at the basement at one of the building selling furnishing.
They don't give discount. They like to give services, means extra  small pack of mixed snacks.
Nandaemum also sell Korean street food.
But do remember to visit in the late morning or early afternoon.
Evening is not really a good time as most shop are close and the food seems to be not as fresh.


Nandaemun and Dongdaemun

4. Supermarkets ( E mart and Lotte mart)

My favourite kind of grapes





If you are on budget trip or staying in an apartment, can just can fresh ingredients from the supermarket.
Good place to buy Korean snacks, rice cakes, kimchi

lotte mart
lotte mart and e mart

5. Insadong








A place to drink tea and have some Korean snack.
I check with the tourist information counter before setting off.
Beautiful tea museum is more of a modern tea place. It is location in a narrow alley so it is not easily location
Traditonal tea place is more of the traditional tea place with more traditional snacks. It is located on the second floor
The third is a small tea place that sells a lot of Korean snacks for take away. This is on the main street.
yes, our stomach was so full of tea after trying 2 of the tea places at one shot


They also sell Korean snacks and also the most famous is a pancake that looks shit.
I just could not find the photo for it


6. Hongdae 

Place for Cafe hopping.
Good food and a nice cosy environment.


Extremely cute and delicious pastry shop at Hongdae.
Keep a lookout for it.



Yeolbaong Jjimdak.
Rice cake, chicken and noodles
Can choose spicy level and noodle size.
Opened by a kpop star seven, but it taste good.
Has many outlets, one at ewha too

7. Myeongdong


Yoogane.
Famous reason too, more than 1 branch but I visit the myeongdong branch.
Delicious, can choose to add ingredients 
Good place for supper, lots of restuarant close around 10pm,




My favourite food.
So generous with the seafood.
Andong Jjim-dalk (안동찜닭)
Andong-jjimdak or zzimak at myeongdong
2-22 Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga


Lots of coffee house, just grab a coffee to start you day or just visit one of them to rest and enjoy the free wifi

That what we also see in movies, eating korean snacks by the roadside

Lots of street food available. Spicy rice cake, cuttlefish, bbq chicken and a lot more. Most of the stalls start operating in the evening. So visit myeongdong in the evening 

 Lotteria. Korean fast food branch

more on Myeongdong

8. Kwang Jang Market


I like Gimbap even I don't eat vegetables.
JUst koran seaweed and seasons vegetables

  For the adventurous,  Korean famous pig intestines with glutinous rice and pig blood
 Kimchi dumplings
Pumpkin porridge and red bean porridge

you see a lot of locals eating at the market



9.Random




8 colour flavour bbq pork
Palsaek Samgyeopsal
We ate here because it was covered by a famous Taiwanese TV show. 

It seems to be opening more branches all over the world.
I am not really a big fan of this place. Firstly, the flavour is not distinctive. 
Secondly, they only serve only the fatty pork which taste quite oily after a while.
The previous time I ate bbq pork was in Korea, and we order from different parts so it is not that boring.
The plus is free flow salad and a yummy pot of soup.




The famous gingseng chicken place.
The bbq chicken taste good too.

Just a note, sometimes the dish states 2 person but if you intend to save your stomach for snacks and street food. A plate of 2 can feed 3 pax quite well.
Don't worry about language barriers, sign language and simple english work well
For me, I ask the hotel people to write a note stating " I don't eat beef"

seoul free and easy itinenary