Oneunjeong • 오는정쪽갈비

Oneunjeong (오는정쪽갈비) is probably one of my favorite galbi restaurant in Seoul. I was first introduced to this restaurant by my friend, Winny, who took me to their Gwanghwamun location. This time around, I was craving it again and decided to check out their other location near Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) area.

Their recommended menu is Jjok Galbi (쪽갈비) which costs ₩15,000/per serving and it said on the menu that the meat is imported from France. Typical of meat restaurants in Seoul, they have a minimum order of 2 servings per table. So even though I came alone, I ordered 2 servings of the Jjok Galbi. 

First, came the banchans which consist of kimchi (김치), acorn jelly (도토리묵), pickled radish (단무지), and macaroni (마카로니). And then came the Jjok Galbi which are placed on top of the small portable pan on the table that’ll keep the meat warm. The galbi itself is super delicious. The seasoning is perfectly right on the spot, the meat has the right amount of chewiness without it being tough and the smokiness from being cooked on the charcoal grill really brings out the flavor of the meat. And if you eat if with the banchans, they actually enhance the flavor of the meat and make it more juicy (imo). At first, I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to finish the two portions of the meat, but hey, I finished it all in the end. It was that good. All and all it was a very delicious meal and my craving was satisfied.

If you’re in Gyeongbokgung area or visiting Sejong Village Food Street (세종마을 음식문화거리) where the restaurant is located, I would definitely recommend you to try Oneunjeong (오는정쪽갈비), especially if you’re overwhelmed by the many food options you can choose from since the area is practically covered with restaurants.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

 

Oneunjeong • 오는정쪽갈비

Address: 서울 종로구 자하문로1길 22
Telephone: 02-735-5718
Hours: Everyday 11:00 - 23:00

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Ovadoz • 오바도즈

Ovadoz (오바도즈) is a cafe located in one of the quiet alleyways off of the main road between Hapjeong station (합정역) and Sangsu station (상수역). Honestly, if it wasn't for Instagram, I probably wouldn't even know that there's a cafe in this location (but I believe they have now put up signs that make it more obvious for people who passes by the main road). I remember when it first opened, there were lots of posts on Instagram of people taking ootd shots in front of their cafe and those posts made me aware of their cafe.

So then during one of my Sangsu exploration days, I decided to check the place out. The cafe itself is pretty spacious with lots of natural light coming in from the windows. The fairly neutral colored interior of Ovadoz is decorated with eclectic modern furnitures made from different materials that give the place different accents of colors. The cafe definitely is not one of those places where you can study or work at because most of the tables are so low. The mascot of the cafe, Genji the Shiba Inu, was also there when I visited. It's pretty cute to see Genji just laying and chilling on the floor before perking up every time somebody walks into the cafe.

I ordered their matcha latte when I was there. It was okay. They also have selections of cakes and other baked goods that I didn't get to try because I was there right after I had lunch. But it seems like their baked goods have good reviews online. Maybe I'll try them on my next visit.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

 

Ovadoz • 오바도즈

Address: 서울 마포구 독막로9길 3-4
Telephone: 0507-1393-3366
Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00 - 22:00 | Friday-Sunday 13:00 - 22:00

Instagram: @coffee_ovadoz

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Pison Coffee Petitenget

Known for its good coffee, Pison Coffee is one of the go-to spots for locals, out-of-town visitors as well as tourists who are looking for a solid caffeine fix. Occupying a two-story red-brick building, Pison Coffee Petitenget went with the industrial look theme with high ceilings, exposed beams, dark wood panels and brick and grunge walls for their interior.

“Pison Coffee first opened its doors in 2014. Our focus has always been simple:
Good Coffee & Good Food.

Everything on our menu highlights Indonesia’s abundant resources from locally sourced coffee beans to locally sourced ingredients.

Have a sip of our house blends and maybe a bite of our carefully curated fusion dishes. All in the backdrop of calming Asian-Western fusion inspired ambiance!”

—Pison Coffee

On top of serving excellent coffee, they also have a wide variety of food menu options ranging from Asian to Western dishes. Two things that I always heard rave reviews about from my friends who have visited this place are their Crispy Pork Belly Fried Rice (Chinese style fried rice with garlic, ginger, and chopped coriander) and their Espresso Avocado (avocado juice, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream poured with espresso). And so of course I ordered those two to try.

The Crispy Pork Belly Fried Rice was great. It was well-seasoned and they use long grains rice so the rice wasn't sticky. The pork belly was really crispy and cut in perfect bite size. I only tried a little of the Espresso Avocado because I don't really drink coffee but it was good. The sweetness of the avocado juice, chocolate syrup and ice cream was balanced well with the bitterness of the espresso when you have it mixed together.

