Not everyone likes shopping but if you're traveling to a different country, it can be worthwhile to pick up a few souvenirs! Similar to food, shopping ranges from cheap to high end. If you are looking to purchase a lot of souvenirs or clothing, I would try the underground malls connected to the subway stations. My favorites were the Goto or Gangnam and Myeongdong underground shopping centers. There are others as well like in Dongdaemun and Jonggak. Goto is the biggest one that I visited and definitely the most crowded. I would stop by on the weekdays if possible.


Thinking about a pricier purchase? You can try haggling in some of the shops in the underground malls. Most prices are set but if the item is above $70, it's worth it to try and get them to lower it a bit.

To get to Goto mall, take the subway to the EXPRESS BUS TERMINAL STATION, EXIT 8. Bonus! This is also connected to Famille Station. It's like this fancier area with a variety of international food options. The Banpo Bridge is also nearby if you are interested in seeing the rainbow lights show at night. Within the Goto mall are food courts on either end so feel free to grab a bite while you're browsing.


If a traditional mall seems more appealing, the biggest ones are COEX and Lotte World. COEX is nice since it's attached to the aquarium, so you can kill two birds with one stone. Both have extensive food options as well. COEX is also connected to Parnas Mall, with a lot of higher end brands. I liked that COEX had a mix of expensive and more affordable brands. The aquarium was fun as well, though definitely very pricey. If you are in the area, the Bongeunsa Temple is also nearby so be sure to check that out! To get to the mall, go to SAMSEONG STATION.


Lotte World Mall is divided into two areas so be wary when you first enter the building from the station. When we entered, we thought the mall only had designer brands. After viewing the directory, we realized there's a bridge to another side (also where the food is). I believe it's on the fifth floor but once you cross the bridge, the other building will have more affordable clothing options as well as several restaurants. There's a bubble tea shop right past the bridge, which I recommend! To get here, go to JAMSIL STATION.


As I mentioned in my other posts, university areas also have a lot of shopping. My favorites were Ewha and Hongik.


Here are some other tips you will need to know:

* Some places will charge you extra for a plastic bag. It is worthwhile to carry an extra tote bag if you plan on buying a lot. Same goes for supermarkets!

* If you're buying something cheap, chances are, the quality won't be that great either. However! I have found quite a lot of good sweatshirts for under $10 USD so it's not applicable to everything. Just try not to have high expectations.

* Many shops, particularly the ones on the street or in the underground malls, do not sell clothes with sizes. They are 'free' size. One size fits all. I have also seen this in several clothing stores in traditional malls. I mainly eye-balled and hoped that it would fit (though some places do have fitting rooms).

* Sometimes they will sell you the item on display. I always try asking to see if they have a new one in stock and more often than not, they'll check for you!

* Sales people can be VERY aggressive here. Do not let that deter you from making your own decisions and do not be afraid to say no if you really do not want to buy something. I've had quite the few ladies being pushy as soon as I touch something on the rack. Not all of them are like that but it's something to be aware of.


....And that's a wrap! My next and final post will be general tips that helped me during my trip!

I am happily back after a long hiatus. My summer was flooded with major projects for my final semester in grad school and then I hopped on a 15+ hour flight to Korea. Once I got back, I decided... I wanted to go again so I did. For context, I actually went with my boyfriend the first time and then took my mom the second time. She was also enticed after seeing all the photos (can't blame her).

Anyway, I really wanted to share my experiences in case you were thinking about going to Seoul for your next vacation. So I'll be talking about restaurants, activities, transportation, and other tips that might be helpful as you plan where to go :)

WARNING: This is going to be an extremely long post. The reason? It took me a long time to research during both trips and finding addresses and directions isn't always easy. You don't want to go places where the food is bad and I had regrets after my first trip for not doing the proper research in the first place. But I also want to say that over-planning can take the fun out of making mistakes in a foreign country. Sometimes, that's what adds to the sense of adventure! So use my suggestions as you see fit.

[I will continue this in another few posts as it turned out to be longer than expected, merp.]


FOOD

I love food. Who doesn't? In Seoul, I discovered the appeal of street food. In America, you can buy hot dogs, Italian sausages, and peanuts on the street. In some places, you can even buy tacos and cookies from food trucks. Street food in Korea is on a whole other level.


