GREETINGS and FAREWELLS from Incheon International Airport!

Originally, I wanted to take personal pictures of the airport, but due to technical difficulties I am leaving off with a borrowed image instead. The original home of this image can be found here. 

Hello, all--this is your fellow "lonely traveler" who has been writing about Seoul this summer! Sadly, vacation time is over and I'm now headed back to New York, but I'm also happy to announce a fantastic upcoming travel site: WWW.LONELYTRAVELER.COM

This website should be up and running by the end of August, so everyone should keep their eyes peeled for the launch!

Until then, here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you're at Incheon Airport:

• The airport offers free (and fast) wifi! The network is appropriately named "Airport Free Wifi" and is available anywhere in the building, including on both sides of the security check. Already, this is a huge plus since a lot of airports (including JFK) don't offer this service.
• There are plenty of "real" restaurants before going through security check--which means you can arrive a little early, check in your bags and grab your boarding pass, and then share your last meal in Korea with the people who were nice enough to drive you to Incheon. Look at this in comparison to the fact that there are a lot of airports out there that only have snack bars or cafes before the security checkpoint.
• The "train" at the airport that takes you to faraway gates is actually a shuttle... so don't waste your time worrying about at which stop to get off. I always forget this, and hesitate, trying to make sure I'm not headed in the wrong direction before I remember there's only one direction anyway.  

Pierrot Strike @ Apgujeong – Bowling, Pool Tables, Darts & Pub [SEOULGRID guest post]

Now and then I come across some very unique and interesting venues in Korea. Sometimes they are specialty fusion restaurants, other times they are live jazz bars. Recently, I stumbled upon a gem called Pierrot Strike in Apgujeong.

As I first walked up to the giant wooden doors of the entrance to Pierrot Strike, I could tell that this bowling ally was going to be a bit different from your stereotypical ally of old men drinking beer. As I entered, I immediately noticed the massive bar straight in front of me along with the bowling lanes to my left. The venue is constructed mostly of well crafted woodwork and brick which gives it a “winter resort” feeling.

After taking a look around, I proceeded to the bowling lanes. These lanes are by far the trendiest bowling lanes that I have ever seen. The support poles beside the lanes had neon images of clowns, the lanes were well kept and polished, and the giant TV screens at the end of the lanes provide a very chic and sexy feel to the ally. The reason I say that is because the TVs were playing the Victoria Secret fashion show. Instead of giving it a seedy feel, it gave Pierrot a very stylish and classy atmosphere.

The bowling shoes were even unique and hip. They were essentially a pair of Etnies. The only way you can distinguish these from regular shoes are the numbers on their heel. The lanes next to us were occupied by one of Korea’s biggest actors. He was there with his friends and was seemingly enjoying himself. Also, G-Dragon performed at the grand opening. Obviously, if Korea’s equivalent of Brad Pitt is bowling next to you and Jay-Z performs at the opening, you probably are in a good place to grab a drink and probably the coolest place that you will ever bowl at.

The pool/game section of Pierrot is tasteful and provides an excellent place to kill time as you are waiting for a lane to open up or it just a great place to hang out with friends and have a beer. This area seemed to be very popular and I could understand why. They had darts boards, some arcade games and pool tables.  I would rather play pool here than at a typical Korean bar. It is clean, affordable, and entertaining.

Prices for bowling are appropriate at 5,000 won per game and drink prices for drafts range from 5,000won to 11,000won. They also had a variety of bottle orders which ranged from 120,000 Won for Danzka vodka to 550,000 Won for Johnnie Walker Blue. They also have a variety of mixed drinks but drafts seemed to be the only drinks that people were purchasing at this time. Food prices vary greatly and are more like side dishes than meals. They are to accompany your alcohol and bowling.

There was one thing about Pierrot’s bowling that I was unsatisfied with. After we were done with our 2 games of bowling, the attendant admonished us to hurry up and leave the lane because other people were waiting. I understand that people were waiting, but telling people to hurry up so that the next group can start bowling 15 seconds sooner is both unprofessional and rude especially since we were already in the process of trying to gather our belongings and leave the lane.

