My Weekend in Photos: Seoul, South Korea

Hotel Review: The Grand Hotel Myeongdong

With its unbeatable location - a short 5-minute walk from the airport bus stop and within the coveted Myeongdong address (close to the shops but on a quieter side of the main shopping belt), The Grand Hotel was our top choice when we traveled to Seoul early this year. It was our first time to book at The Grand and we were happy that we made the right decision and splurged a bit for about Php7,000/night for a standard room with breakfast for two. I say splurge since we usually stay in guesthouses/hostels in Seoul at average nightly rate of Php3000 only.

This time around though, we were hosting some people with us in Seoul so booking a nice accommodation is an unspoken rule. Besides, our luggage cannot fit the small rooms in most hostels we've stayed in the past and we needed space to hang our formal gowns and suit.

Just how "grand" is The Grand Hotel? Kindly take note that this is a boutique hotel so grand doesn't equate to extravagant or magnificent interiors but grand in terms of offering memorable service and ensuring a wonderful stay courtesy of their efficient staff and high-class amenities.

The Grand Concept promises that each room is equipped of the following:

• Innisfree environment-friendly bath amenities made with green tea
• Bath robes made of luxurious materials
• Bean coffee and various well-being teas
• 100% pure cotton sheets for sound sleep
• Free Internet (both wired and wireless) 
• Elevator security system 

Pros: Superb location in Myeongdong area, excellent customer service, reliable and complimentary internet, spacious rooms with complete amenities, and free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate (our personal favorite) at the lobby lounge open 24/7.

Cons: Limited breakfast options and strict check-in/check-out time.

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The Grand Hotel Myeongdong
38 Myeongdong 8ga-gil
Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 777-7900
Website: http://us.thegrandhotel.co.kr

Foodventures: Gatten Sushi Myeongdong, Seoul SK

In times when we wanted to break off from eating samgyupsal and kimchi in Seoul, fresh sushi and sashimi is our no-brainer choice. In fact, Japanese is the only cuisine we would never get tired of eating and one of the many reasons why we love going back to Japan. Anyway, this post is not about Japan but another Pinoy favorite destination - South Korea!

Our favorite area to stay when in Seoul is any hotel in Myeongdong due to its endless offerings of street food, shopping, and restaurants specializing in various cuisine. One name that immediately caught our attention was Gatten Sushi, one of Japan's famous conveyor belt sushi chains.

What we ordered

If you don't fancy anything off the conveyor belt, you can always push the call button and order from the staff. Most staff speak English but if not, you can always show your order from the menu.

Halibut - KRW4,700 (Php200.00)

Grilled Sea Eel - KRW4,700 (Php200.00)

Abalone - KRW4,700 (Php200.00)

Scallop - KRW4,700 (Php200.00)

Did we liked it? Down to the very last piece as everything we ordered were fresh and not to mention, affordable too! Our favorites were the scallop and unagi sushi (we had 2 orders each) which were a steal for its price given its excellent quality and huge cuts.

Salmon - KRW2,300 (Php99.00)

Tip: If you plan to travel to South Korea anytime soon, bear in mind that visa application now takes up to 1 month processing via accredited agencies only. Most first time applicants are given a single-entry visa with 3 months validity but BPI and BDO Gold and Platinum Cardholders are issued 3 to 5 years multiple-entry visa subject the embassy's discretion, of course.

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Gatten Sushi
12 Myeongdong 3-gil
Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 3789-1479

A Food Court Like No Other at CJ Food World, Seoul SK

Whenever I hear the word food court, Tapa King, Binalot, Tropical Hut, Hen Lin, Lydia's Lechon, and Sizzling Plate always come to mind. Back in college and striving solely on student allowance, my friends and I would end up at any of these quick-serve restaurants whenever we feel like splurging. The smell and sound of the freshly-laid steak on the sizzling plate never fail to bring excitement to all my senses that I would end up with a burnt tongue every time.

Fast forward to my working class self, I still eat at mall and office building food courts from time to time especially when in a hurry, but this time, I got to visit one in COEX Mall in Seoul, South Korea. Specializing mostly in Korean cuisine, CJ Food World is one of the biggest and most organized food courts I've been to, surely an upgrade from the ones that we're used to locally.

What we ordered

Korean Beef Set - KRW28,600 (Php1,250.00)

Strawberry Ade - KRW5,500 (Php240.00)

Korean Spicy Pork Set - KRW28,600 (Php1,250.00)

Strawberry Latte - KRW5,500 (Php240.00)

A great underground food court with delicious offerings, aesthetically pleasing interiors, plenty of tables, fast service, and reasonable prices (by local standards) - CJ Food World is a worthy find if you get hungry browsing through thousands of books in Starfield Library, a massively beautiful library in COEX Mall and another must-visit when in Seoul.

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CJ Food World
Starfield Coex Mall
Yeongdongdae-ro, Gangnam-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (821) 670-0865

Foodventures: Beansbins Coffee, Seoul SK

No, I still don't drink coffee but I'd take a piping hot cup of chocolate drink anytime of the day. Back in March when the weather in Seoul can go as low as a single digit, wearing thick jackets and thermals is not enough especially come night time. Long walks along the famous Ehwa University Shopping Street brought us to Beansbins Coffee, a great place to chill out and in our case, to warm ourselves with their bestselling hot chocolate drink and snack on their dreamy strawberry waffle.