My favorite foods were tteokbokki or spicy rice cakes, banana nutella crepes, fried dumplings or mandu, baked cheese with rice cake, and the potato tornado (basically one fried potato spiral on a stick). There are tons of other options that are worth trying though, like fish cake on a stick or odeng, rice rolls or kimbap, fried noodles, steak, and the list goes on. I recommend trying the fish cake because they'll usually give you the hot broth that it's simmered in. So yummy and refreshing, especially when it's cold outside.

If you're interested in trying street food, I recommend visiting Myeongdong at night, when it's really hopping. There's also Namdaemun Market, which has a more traditional vibe. Of course, there are plenty of other markets in Seoul but these two are the ones I liked the most!

~~~
For restaurants, it really depends what kind of food you want and what area you’re in. I stayed in the Sindang area the first time and then in Chungmuro the second time. We tended to gravitate toward restaurants near our ‘home’ since it was most convenient. However, we did eat near places that we visited on certain days of our trip, especially restaurants that were well known for specific dishes. Below, you’ll find a list and a short review/summary of each restaurant that I enjoyed. [Not in any particular order.]

Please don't judge me for not eating all Korean food while I'm in Korea! Some of the international foods were actually super yummy so give them a try if you want a quick break from the traditional Korean cuisine during your trip.

1. Pho'na Thai

This restaurant offers a mix of Vietnamese and Thai foods. If you're craving some hot soup on a cold day (and don't want anything super spicy), my mom and I really loved this place. The ingredients come straight from Vietnam and the taste is pretty authentic. Prices aren't too bad either. Once you get to EWHA UNIVERSITY STATION, walk out EXIT 1. Just keep walking straight until you reach the address. There are stairs near the side of the building. It's on the second floor!
Address: Sinchon-ro 155, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
For more info: click here.

2. Onedang

This place is a chain but is known for their gamjatang or spicy pork bone stew. I had eaten here on both trips but had different meals. Both meals that I tried were yummy and their menu is pretty comprehensive (the pictures help). In addition to gamjatang, they offer some other typical Korean dishes like bibimbap and bossam wraps. There are actually two locations in Myeongdong but I included the address for the one I went to. It's a bit hard to explain how to get there but you'll need to get out at MYEONGDONG STATION. Pop the address into Google maps and navigate! If it helps, it's close to the end of the street and if memory serves me correctly, there should be a bubble tea or drink place nearby.
Address: 34-1 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-021, South Korea

3. Han's Deli

We actually came across this place by accident in Hongdae and decided to try it; this was on my first trip. I loved it. Not only was it a cute diner/café style eatery, it was also one of the first not so traditional restaurants that we ate at. The food is kind of fusion. There’s pasta, fried rice, steak, pork cutlets, etc. but with a Korean twist. The Hongdae location is on the second floor. Get off at HONGIK UNIVERSITY STATION, EXIT 9. Walk straight down past the Adidas store and take a left. There’s also one in Myeongdong on the 4th floor of a building down the street from ArtBox but the menu is slightly different. Tip! Be sure to order at the counter. Pickled items are self-serve as well as the soda, if you order any.
For food, I recommend trying the tteokbokki gratin (Myeongdong location), pork cutlet omelet rice, and the spaghetti.

4. Shabu Suki

Not sure how to describe the location on this one but it’s on the second floor of a building in a quiet alley. There’s a lady out front with a sign, encouraging people to come in. It’s also near a cleaner and fancier looking clothing store than the others in Myeongdong. Anyway, this place has hot pot/shabu shabu as well as Korean BBQ. I can’t speak to the quality of the shabu shabu but the Korean BBQ is yummy. Compared to some other places in Myeongdong, the price is decent. They also speak Mandarin if that helps!
Sorry, since we stumbled upon this restaurant, I don't have an exact address. Happy hunting!

5. Churro 101

They have quite a few of these around. Churros seem to be a thing in Korea? I’m not complaining. Anyway, I have seen these in the Parnas Mall near COEX Mall, Hongdae (near Han's Deli), and near Hyehwa Station (if you're heading to Naksan Park) but pretty sure there are a lot of other places that sell churros. They come in a variety of flavors and if you visit in the summer, be sure to try it with ice cream!