As I finished my beers and headed off, I thought about what I had just experienced and I was impressed. Previously, I had not been to bowling allies that were nearly as clean, chic, or fun. Pierrot Strike’s bowling lanes were second to none and are an excellent place for birthday parties, work functions, or just a fun night out with friends.

The Good

• Something new to do in Apgujeong (bowling alleys, darts, arcade games, pool tables & pub area)
• Reasonable pricing
• Interior that lives up to Apgujeong style
• Accessibility — in Designer Club right near Apgujeong Rodeo Street entrance

The Bad

• Service could have been better
• Food wasn’t the best, but that’s not why you would go to Pierrot Strike in first place

Operation Hours

• 6pm – 3am

Prices

• 5,000 Won per game per person
• 1,500 Won shoe rental
• 5,000 – 11,000 Won draft beer
• 130,000 Won for bottle of hard liquor (Absolut & Jose Cuervo)

Contact

• Bowling – 02-6007-8008
• Pub – 02-6007-8889

Address

• 서울시 강남구 청담동 85-4번지, 디자이너클럽 1층 삐에로스트라이크

Directions from Apgujeong Station Exit #2:

Get a cab and ask to go to towards Designer Club. It’s a massive building colored in yellow. This building is conspicuous because it has a glass-front fitness center (M Athletic Square) on 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor. You will see Galleria on your left. At the next intersection take a right. Go until you see a Canon Camera store on your right. When you see it, you will be 1 block away from Pierrot Strike. It will be on your left hand side.

Website

• PierrotStrike.co.kr

Map

View Pierrot Strike in Apgujeong in a larger map

Pictures from this post is taken from Pierrot Strike blog

This entry was only posted at SeoulGrid.com on March 29, 2010. Re-blogged with permission. 

El Bliss @ Hongdae – The Unlikeliest Dining Lounge [guest post via SEOULGRID.com]

Soju is drunk in Gangnam. Champagne in Cheongdam, and coffee or wine in Garosu-gil, Sinsa.

So which drinks fit the Hongdae scene?

If anything, Hongdae has it all. Hole-in-the-wall soju and beer places are everywhere. Jagermeister and tequila shots are commonplace in clubs. There are plenty of wine bars and other bars that sell hard liquor. But can you think of a place where you can have some sangria?

El Bliss is a dining lounge that you would expect to see in Cheongdam. El Bliss is reminiscent of Bliss in Itaewon, with similar wall design and light lamps that hang low.

But if anything El Bliss feels more like a cocktail lounge. In other words, totally un-Hongdae-like.

The place can be summed up in two colors: black and orange. The venue is long in layout and features two long parallel walls. What is notable is that each wall design is a negative of the other.

Mark Yim, also known as DJ Shine, kindly invited and explained how El Bliss is a big experiment for the Hongdae scene. Hongdae, to put it simply, is an oversized college town with indistinguishable beer and soju places, where drinkers and clubbers hang out until the sun greets them the day after. To put an upscale out-of-place lounge smack in the middle of Hongdae is admittedly a bold move.

“These days if people want to go somewhere nice, they have to head down to Gangnam (south of the river). We wanted to let people know that you can still enjoy good food and drinks in Hongdae without having to drive all the way down to Gangnam, without paying the Gangnam premium”, Mark elaborated.

So does El Bliss really measure up to the “Gangnam-in-Hongdae” standard he set for the venue?

The venue’s food was nothing short of what you’d expect from the Hongdae counterpart of Bliss lounge. I sampled salad, pasta, pizza and steak that evening. I was satisfied with the overall quality of food and service at the establishment and what I found noteworthy was the venue’s successful attempt in blending two styles together, whether it is food, interior décor or just overall concept of the establishment.

The concept of fusion seems to be the recurring theme for El Bliss; the interior décor can be described as modernized oriental, and the same description fits for the food as well. The fact that an upscale lounge is situated in the seemingly unfitting streets of Hongdae while keeping the cmenu at El Bliss consistent with Hongdae shops was also interesting. What puts El Bliss on the f“places to check out” list the next time you’re in Hongdae is its price.

