“Retro (retro)†is one of the keywords that took 2018 by storm. Retro is a term that means reminiscence and retro, and brings nostalgia to the older generation and a new experience and freshness to the younger generation. LPs, trumpet pants, film cameras, etc. have been revived by the retro craze that has brought about overall culture such as music and fashion, and this retro style has been loved across generations. In line with this, the restaurant industry is also actively utilizing retro marketing. A Japanese-style restaurant where you can enjoy it like a scene from an old drama, a frozen samgyeopsal restaurant with a silver tray, and even a cafe with an atmosphere that encompasses generations of parents and children! Let's enjoy the retro sensibility of Seoul together.
1. Mokdong's “Family Scenery†brings back memories
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Decorated with a variety of antique props, the Japanese-style restaurant “Home Gyeongyang†is a place where you can enjoy a meal with jazz playing from a radio speaker. The signature menu is “Home Tonkatsu,†which combines homemade pork cutlets with sweet mango sauce. The thick meat and crispy tempura are excellent. It comes with corn soup, and you can choose between rice and bread.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 437, Mokdong-dong-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-21:00, B/T 15:00 — 16:30, weekends 11:00-21:00
â–²Price: Family pork cutlet 9,500 won, family hamburger steak 10,500 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Kisinggongkoto): A place like Kyungyang Restaurant from the Answer Me series. The lighting is cozy and the atmosphere is great. I also liked the pork cutlet because it felt thick and homemade.
2. An unforgettable chewy flavor, Donggyo-dong's “Camellia Restaurantâ€
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“Dongbaekjip†is a frozen samgyeopsal specialty store with a nostalgic atmosphere, such as a table bowl and a yellow plate. Fresh domestic raw pork is rapidly frozen and served. If you order meat, a silver tray full of chives, kimchi, tteokbokki, fried eggs, tofu, red pepper, garlic, and wrapped vegetables will be prepared. The delicacy menu is “fried rice,†which contains minced meat, chives, and kimchi left over from white rice.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 44 Yanghwa-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 17:00 — 02:00 every day (early closing when materials are exhausted)
â–²Price: Frozen pork belly (170g) 12,000 won, cheonggukjang 4,000 won, fried rice 3,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Norok): I felt like I had come to a country house when I was a kid! Actually, the meat is just the frozen pork belly you usually know, but the side dish and fried rice were really delicious!!!
3. Barretan chocolate! Yanggang-jip, Mangwon-dong 'Magarak'
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“Magarang†is a red bean dessert specialty store that catches the eye with its turquoise exterior and chairs reminiscent of an old bus stop. This is a place where you can enjoy handmade yokan made from ingredients such as red beans, chestnuts, sweet pumpkin, and yuzu. The signature menu is “Azuki bean paste yokan,†which is made by putting chestnut flakes in soft red bean paste to add fun to chewing. The “red bean latte,†which has just the right amount of sugar and the savory flavor of red beans, is also popular.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 24-1, Cheoknae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: Thursday — Saturday 13:00 — 19:00, Sunday — Wednesday closed
â–²Price: Red bean chestnut yokan 3,000 won, red bean latte 6,000 won
â–²Testimonial (shikigin foot socks): I love yokan, but the unique concept captivated me. Above all, it's nice that yokan isn't too sweet. If you're tired of plain desserts! I recommend homemade yokan ~
4. 'Coffee Pharmacy' in Euljiro, the representative cafe of the mecca of retro
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“Coffee Pharmacy†is a cafe nestled in a narrow alley. The delicate interior, which captures the times, such as colorful mother-of-pearl, chandeliers, and old wallpaper, makes you feel like you've gone back in time. The signature menu is “filter coffee,†which has a mild coffee aroma and a soft texture. Please note that on the last Sunday of each month, drinks for adults are provided free of charge when visiting with parents.
[Shikigami Tip]
▲Location: 16-6, Samil-daero 12-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul ▲Opening hours: Weekdays 08:00 — 22:30, Saturday 11:00-22:00, Sunday 11:00-21:30 ▲Price: Filter coffee 4,200 won, cafe latte 4,500 won ▲Review (I eat food, eat, eat): I used coffee, but it's a great place to soak up the atmosphere. I recommend the 2nd floor. I feel like I'm in Kyungseong in the 1920s! A place where I liked the vintage interior.
5. Not an imitation of old sensibility, but a real long-established store, Gyeonji-dong 'Lee Moon-seol Nongtang'
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Image source: shi_luv_korea's Instagram
Image source: shi_luv_korea's Instagram
“Lee Moon Seol Nongtang†is the No. 1 Korean restaurant business that has maintained its reputation since opening in 1904. It's a great place to visit with parents who remember this place because of the flavors that haven't changed for a long time. The signature menu, “Seolnongtang,†uses a broth made by simmering beef bones for 17 hours in a large cast iron pot. It is characterized by a pure, refreshing flavor of the soup that removes oil. It is divided into normal and special depending on the amount of meat.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 38-13, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 08:00 — 21:00 every day, 08:00 — 20:00 on Sundays, closed on New Year's holidays
â–²Price: Seolnongtang (normal) 9,000 won, Seolnongtang (special) 12,000 won
â–²Testimonial (to eat Japanese rice noodles): I used a lot of bones to make the soup, so the soup was pale and the meat flavor was weak. The amount of meat was just right, and it was nice that the important kakuteki and kimchi were not sweet.