I personally really like the cinnamon and the chocolate filled one. Drooool.

6. Mom's Touch

[Sorry, no picture of this!]

This is a fried chicken/burger place in Myeongdong. It’s kind of sandwiched next to a Baskin Robbins, I believe. It’s also not on the ground floor so you’ll have to take an elevator to get upstairs. The good part about this is that they do takeout if you ever feel like you want to eat at home, which is what my mom and I did. Mom's Touch is a good alternative if you want fast food but don't want to settle on McDonald's or Burger King.

Address: 52-18 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

7. Congee House

[No pic, oops!]

As the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in congee. It’s a little pricey but not really THAT pricey. It is located in Myeongdong, in the same building as The Stay Hotel. It's right near Hazzy’s (clothing store) and Gogung (popular for bibimbap), you should see it. They have a menu with English and takeout is also an option! I went to get some to bring home for dinner, and the guy offered me some tea while I waited. Super nice.

Address: 31, Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

8. Remicone

This is an ice cream shop in the Garosu-gil area, SINSA STATION. They have a bunch of unique options, like ice cream with cotton candy on top! Remicone offers a mix of pre-made combos but you can also mix and match your own toppings. It's a little hard to find but you'll walk down an alley and see a sign on the side of a building. Keep walking straight until you're about to turn left and it's right at the corner.

Address: 547-12 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

9. Sinseon Seolnongtang

I never tried seolnongtang or seollongtang before coming to this restaurant but was pleasantly surprised. Do not be put off by the milkiness of the broth! It's especially delicious on a frigid day (or if you're hungover). They have different variations of this. I’ve only tried the rice cake one and the regular one. Both were yummy but I did like the plain one better. The soup comes with rice. You also get to cut your own kimchi! Tip! Be sure to add your own salt and pepper to taste.

I believe it's a chain restaurant. There's one in Insadong but we tried the Myeongdong one. Some or all (not sure) of the staff also speak Mandarin.

Address: 56-1 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

10. Chinese food

Sorry guys, I can’t remember the name of this! It was in Chinese characters. But if you’re in Myeongdong, walk down the street until you see Shinsegae. It's on the same street as the LINE Friends store and SPAO (I think). There should be a durian café across the street from this restaurant. It’s right at the corner, with food displays outside. The buns were AMAZING. Definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for decently authentic Chinese food.

11. Traditional Wellbeing Foods

Okay, this one is a bit out of the way, unless you plan on visiting the Bukhansan mountain or national park. But it was one of my favorite places to eat the first time I went to Korea. Their menu is in Korean but they have some pictures outside. I recommend taking a picture of what you want to eat on your phone and showing it to the lady. As far as I know, it’s run by one lady (super nice). The food is simple and healthy but so yummy. Also, really cheap. Basically is akin to a home cooked meal. When I went, I had rice mixed with green veggies in a pot, some soup on the side, and other side dishes. Dirt cheap (no more than $4-5 USD).

No address but get off at MANGWOLSA STATION. Walk toward direction of the park. You should pass by this little plaza (?). It's one of the restaurants in there.

12. Pane Pasta

I had somewhat good experiences here but the food makes it worth mentioning. Their pasta and pizza taste so scrumptious, especially if you have cravings for Italian! The service can be a little slow though so be careful. I wouldn’t come here if you are dying of hunger but if you want somewhere to just relax and you don’t mind waiting, then give this a try. They bring out small pieces of bread for you to eat while you wait. There are also combo sets if you feel like getting pasta AND pizza!

Prices are not too bad but not the cheapest either. Bathroom is right near the front entrance. The restaurant itself is on the second floor, right next to Han's Deli in Myeongdong.

Address: 26-3, Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Some general things you should know about eating in Korea include the fact that tipping is pretty much nonexistent and most of the time, you pay the bill at the counter after you eat. They will usually bring the check either right after you order or near the end when you’re almost done eating. You bring the check up to the counter to pay; don’t expect someone to come get it for you! Most of the places I listed accept credit card, too.