While the venue looks just as stylish as the ones found to the south of the river, El Bliss does not have the Gangnam premium added to the cost.a

The establishment has tapas, pasta, pizza and grill & barbecue dishes on the menu. For drinks El Bliss offers a variety of beers, cocktails, wine, champagne bottles and sangrias.

When the night approaches, lights dim and house music plays louder. El Bliss morphs itself into a lounge bar in a few seconds and you realize how lighting and background music alone can transform a dining area into a lounge. Despite how large Hongdae is, there are so few venues that stay on par with what Bliss has to offer, if you are looking for quality music and drinks.

So the next time you are considering hitting the highway to head down south for good food and drinks, think again. If you’re near Hongdae, you might want to give El Bliss a go.

The Good

• Unique & stylish lounge in Hongdae
• Great food for the price
• Terrace seats available
• Good vibe & ambiance

The Bad

• Limited parking

Operation Hours

• 6:00pm – 2:00 AM (later on weekends)

Address

• 마포구 서교동 407-12

Contact

• 02-326-2599

Directions

From the Hongdae main gate: facing the main entrance, make a right and walk straight down the street until you have Samguri Pocha on your right and 7/11 convenient store on your right. Make a right into the 7/11 alley and El Bliss will be on your right.

From Sangsu Station: Get off at Exit #1 from Sangsu Station (brown line). Walk towards Hongdae main gate for 250 meters. Make a left just before having 7/11 convenient store on your left, or just before having Samguri-Pocha on your right. El Bliss will be on your right.

Map

View El Bliss in a larger map

This entry was only posted at SeoulGrid.com on August 20, 2010. Re-blogged with permission. 

Quick Post: PETRA PALACE

I've been told that Petra Palace in Itaewon is home to Seoul's finest falafel, and as a huge fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, I knew I had to swing by and give it a try. The outside announces that Petra Palace offers "Authentic Arabian Dining" and "100% Halal"--definitely pluses, but honestly all I cared about was if the food was good or not. Thankfully, it was. Considering the lack of falafel in my life when I'm in Seoul, Petra Palace is a godsend. It isn't the best falafel I've had in my life, but it was certainly decent and tasted exactly like the falafel that I'd had before, rather than some strange sweetened Korean version (which happens often to non-Korean food here in Seoul). The hummus was delicious and light, and the servings of pita were incredibly generous.

The menu selection at Petra Palace offers a lot of goodies that I haven't seen around: baba ganoush, for one. For starters, though, I recommend the falafel platter and one of the meat/hummus platters, which should be good for about two servings' worth of food. The prices, too, which ranged from about 10,000 to 15,000, weren't bad at all considering the portion sizes.  

MoonJar (달빛 술담) @ Sinsa – Makgeolli Bar for the Old & Young [guest post from SEOULGRID.com]

This post is also available in: Korean

Most people in Korea, whether residents or travelers, are familiar with soju. And although I am fond of soju, I would like to introduce a place to drink one of my other friends, who is named makgeolli. Also known as Korean rice wine, makgeolli is drank by the old and young, and where they come together to drink is at MoonJar located in Sinsa.

MoonJar’s looks stand out from other buildings in Sinsa. It’s walls are white, and there is firewood stacked in front. There is also a sweet potato oven in front of the door, reminiscent of the olden days of Korea.

Makgeolli is a drink that is native to Korea, and very popular in the countryside. The atmosphere inside of MoonJar is very country which is one thing that distinguishes it from other bars in Seoul. Although located in one of the hotspots in Sinsa, the feel is definitely that of a farmhouse in the countryside, far away from city life.

For our food, we ordered the seafood pancake for 17,000 KRW, (haemul pajun – 해물파전) and the steamed pork and kimchi (bossam kimchi – 보쌈 김치), for 29,000 KRW. The food here is meant to be a side dish for drinking. However, the portions were very large. The steamed pork and kimchi was enough to feed the two in our party as a regular meal. The pajun was also large but was definitely a side dish. Although these dishes were expensive, it was clear that they were of a higher quality than typical Korean food. The pancake also tasted softer with a more uniformly cooked outside than typical pajun which impressed me.

