Anyway back to the Korea 2012 posts: this post is a continuation from my previous post Korea 2012: Day 5 (Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을 - Myeongdong Dog Café 강아지카페)
We headed out to Gangnam 강남 and Apgujeong-dong 압구정동. Yes the area where all of you are doing that rodeo dance for as made popular by Psy. Jess wanted to check out the SM Entertainment Building and also the cafe opened by the mothers of Super Junior members Leetuek, Sungmin and Kyuhyun. Also, you can't come to Korea and not try Korean fried chicken: so we headed to Kyochon Chicken (advertised by Super Junior as well). Oh not forgetting to insert this really yummy, fluffy and creamy egg tart in between.
Gangnam 강남 and Apgujeong-dong 압구정동 instantly gives you this upper-class feeling. Not my kinda place, but nice to check out for a change. If you're a Singaporean, or you've been to Ion Orchard in Singapore, you'll know what I mean:
In Ion Orchard Shopping Mall, every level above Level 1 gets more and more expensive, even the air smells different (or maybe its just my nose overreacting). If Hongdae was Level 1, Gangnam would be Level 5.
Apgujeong-dong 압구정동 is sort of melded together with Gangnam 강남. The two come hand-in-hand.
HOW TO GET HERE: Alight at Gangnam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) and take Exit 10 or 11.
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First Stop: Kona Beans
HOW TO GET HERE:
*REFER TO BELOW*
The cafe definitely has a nice mood and tone to it. The design is well done: a cosy ambience, and fragrant coffee, with beans imported from Hawaii! Aloha~
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| Jess' order of a blueberry bagel with cream cheese spread. |
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| Can't remember what Jess ordered (in the black cup) but with me there's no surprise: I ordered a Caramel Macchiato (in the yellow cup) with generous drizzles of caramel... YUMMM! |
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| It was approaching christmas when we visited (December) so the fans decorated the shop beautifully with their fan gifts and sweet thoughts to their idols. |
**I checked the website and this shop doesn't seem to exist anymore. Either that or there is another available route? I've put down the address of the new shop and the directions to head there below.
Kona Beans Cafe 코나빈스
1202 Boutique Monaco, 1316-5 Seocho-dong | 서을시 서초동 1316-5 부띠크모나코 빌딩 1202 호
Opening Hours: 7am-11pm | Website: http://www.konabeans.co.kr
HOW TO GET HERE: Alight at Gangnam Station 강남역 (Seoul Subway Line 2) and take Exit 9. Walk straight along Seocho-daero 서초대로 and you will see Kona Beans on your right.
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2nd Stop: Lord Stow's Bakery (Andrew's Egg Tarts)
I swear finding information on this shop is absolutely futile. There is a high possibility that this shop no longer exists in Gangnam. Since I can't even get an address, the best I can offer you is a photo and a review. The nearest clue I have gotten is that it is near Apgujeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2. It is also somewhat near Kyochon Chicken (if it still exists). If anyone has been there recently, do let me know: IS THIS SHOP STILL THERE?
My verdict? Hands down the best egg tarts I've ever had (apart from KFC's ones where they are baked then fried which unlocks a new level of flavour. I know this brand is from Macau, but somehow I don't remember eating such good ones in Macau back when I was there.
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3rd Stop: Kyochon Chicken
Jess was keen to come here because back in 2012, Super Junior endorsed this brand. I was too excited to try Korean fried chicken for the first time altogether.
Because I'm no spicy aficionado, we ordered the soy garlic chicken to share. The thing about Kyochon Chicken is that they don't have smaller sets or so. This is pretty much the minimum size which is way too much for one person to eat. So if you're in a group of 2, and one enjoys spicy food while the other doesn't, someone has got to make the sacrifice.
My verdict? Best Korean fried chicken I've had so far and I haven't found anything close anywhere else. Hopefully on my latest trip at year end I'll be able to try good fried chicken! *licks lips* Getting excited just thinking about all the good food that I'll be able to try on this trip. A MUST VISIT in my opinion.
Kyochon Chicken (Apgujeong Branch)
Level 1, 1309-8 Seocho-dong, Seoul | 서울 서초구 서초동 1309-8 1층
Opening Hours: | Telephone: +82-2-592-1993
Website: www.kyochon.com
HOW TO GET HERE: Gangnam Station Exit 9, walk straight for about 500m.
Shinhwa Kyochon Chicken Restaurant
서울 특별시 강남구 신사 동 640-5대 성빌덩1층1호
HOW TO GET HERE: Take Exit 6 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station and walk straight. Turn left when you pass Hana Bank and walk straight. Ensure that you pass a Starbucks and look out for Kyochon Chicken.
*They open rather late, from about 1pm onwards.
*Update: Since June 2014, Super Junior no longer endorses Kyochon Chicken. E.L.F.s out there take note.
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We were absolutely unlucky in finding the underground Apgujeong Rodeo shopping area, so we proceeded to Namdaemun 남대문 for some cheap shopping and - utter disappointment - on my part.
Namdaemun Market 남대문 시장 is more of a wholesale area, especially with its jewellery, accessories section. Most prices are also un-haggable. I did manage to buy stuff from the 10,000 won racks and stacks but the fashion there is a little old and mostly good for kids clothings.
We went to grab dinner at the Kalguksu Alley- the comforting warm, soup noodles in Korea.
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| The iconic plastic doors at the entrance of the Kalguksu Alley. |
Not trying to be mean or anything but you have to be cautious when entering this place. Have a lot of conviction. Ahjummas will be urging you to come sit at their stall. Don't give in unless they are Native Koreans. Yes I do have to spell that out clearly because many of the stalls here are run by Mainland Chinese who have learnt to speak in Korean. Its not that I don't value that they have to make a living. But their food just doesn't taste the same. The stall which we visited was run by native Korean ahjummas.
*on that note: Korean ahjummas can also speak Chinese, so do your best to differentiate the Koreans from the Chinese. Otherwise, refer to blogs to know which stalls to look out for.
As part of the SERVICE for visiting their stall, stallholders will give you some complimentary spicy noodles or rice. Jess opted for the spicy cold noodles while I had the sticky rice with seaweed.
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| Yummy Kalguksu =) I had a happy warm tummy. The Ahjummas were also really nice and friendly to us! |
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| The entire street of cushy stools and noodle-slurping customers. |
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| Look out for these Ahjummas and this stall! =) "Minsok Sikdang" |
Namdaemun Market Kalguksu Alley
Minsok Sikdang (민속식당)
HOW TO GET HERE: Alight at Hoehyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 4) and take Exit 5. You should walk straight down from the big gateway 6 of Namdaemun Market. Look out for the plastic door entrance on the left of the streeet.
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That's all for this post. Thanks for staying tuned everyone! The next post will be really short because I didn;t get to take many photos when we went to Insadong and met Jess' Korean friend who brought us around. I will include information and tips on what to visit from the preparations I've made for my upcoming trip.
Till the next post~
Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V
