As it’s mid-March, the sunshine is gradually bringing a pleasant warmth. Leave behind the winter when you were only at home due to the cold and fine dust, and plan an outing for spring. The hottest place for trendsetters looking for new flavors and scenery these days is Gyeongridan-gil in Itaewon. Gyeongridan-gil refers to the two-pronged path from Noksapyeong Station to Kyungridan, and from Kyungridan to the Hyatt Hotel. It is a trendy place full of charm that mixes the exotic feel unique to Itaewon with a friendly and simple feel. Why not enjoy the cozy scent of spring on Itaewon Gyeongridan-gil, which has a mysterious charm that can never be felt anywhere else, mixed with the multinational feel unique to Itaewon, the simple and savory charm of old buildings, and the unique concepts of young chefs?
1 . Come visit Jang Jin-woo’s restaurant, the charming alley manager.
If I had to pick a hot spot in Gyeongridan-gil in Itaewon, this place would go without saying. At first glance, the exterior looks like a studio without a signboard, and customers who visit this place for the first time get lost, and the staff will let you know from outside. When you walk inside the restaurant and sit at a large, one-of-a-kind table, you’ll be shown 3 to 4 menus written in round handwriting. The kitchen is right next to the table, so when you watch the chef cooking the food you ordered, you won’t be bored waiting for the food.
Jang Jin Woo Restaurant creates a menu that reflects the seasons, and goes shopping every day, and the menu changes every day, so it’s a good idea to check Facebook in advance before visiting the restaurant. (Restaurants cannot be used on days with group reservations, so be sure to check via Facebook or phone) Curry (15,000 won), lasagna (18,000 won), and men’s steak (25,000 won) are famous.
Image source: Jang Jin Woo Restaurant’s official Facebook
â Business hours: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Reservations can only be made by rental)
â Price range: 15,000 won to 30,000 won
â Location: Namsantang, 40, Hoenam-ro 13ga-gil, Yongsan-gu
2. A hearty French Italian restaurant created by a strong scholar
Gosasyo, which was inspired by Chusa Kim Jung-hee’s painting, is a small restaurant in a location that is hard to find, but it’s so popular that you can’t use it without making a reservation due to word of mouth. The simple interior expresses the identity of the restaurant, and at every 8 tables that are appropriately spaced, a story called Dorando blossoms from the guests, and the chef’s friendly explanation while serving the food is friendly. You can find authentic French and Italian food at reasonable prices, and menus such as wagyu steak (37,000 won) and mullet cartochio (35,000 won) are popular. Under the motto of pursuing the natural taste of the ingredients, they also create a scene where salted mullet roe is ground instead of salt while serving whole steamed mullet cartoccio. If you fill the filling with delicious dishes and finish with desserts Romeo (creme brulee) and Juliet (panna cotta), which have interesting names unique to Gosasoyo, I wonder if Sumta can win her (or her) heart.
Image source: Shikigami user review
Image source: Kosasoyo’s official Facebook
â Business hours: 6 p.m. – 22:30 p.m.
â Price range: 11,000 won to 37,000 won (course 45,000 won, 70,000 won)
â Location: 2F, 20-1, Noksapyeong-daero 32-gil, Yongsan-gu
3. Just the taste you eat at a street stall on Khaosan Road in Thailand,
After Thai food successfully settled in Korea, names such as âpad thai,â âkhao pad phu,â and âpad pong curryâ are now familiar to us. However, if you suddenly wonder if the taste we eat is really Thai, visit âKaori Pochana.â The shop is cramped but popular, so there are always waits. A tip is to first leave your phone number, make a reservation, and then take a walk around Gyeongridan-gil. After waiting, which felt like an eternity, when you go inside, you’ll find a space where you really feel like you’ve come to Thailand. When I sit on a plastic table and an uncomfortable chair without a backrest and look at exotic interior accessories, I’m mistaken about whether this is Korea or Thailand’s Khaosan Road Market. âTalepat Ponggariâ stir-fried with crab and shrimp (25,000 won), âPad Thaiâ, a Thai-style stir-fried noodle (10,000 won), and âKhao Pat Phuâ (8,000 won), a crab fried rice stir-fried with sweet and spicy rice, are popular.
Image source: l azynomads’s Naver blog
â Business hours: 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. the next day
â Price range: Yum Koob 18,000 won, Pad Thai 10,000 won, Sum Tam 8,000 won, Khao Phu 8,000 won
â Location: 11, Noksapyeong-daero 54-gil, Yongsan-gu