The first “Lunar New Year†of the new year is a big holiday where the whole family gathers. The custom of everyone sitting around talking about dorando and eating food one after another, including rice cake soup, is still going on, but it is true that it has changed little by little over time. This year, how about taking advantage of the Lunar New Year holidays to visit restaurants you haven't visited before because of the crowds?
1. Japanese beef ribs, “Pumpkin Restaurant†in Yaksu-dong
A charcoal-grilled specialty store famous for “yakiniku,†a Japanese-style beef rib made by lightly mixing beef tenderloin with garlic and fruit sauce. It is a sweet sauce that is popular not only among men and women of all ages but also among foreigners. You can enjoy the basic miso stew, soft steamed egg custard, and sweet and sour pickles even more when eaten with meat.
â–²Location: 154, Dasan-ro, Jung-gu â–²Opening hours: 24 hours â–²Price: Yakiniku 13,000 won â–²Review (Shikigin Yomiyomikiyomi): It's a bit chewy, but the seasoning is sweet, so it was fine to eat. If you want to eat meat, I think it's a great place to feel free to visit!
2. A memorable tteokbokki restaurant, 'Hyunseon Ine Main Store' in Yongsan
“Hyunseon Ine†is a food stall that went viral in the food stall village in front of Yongsan Station. The most popular menu is the “Hyunseon Ine Set,†where you can enjoy both tteokbokki, kamaboko, sundae, gimbap, and tempura. The point of the sweet-seasoned rice cake is its chewy texture. You can choose between mild and spicy tteokbokki, but the spiciness is more spicy than you might think. Please note that alcoholic beverages are also available.
â–²Location: 2-13 Hangang-daero 39-gil, Yongsan-gu â–²Business hours: 10:00-24:00 every day â–²Price: Hyeonseon Ine set 12,000 won, baby set 8,000 won â–²Review (for food with a star candy): The spicy mochi is very spicy. I thought they were good at eating spicy food, but the taste here was beyond my imagination. It's a food stall that you can enjoy casually. Tteokbokki is sweet.
3. Thick Detroit-style pizza, Itaewon 'Motor City'
A place where you can enjoy a square-shaped Detroit-style pizza with a rich flavor with a chewy dough that has been aged for 24 hours, savory cheese, and various toppings. The signature dishes are “Jackson 5†and “La Mafia,†which have an excellent crunchy yet soft texture flavored with pancetta, pepperoni, cheese blend, house red sauce, and ranch sauce. Closed only on Mondays (30 days) during the Lunar New Year holidays.
â–²Location: 140-1 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu â–²Business hours: 12:00 to 22:00 (break time 15:30 to 17:30), closed on Tuesdays â–²Price: Jackson 5 22,000 won, La Mafia 25,900 won â–²Review (shikigin epi1122): The price is a bit high, but I don't think it's a waste because there are so many toppings and cheese inside!
4. Authentic French handmade dessert cafe, 'Ma Ne' in Seorae Village
It is a place where you can enjoy authentic French desserts with a rich vanilla flavor, and there are authentic French desserts and fusion menus. The signature menu is “Kakutbani,†a tart filled with vanilla-flavored ganache and topped with vanilla mousse. The combination of rich flavor and soft texture is impressive. “Mille-feuille bunny,†where you can feel the crunchiness of the pie and the natural scent of vanilla, is also popular. Closed on Lunar New Year Day (28th).
â–²Location: 14 Sapyeong-daero 22-gil, Seocho-gu â–²Business hours: 11:30 to 22:00 every day, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays â–²Price range: Kakutabani 9,000 won, mille-feuille bunny 9,000 won â–²Testimonials (shikigen, nicknamed): I like it because they have a variety of tarts available. I thought it would be quite angular, but surprisingly soft and the finish is beautiful.
5. Homemade burger specialty store, 'Almighty Cheeseburger' in Samcheong-dong
The homemade burger menu is an “Almighty Cheeseburger†where you can enjoy a soft, juicy patty and savory flowing cheese together. The accompanying sauce can be adjusted according to individual preferences, and additional ingredients such as bacon and tomatoes can be added. The specialty of this place, “bacon matang,†is served with thick-cut bacon stir-fried in mattang sauce, and is notable for its sweet and salty flavor.
â–²Location: 74-3, Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu â–²Business hours: 11:30 to 21:30 every day (Last order 21:00) â–²Price range: Almighty cheeseburger 5,200 won, French fries 2,700 won, bacon flavor soup 5,800 won â–²Review (Shikigin Yomiyomi Kiyomi): I thought there would be a variety of menus, but I was puzzled by the cheeseburger one.. However, when I tried it, I found out why there was only one menu!