It's been over a year since I haven't been able to travel abroad due to the coronavirus. Even in Seoul, where people are careful not only when traveling abroad but also when traveling domestically, restaurants where you can eat with an exotic sensibility are on the rise. Embodying the characteristics and flavors of each country, it makes you feel like you've gone on a trip for a while. From nearby Japan to Hong Kong, Hawaii, France, and Vietnam! How about quenching your thirst for travel by visiting themed places in each country? An overseas trip from Seoul! Here are 5 of the best restaurants with an exotic atmosphere.
1. Enjoy fusion Japanese cuisine while looking out at the pond, 'Songam Inn' in Ikseon-dong
Image source: s._ophia_ on Instagram
Image source: doori1109's Instagram
“Songam Inn†was reborn as a fusion Japanese oriental pub from “Songam,†which was run as a fairy in the 1980s. There is a ferry floating in the small pond, making you feel like you've come to Japan. The signature menu is “beef dachang okonomiyaki,†which is topped with chewy noodles baked on top of cabbage, beef brisket, dried bonito flakes, and egg yolk. The onion sauce was added to add a sweet flavor.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 31-3, Donhwamun-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 11:30 – 21:30 every day, B/T (weekdays) 15:00 – 17:00
â–²Price: Beef dachang okonomiyaki 21,000 won, assorted giblets and red hot pot 28,000 won
â–²Testimonial (eating every month lol): There are lots of photo zones all over the store. I really feel like I'm on a trip to Japan..! The combination of beef okonomiyaki and makgeolli on a rainy day was amazing!
2. 'Lan Kwai Jin' in Yeonnam-dong recreates the local feeling of Hong Kong
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“Lan Kwai Jin†is a Hong Kong-style pub with colorful beer bottles, postcards, and posters all over the wall that seems to have been moved directly from a store on the streets of Hong Kong. The signature menu, “Cotton Soba Sweet and Sour Pork,†draws attention with its round, deep-fried visuals. I covered the tenderloin with a thin layer of tempura to make the most of the crispness. The combination of the soft, crunchy tenderloin and the crispy tempura batter is exquisite.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 17-6 Seongmisan-ro 29an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Tuesday to Sunday 17:00 to 22:00, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Cotton sweet and sour pork 18,000, beef marathang 19,000
â–²Testimonial (Seokshin no Yandang): I haven't been able to travel very well these days, but it's great to simply enjoy a glass of beer to cheer up! Cotton cotton sweet and sour pork goes particularly well with high-grade liquor~!
3. Fascinated by Hawaiian restaurants, Mullae-dong 'Waves'
Image source: eating_food_s2's Instagram
Image source: wqgmt1's Instagram
At “Waves,†the store is full of green plants, surfboards, parasols, etc., and you can feel the spirit of Hawaii. The signature menu is “Waves Platter,†which includes Hawaii's signature dish, locomoco, and a variety of shrimp, chicken, french fries, and salad on one plate. It has a variety of ingredients, such as light chicken and 3 flavors of shrimp, so it's easy to eat without getting bitten.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 434-11, Dorim-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: 12:00 – 22:00 every day, B/T (weekdays) 15:00 – 17:00
â–²Price: Waves platter 33,000 won, shrimp combo 22,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Kisungjeon emoji): The signature menu, Waves Platter, had a variety of menus, and it was fun to pick and eat whatever I wanted. It's also great to eat with beer!
4. 'Coutijardang' in Itaewon-dong, a small France in Seoul
Image source: dochidochico's Instagram
Image source: yeonjichoigo's Instagram
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 120 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 to 01:00, Friday and Saturday 11:30 to 03:00, B/T 16:00 – 17:00
â–²Price: Onion soup 13,000 won, seasonal seafood tomato spaghetti 18,000 won
â–²Testimonial (A moist chapstick): The staff are foreigners, and I feel like I'm on a trip after receiving an order in English! I recommend the terrace, which has a European feel.
5. 'Cua' in Seongsu-dong, making the most of the taste and atmosphere of Vietnam
Image source: w0_ok_0207's Instagram
Image source: hermon_dew35's Instagram
“Quaâ€, located underground, is decorated with leaves, rattan lights, and a Vietnamese hat on both sides of the stairs that go down, making you feel like you are in Vietnam. The signature menu is “Banseo,†which comes with rice paper, meat, skewers, vegetables, and nem in a 3-tier tray. You can put neem, meat, vegetables, etc. on dry rice paper, roll them up, dip them in a special sauce, and eat them.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 26-24, Seoulsup 4-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 11:30 – 21:30 every day, B/T (weekdays) 15:00 – 16:30
â–²Price: Banseo 26,000 won, Wanggalbi rice noodles 13,000 won
â–²Testimonial (shikigin bread puff): Banseow's original Vietnamese Danang style is half a century old. If you wrap Vietnamese kimchi together, it has a sour flavor, and if you eat it with chili sauce, you can eat it spicy too!
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