What we ordered

Hot Chocolate - KRW6,000 (Php300.00)

Beansbins' hot chocolate was bittersweet - just the way I like it! As great as it tastes though, I can't imagine spending this much on a cup everyday as I'd probably go broke in a week or two.

Fresh Strawberry Waffle - KRW16,500 (Php720.00)

Another enticing yet expensive item off the menu is the seasonal strawberry waffle. Served warm and crispy, their version is perfectly cooked with just the right of softness on the inside.

Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.

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Beansbins Coffee
43 Ewhayeodae-gil
Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 393-1444

Foodventures: Isaac Toast, Seoul SK

With over 700 branches in South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Macau, people line up at Isaac Toast & Coffee for the most popular Korean breakfast toast in Seoul. In fact, this particular branch in Myeongdong Cathedral is always packed with locals and tourists as soon as it opens at 0700H.

It was freezing cold when we traveled to Seoul last March so lining up for more than 20 minutes for a toast is not something I'd consider. Besides, the line clears up in the afternoon if you're just as curious if the toast is really worth queuing up for or just another social media overhype.

What we ordered

Ham and Cheese - KRW2,400 (Php105.00)

Both sandwiches were freshly made with premium ingredients so for quality alone, it was a bang for the back especially if you're traveling on a budget and wants something quick to go. In terms of taste, it was delicious and generally sweet but quite oily so a tissue will always come handy.

Steak Ham VIP - KRW3,000 (Php130.00)

Verdict: Delicious and reasonably-priced as advertised but will try again only if the line is short.

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Isaac Toast & Coffee
17-1 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 752-3002

Sunday Treats No. 64

Seasoned Baked Chicken (Half & Half) - KRW18,900 (Php830.00)

Sweet Chili Flavor

Garlic Flavor

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Oppa Dak Chicken
21 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 3789-5892

My Weekend in Photos: Myeongdong Street Food

Sunday Treats No. 63

Mushroom and Beef Porridge - KRW8,000 (Php370.00)

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Migabon Restaurant
56 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 752-0330

I Ate My Way Through Seoul

What do you do when you've worked so hard to eat healthy and try to get into shape only to be lured into eating so much that you can barely fit into your pants afterwards? Exactly what happened to me during my recent trip to Seoul where we ate and shop and ate all day long. I kept a list of restaurants in my phone that we can try just in case we find ourselves in the neighborhood but without a definite itinerary, we just dined anywhere we felt like it or when hunger kicks in.

Grilled Pork Galbi

After dropping by Lemona House, we searched for a place where we can eat Korean food. By experience, a restaurant with no English name usually means authentic so we went ahead and got a table inside. The staff were friendly and tried their best to communicate to us in English.

There was a parade of Banchan included in the set menu that we ordered. We had more than 2 servings of fish cake, asparagus stalk, spicy tofu and pajeon (Korean pancake), all others were so-so. The staff offered to grill the pork galbi in the kitchen to limit the smoke circulating in the dining area. The pork was succulent and contrary to its red color, it wasn't spicy at all!

Fire Chicken with Cheese

Walking around Ehwa for a day was exhausting and what better way to make up to your companion who despise shopping but still supports your addiction and even carry your bags? Delicious food!

Fire Chicken with Cheese is a popular Korean dish with huge chunks of chicken and glutinous rice cakes covered with thick spicy sauce and loads of mozzarella cheese. It's usually very spicy but you can ask the server for a milder version if you wanted to be on the safe side.

I tried to avoid eating too much carbs but there are some meals that's better with rice and this dish is the perfect example. It was cheap and savory, a splendid way to end the night!

Grilled Beef Galbi

Our hostel's convenient location in Chungmuro means that food is everywhere! No need to take a train/bus whenever you're hungry because you can just walk next door and order your favorite Korean food. While there are restaurants that's visible at first glance, we are more excited in hole-in-the-wall places especially those located in the basement that only locals know about.

The extremely tender marinated beef galbi was flavorful and smells divine. You can wrap it on fresh lettuce with kimchi or eat it as ulam with rice, either way works for me but forget about the galbi because it was the king oyster mushroom I was really drooling on!

Korean Fried Chicken

Another restaurant we tried near Rainbow Hostel was a place serving chicken + beer, which also took Manila by storm in the recent years with franchises like Bonchon and Kyochon. Open until late at night, this chicken place became our favorite go-to place for midnight snacking.

There's nothing quite like a perfectly cooked fried chicken with its crunchy skin and juicy meat. Because we ordered 2 whole chicken (1 plain and 1 spicy) just for the 3 of us, we passed on the rice and ate the chicken with Kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) on the side to balance the flavor.

Korean food is largely based on rice, veggies and meat so if you're traveling to Seoul anytime soon, prepare yourself to have a feast on your palate, a hole in your pocket and a bulge on your stomach!