If coffee is not your thing, you can always come here to sip on some alcohol while enjoying the live music they have going on every night from 8.30 pm onwards (check their Instagram for updates). They also open 'til midnight which makes this place a good spot for a late night hang.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

 

Pison Coffee Petitenget

Address: Jl. Petitenget No.19 A, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Telephone: +62821 4456 0066
Hours: 07:00-00:00

Instagram: @pisoncoffee
Menu

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Hog Wild with Chef Bruno Bali

Started in 2010 under another brand license, Chef Bruno Fortin, his wife Eva Claudio and his twins gained their independence in 2015 and rebranded as Hog Wild in Bali. The French chef who brought his culinary expertise to Bali combined forces with his wife who was responsible for the concept and atmosphere of the restaurant and created a fun, quirky dining establishment with great food in Bali. A year after that, they revamped their branding to Hog Wild with Chef Bruno (HWCB) and introduced their Brutal Martinis that are usually served with the hilarious “shake, shake, shake” dance rituals.

Hog Wild with Chef Bruno is one of the restaurants in Bali that is well-known for its delicious porks ribs. So of course when I went there, that’s exactly what I ordered. The meat was tender and juicy and the original sweet & tangy sauce covering the meat was delicious and super flavorful. I opted for hand cut fries and sweet potato fries for the sides and they were good too.

The laid-back restaurant has ample seatings with family style tables set up but I would recommend to call in and make a reservation in advance if you're coming with a big group.

 

Hog Wild with Chef Bruno Bali

Address: Jl. Batu Belig 41, Kerobokan, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 847 6722 / +62 821 4516 3495
Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:00

Instagram: @hogwildwithchefbruno
Website

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Coffee Nap Roasters • 커피냅로스터스

Famously known for its 7,000-brick hill interior, Coffee Nap Roasters (커피냅로스터스) is a small hip and definitely Instagrammable coffee spot in Yeonnam-dong (얀남동). The images of their unusual interior and seating arrangement soon went viral on Instagram after they opened in April 2018. My first visit to the cafe was three months after their opening and I went there solely because I was curious to see the architecture and interior of the space for myself after seeing the many, many pictures online.

When I arrived, the first thing that threw me off a little was the size of the coffee shop itself. Judging from the photos I’ve seen, I knew that the place isn’t that big but I guess I was expecting it to be slightly bigger than it actually is. But, luckily, I was there on a weekday so the place wasn’t too crowded.

This place is more of a coffee spot, so there’s not a lot of non-coffee options on the menu other than Lemon Ade, Apple Tea, Milk Tea, and Choco Latte. I opted for an Ice Apple Tea since it was a hot summer day.

Sitting inside the cafe was quite an experience in itself. Intended to give the visitors an experience of sitting on a hill surrounded by nature while drinking their coffee, I can understand the concept when I look at the interior of the space. I also really like how they execute ‘The moon hiding behind the hill’ idea with the big round mirror that is placed inside the cafe. The whole concept was definitely unique and well executed. In one article, the architect, Design Studio Maoom, explained:

“Getting rid of the tables and the chairs, and looking up from the low hill, where your sight is, became the space and scenery. Having a diverse way to sit, beyond overcoming uncomfortableness, would mean the beginning of a new experience. This small place is a tiny coffee shop where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with wherever you choose to sit, becomes your space.

The hill is a space where you can sit and relax for a moment. A place where one wants to rest.”
—archdaily.com

Other than the brick hill, the other two indoor seating options were a wooden bench at the bottom of the hill and the seating area in front of the window that is facing directly to the hill.

Although I can understand what the architect’s intentions were, there are several things that me, as a visitor, experience quite differently than what they described. First, personally, having the option of sitting wherever you choose kind of giving me a little anxiety instead of relaxation to be honest. It wasn’t really a problem when I was there since the cafe wasn’t too crowded. But I imagined if the place is packed, I think it could get a little uncomfortable to have to step around people to get to an empty spot or when you want to leave or when you want to use the restroom which is located at the top of the hill. Not to mention the close proximity of the other patrons around you. And if you choose to sit on the seating area in front of the window, you’ll be facing the people who’s sitting on the hill directly or at the very least, you can get that feeling of being watched or stared at. I tried sitting at the seat in front of the window and honestly, it was a little awkward when I made eye contact with the people who were in my line of sight.

Second of all, sitting on the brick hill wasn’t actually comfortable at all. I mean, you probably could’ve guessed by looking at the shape and materials of the hill. But yes, I fell like the hill is definitely not meant to accommodate people for long talks, unless you’re okay with sitting on a hard surface for a long time. Plus, I think for girls, you probably might want to plan your outfit accordingly if you intend to sit on the hill because wearing a short skirt or heels might be a little uncomfortable.

Honestly, I think the outdoor seatings and the flat surface area near the big round mirror probably are the more comfortable seating areas in the cafe.

Even so, this cafe is one of the more interesting cafe I’ve been to and I think it’s worth a visit if you want to check out their interior design or get some coffee. To find out more about the architecture and interior design concept of this place, you can read it here and here.

Note: These pictures were taken before the pandemic.

 

Coffee Nap Roasters • 커피냅로스터스

Address: 서울 마포구 성미산로27길 70
Telephone: 02-332-4131
Hours: Everyday 09:00 - 20:00

Instagram: @coffeenap_roasters

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