MoonJar Black Bean Makgeolli

Although MoonJar is a drinking establishment, I only ended up ordering one kettle of makgeolli (막걸리), otherwise known as Korean rice wine. However, this was enough to impress me. The black bean makgeolli (검은콩 막걸리) was an excellent choice, served in a traditional Korean “tea kettle” with bowls, it enhanced the atmosphere and allowed me to focus on the taste.

MoonJar is a well known establishment among Koreans. It is often full and reservations are required. The menu is also only in Korean. Although this is the case, I really would like you to try it out. You can do so by learning a few simple sentences in Korean. The easiest is if you ask for a recommendation. In general, it would be hard to pick an item that you didn’t like if the staff recommended it.

MoonJar is a great place to drink with the old or young. The food, drinks, and atmosphere create a unique dining and drinking experience which makes me feel like a Korean, although I’m clearly not. This type of thing is something which can only be described by experiencing it for yourself, so please, experience it.

The Good

• Excellent food and makgeolli
• Experienced and friendly staff
• Mix of old and young
• Traditional Korean serving ware
• Large portions
• Valet available

The Bad

• Weekend reservations typically needed
• Servers – Busy but responsive
• Difficult to choose seating

Operation Hours

11:30am – 2:00am

Contact Number

02-541-6118/9

Address

서울특시 강남구 신사동 644-19

Website

www.moonjar.co.kr

Map

View MoonJar (달빛 술담) in a larger map

This entry was only posted at SeoulGrid.com on July 29, 2010. Re-blogged with permission. 

Just Desserts: KYOTOFU in Seoul

Last spring, I visited the brilliant Kyotofu (“modern Japanese dining and dessert bar”) in Manhattan and when I heard there was another location in Itaewon, I knew I had to give it a try. In Manhattan, Kyotofu had given me some of the best dessert ever, and while browsing their menu for the Seoul location, I decided that it would be the perfect place for a Sunday brunch/dessert date. My conclusion? There’s a definite reason that this small chain of restaurants is so internationally successful.

The interior décor of Kyotofu is the definition of modern chic: dim reddish-lavender lighting, smooth white tabletops, everything made out of glass and sleek metal. There’s a precise coolness to the experience that provides a welcome relief from the sultry August humidity.

I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict with a mimosa—Kyotofu offers specialty cocktails, all of which are unsurprisingly pricey, but irresistible because they all sound like they’d go so perfectly with your food. The Salmon Eggs Benedict wasn’t bad—it was much better than it looked, since it rather looked like a piece of bread with some egg on it rather than Eggs Benedict—but I wouldn’t rave on about it. I felt like the plate could have been composed better, since all of the flavors and ingredients together combine to create the desired flavors, but the salmon was off to the side and it took a little maneuvering to get the runny egg yolk soaking into the brioche toast.

I also had bites of my friends’ Steak & Eggs and Banana Pancakes. I’d definitely recommend the Banana Pancakes—which are made out of house-made tofu, rather than the usual buttermilk batter. This might sound disgusting, but it’s actually great, making it taste a bit like a gluten-free dessert and providing a nuttier base that held the sweetness of the caramelized bananas and the syrup well.  Otherwise, the entire dish would have definitely been too sugary.

Of course, you should never plan on visiting Kyotofu without trying their dessert. A good order is the Omakase, the “chef’s selection” of desserts—either three items for 13,000 won or seven for 20,000. Essentially, it’s a tray filled with several different house specialties, including the fantastic sweet dessert tofu, the matcha crème brulee, and an assortment of goods from the bakery. The sweet dessert tofu is definitely my favorite: it’s definitely a lot more subtle than sweet, a bit like a thinner, nuttier flan.

I would definitely recommend trying out Kyotofu if you’ve never been, but it might be a better bet to go simply for dessert rather than an entire meal. The food selection isn’t bad at all—it’s wonderfully prepared—but it’s definitely the “dessert bar” section of this establishment that stands out.  

Directions: Take Exit #3 out of Han-gang-jin Subway Station (on the brown line, line number 6) and walk straight for about 100 meters. It’s on the street, on your left right after passing the first alleyway.