Zapangi • 자판기

I think every single one of you who has been searching for popular Seoul cafes on the internet recently, especially on Instagram, has probably came across this pink vending machine image that has been popping up a lot lately. This place has been featured on several Seoul and Korean tourism related accounts and that only help boosts its popularity amongst tourists as well as the locals. I gotta hand it to them tho, having a pink vending machine as an entrance to the cafe is pretty ingenious. Not only it's pretty unique (there might be other places which has done this, but for me, this is the first time I've ever seen a vending machine as a door) but it is also a great incentive for people to come to this place just to check out this pink vending machine and take a picture with it. Good job Zapangi (자판기).

I actually came to Zapangi (자판기) on two different occasions. First, during a weekend and the place filled up pretty fast soon after I arrived. I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of people who were in the space so I decided to try my luck on a weekday, hoping that there would be less people around so it's easier for me to take pictures of the space. So on my second try, I did go on a weekday afternoon and boy, was I wrong about my prediction that this place will be less busy on a weekday. Nope. It was as crowded as my first visit. The place was packed. Anyways, I tried their Jasmine Milk Tea and it was alright. It's not bad but it's also not something that I would come here specifically for either. They have other fancier drink and dessert menu options that are definitely more instagrammable, but I opted out from ordering those cos they all look very very sweet (I might be wrong tho. Anybody who has ordered them, let me know).

The pink vending machine itself is pretty cool I guess. If you come here specially to take picture with the vending machine, I have to warn you that there could be a bit of a waiting line going on since I guess everybody who comes here wants a picture on that spot (watch my video to see what I'm talking about). On both occasions I was there, there was quite a queue going on. Everybody is pretty civil, but you just have to be patient since almost everyone came in groups and try to do creative poses and plandids. So if you get there, and there's no line, I suggest you grab that opportunity to take your picture right there and then. And oh, another interesting observation, some people who came to the cafe and couldn't find an empty seats or people who was just passing by the cafe, they ended up just taking pictures with the vending machine and left. So I guess there's that option too.

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Zapangi • 자판기

Address: 서울특별시 마포구 월드컵로13길 79
Telephone: 02-325-8185
Hours: 10:00 - 23:00

Instagram: @zapangi_official

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Meet Market • 미트마켓

For my friends who have known me long enough and have grabbed a meal with me on different occasions, they all probably know about my fondness for meat and rice. I have to say, prior coming to this place, I've had a really good piece of steak and a really good rice meal, but never had steak AND rice at the same time. The two don't really go together you know, especially growing up in western countries where rice is not a main staple. I've gotten used to the fact that I usually have my steak with mashed potatoes, asparagus, or salads on the side. But never a well-cooked rice. So imagined my surprise when I had my first meal at Meet Market (미트마켓), where they serve their steak with asparagus AND rice! Seeing two of my most favorite food in one plate, I was beyond ecstatic!

And it didn't stop there. The steak was perfectly cooked—it got some crispy parts on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—just the way I like it. The meat, asparagus, and rice was perfectly seasoned too. Everything was delicious, including the soup and salad that they served for the appetizers. The service was excellent and they have an open kitchen so I was able to see the chefs doing their thing. This place is probably one of my favorite restaurants in Seoul. Sadly, I think they are no longer at this location that I've visited. I'm not sure if they closed down or moved to a different location but I just found it this place has now been replaced by a bakery cafe. Even so, thought It'd still be fun to share this story ;)

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Izawa • 이자와

Izawa (이자와) is another gyukatsu (규카츠) restaurant that is nearby Atto Gyukatsu that I've shared a couple of posts ago. This place, also in a basement, has a slightly bigger seating area compared to the other place. Gyukatsu (규카츠) is what I always order, and sometimes their Steak Don (스테이시동) if I come with a friend and we want to mix it up a bit and order to share. Their set menu comes with salad, side dishes, miso soup and rice and if you ordered their 2 persons set menu, it also comes with a choice of drink. I personally come here more often cos I like their gyukatsu slightly better. I think the beef is more tender and the stone plate grill that they use makes it easier to grill the meat (plus they change the grill plate for you quite a bit so your meat doesn't stick to the grill).

I've came here a couple of times and the place is pretty packed during lunch and dinner hours (you might have to wait in line for a bit, especially if you come in big groups more than 4 people). But Koreans usually eat pretty fast, so the wait time is not that long. Or you can always come before or after the lunch/dinner rush, like I do all the time ;)

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Izawa (이자와)

Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 연세로 29 지하 1층
Telephone: 02-322-5776
Hours: 11:00 - 22:00
Break Time: 15:30 - 16:30 (Weekdays)

Tokyo Bingsu • 도쿄빙수

Bingsu is probably my favorite Korean dessert, especially during summer. A bowl of this fine ice shavings on a hot day could make the hot and humid summer days in Seoul more bearable. Tokyo Bingsu (도쿄빙수) is one of the new bingsu places I tried when I was wondering around Mangwon-dong with my friend, Jesselyn. Although they are well-known for their Tomato Bingsu (토마토 빙수), we opted for their Oreo Bingsu (오레오 빙수) since we weren't sure if we would like the Tomato ones and kinda felt like eating something sweet. The bingsu was great. The snow-like ice shavings were covered in condensed milk and top it off with the oreo crumbs, it made a perfect combo. And it's not too sweet either. I found out later that they have multiple locations in Seoul. Not a lot like those chain stores, but you got different options. Next time I visit, maybe I'll be brave and try their Tomato Bingsu.

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Tokyo Bingsu (도쿄빙수)

Address: 서울특별시 마포구 포은로8길 9
Tel: 02-6409-5692
Hours: 12:00 - 22:00

Instagram: @tokyobingsu

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Atto Gyukatsu • 아토 규카츠

Gyukatsu (규카츠) was one of the food that became 'a thing' in Seoul last year. Or at least according to my observations since I encountered quite a number of newly opened gyukatsu places around Seoul and started to see more pictures of it online afterwards. And when one of my favorite restaurant moved away from its original spot and replaced by a gyukatsu restaurant, I felt like it was a perfect time to try it out.

Atto Gyukatsu (아토 규카츠) in Sinchon (신촌) was the first place I got a taste of these delicious deep-fried breaded beef cutlets. I ordered the one person gyukatsu set meal which was served with rice, miso soup, and side dishes. The server gave me instructions on how to cook the meat according to your liking, put wasabi on top of it, dip it in the sauces and all that while putting down the tray in front of me. I followed his instructions and started eating. And man it was good. The meat was tender despite of the crunchy breading and the sauce goes well with the meat and rice. I personally feel the wasabi was unnecessary, but hey, I don't really like spicy food in general so for those who do, it might be better with the wasabi. If you are around Sinchon, this place might be worth a try. The restaurant is actually located in the basement so look out for their entrance (pictured below) and just follow down the stairs to the entrance.

p.s: There's actually another gyukatsu place that I visit quite frequently around here that I'll be sharing soon. Stay tuned! ;)

 

Atto Gyukatsu (아토 규카츠)

Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 명물길 38
Tel: 02-363-4588
Hours: 11:00 - 22:30
Break Time: 15:30 - 16:30
Subway: Sinchon Station. Exit 3.

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