A few years have passed since Sinsa-dong's main street “Garosu-gil†became famous. Garosu-gil, which was full of individuality, was filled with franchise coffee shops and spa brands, making it difficult to feel the atmosphere of the past, and visitors to the shrine were discouraged. However, nowadays, places with a sense of style have sprung up in the alleys, including the vertical waterway off the main street. Here are some restaurants in the alley of Garosu-gil that I once again fall in love with the unfamiliar side streets of Sinsa-dong.
1. “Cafe Grasse,†a healthy brunch restaurant
“Café Grasseâ€, located in an alley next to a relatively quiet shrine, is an eco-friendly, organic, and antibiotic free brunch cafe. The most popular menu item is “Avocado Egg Benedict,†which is a savory rye bread topped with avocado, poached egg, salad mixed with fresh sauce, and truffle oil. Generally, it is characterized by its mild flavor without being irritating.
â–²Location: 19, Dosan-daero 17-gil, Gangnam-gu â–²Opening hours: 11:00-23:00, Sunday 11:00-21:00, closed on Mondays â–²Price: Avocado Egg Benedict 18,000 won, octopus salad 25,000 won â–²Review (Shikigami Gongdae Armi): It's a back alley, so it's much quieter and more cozy ^^
2. Honest dolmen ribs, 'Doga'
“Doga†has a quiet and relaxed atmosphere with a hanok interior. The signature menu is the roasting method developed by Doga and “dolmen ribs†flavored with a special garlic sauce. Using only the most fleshy and tender ribs 3, 4, and 5, it is characterized by its tender meat quality. One popular menu item is “Doga Rose Handmade Bee,†which uses gochujang sauce instead of tomato sauce and has a spicy yet savory flavor. Please note that the prices of the lunch and dinner menus are different.
â–²Location: 16 Dosan-daero 1-gil, Gangnam-gu â–²Opening hours: 11:30 to 23:00 (break time 15:00 to 17:30) â–²Price: Dolmen ribs (medium) 39,000 won, rose steamed rice 7,500 â–²Review (full of hearts full of food): Fresh and sweet homemade makgeolli is also the signature menu of this restaurant!
3. A true American burger. “Gilbert's Burger and Friesâ€
“Gilbert's Burger & Fries†is a shrine loved for its casual pub interior and sensuous selection of songs. You can enjoy authentic American-style burgers, from savory buns to moist beef patties to rich melted cheese. Popular menus are “Mr. President†and “Gilbert's Burger,†which contains fried eggs. For lunch, there is a lunch set where you can enjoy drinks and french fries at a lower price.
â–²Location: 47 Dosan-daero 15-gil, Gangnam-gu â–²Opening hours: 11:30 to 21:30 â–²Price: Gilbert Burger (5oz) 10,500 won, Mr. President 10,900 won â–²Review (Shikigin Serendiff): There are many homemade burger restaurants these days, but it's nice that it's not like a typical homemade burger! I especially like the bread lol lol
4. 24-hour rice noodle specialty store, 'Emmy'
Emma, who was popular for her rich soup in Jonggak, opened a new shrine. You can enjoy everything from rice noodles with a hot soup suitable for winter, minced meat, vegetables, and raw noodles in a mouth-watering sauce, and roll dumplings filled with pork. The Sinsa branch is open 24 hours a day, so it's easy to visit.
â–²Location: 8, Dosan-daero 15-gil, Gangnam-gu â–²Business hours: 24 hours â–²Price range: Yangji rice noodles 9,000 won, 12,000 won per portion â–²Review (Dinner on Friday): A great system of 24 hours at last.. I think this is great news for those who are doing the early morning sea day.
5. French dessert specialty store, 'Etoile'
“Etoile†is a small French bakery located along Garosu-gil. It is a place where you can enjoy 4 types of madeleines and French baked goods full of butter, such as galettes, tarts, and croissants. “Matcha Glace Madeleine,†which has a moist and soft texture, is popular because you can enjoy the rich flavor and aroma of matcha. This is a take-out store only, but you can find special Etoile sweets at the cafe “La Pomme†on the upper floor.
â–²Location: 35, Apgujeong-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu â–²Business hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 to 22:00, Sunday and month 11:30 to 21:00 â–²Price range: Madeleine 1,900 won, Madeleine Glace matcha 2,600 won â–²Review (Pretty Food): I wanted to try each type of Madeleine!! It's a lovely place!