Seoul(Jung-gu)

Opened in 1953 by a woman known as Mabongnim, the restaurant takes pride in its 50-plus years of service. As Mabongnim gained popularity, other similar establishments opened nearby, and eventually, formed the now famous “Teokbokki Street.” The elderly proprietor is well known, even starring in a red-pepper paste (gochujang) ad in the 1990's.The secret of this restaurant’s tteokbokki lies in the fact that red pepper paste is mixed with Chinese soybean paste for a sweet and spicy taste, but has now been adopted by other Sindangdong restaurants. Nevertheless, there is something special about this restaurant’s fare. At present, Mabongnim’s daughters-in-law are running the restaurant.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Palais de Gaumont is a topnotch French restaurant that opened in the affluent area of Cheongdam-dong, Seoul in 2000. The owner, who majored in film, named the restaurant after Leon Gaumont, a pioneer of motion picture technology, and the Gaumont Palace. It aims to spread a new concept of Korean food culture image as fine dining for ten decades of tradition and thus has been applauded as a special restaurant.


Seoul(Yeongdeungpo-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

Located on the first floor of Times Square near Yeongdeungpo Station, Namu Gneul (Rest with Book & Coffee) is a book café and art gallery where visitors can tour the gallery or just sit back and relax with a book and coffee or tea. Tea and bread can be refilled free of charge, so visitors can stay as long as they like. The café is directly connected with the Shinsegae Department Store and surrounded by a nice park perfect for taking walks. If you need a break from shopping while at the Times Square Mall, slip away to the solace of Namu Gneul.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Pork belly, a cut that is greatly beloved by people in Korea, is a main staple of Korean barbeque. In Korean dramas, it’s very common to see people enjoying samgyeopsal with soju and has become an almost iconic part of Korean food culture. Wrapping the meat with rice, garlic, and ssamjang (bean paste) in lettuce is a popular way to eat samgyeopsal. The restaurant shown in the video is Ssangdaepo Restaurant located at 291, Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

La Yeon takes pride in expressing the traditional tastes of Korea through carefully prepared Korean cuisine. Experience formal Korean dinning through La Yeon's course menus.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located in the hub of Korean culture, Insa-dong, Doodaemunjip has been serving Korean fusion cuisine for the past 10 years. The restaurant takes form of a traditional hanok decorated with a modern touch, blending Asian and western-style design to create an exquisite atmosphere favored by both Koreans and international visitors. Doodaemunjip is the only building in Insa-dong that has an indoor garden and a terrace full of fresh living plants, presenting peaceful atmosphere rarely found in the urban city. Signature menus include maekjeokgui ssambap (pork with Korean herbs served with vegetable wraps and rice) and Doodaemun haemul onbap (seafood rice) along with other specialty menus such as soy-marinated bossam (vegetable wraps with rice), soy-marinated crab, haemul pajeon (seafood and green onion pancake), etc. In particular, maekjeokgui (pork with Korean herbs) is seasoned with soybean paste made with traditional Korean recipe, bringing out deep flavors when consumed with vegetable wrapped rice. Traditional Korean alcoholic beverages such as bamboo liquor and bokbunjaju (Korean black raspberry wine) are also available.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Hannam-dong Rose Bakery is located on the first floor of the Comme des Garcons store, a world famous avant-garde brand launched by Cheil Industries.Rose Bakery is a franchise branch of the French organic bakery, All Day Brunch Bakery. Korea is the third location to open following London and Paris. Rose Bakery is more than just a place to buy bread. Visitors can enjoy simple but enjoyable European-style meals, deserts and beverages made from fresh ingredients just as in the Paris shop.Customers are greeted with a large kitchen immediately upon entry. Many of the produce used in their recipes are displayed on the counters for customers to peruse. Salads, pizza, quiche, and scones are all prepared daily with organic ingredients. Some of the more popular items are the salad selections which vary everyday.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Nerd On Earth is a bar which Im Seul Ong, a member of the boyband group 2AM and actor, has opened in Itaewon. The ‘Nerd Bar’ (for short) is located in the deep corners of Itaewon, which shows Seul Ong’s taste in bars; he prefers somewhere dark and comfortable. You can feel a unique vibe from the blue and red lights blending together, with the mystical music playing in the background, and you can dine on various ‘high quality’ snacks as you drink. For example, menu items such as the “Nerd Wrap,” which is a wrap with Argula leaves, dried tomato, and ricotta cheese, and ‘Beef Brisket Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup,’ which has a spicy flavor, with generous portions of beef brisket are the menu items that lots of people order in the Nerd Bar. When you climb the rooftop, you can see the panoramic view of Itaewon. All of the above make it a must-stop location.  


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

The rainbow-colored roll cakes are produced twice a day at 12:30 and 16:30 in the afternoon. They are so popular that they are practically sold out within 10 minutes on weekends and 1 hour on weekdays! The seven colors on the cake seem so vivid that it almost feels like it is filled with artificial pigments. However, the cake is colored by 100% natural ingredients filled with earl grey custard crème, making it an irresistible favorite dessert among the young. If you are not a fan of roll cakes, Frank's has a great selection of other delicacies such as the brioche packed with reach butter flavor, freshly baked ciabattas and croissants with soft and flaky layers. They might be 'less colorful' and attractive compared to their signature rainbow cakes but they are also steady sellers of Frank's. ☞ Baking Time [Rainbow Roll] 12:00 and 16:30 everyday [Cow Roll] 12:00 every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday  


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Hongik-University-Area

Bonjour Hawaii is an exotic fusion restaurant. Just by looking taking a glance at parasol rooftop which is by its main entrance, you can tell that the restaurant exudes exotic atmosphere/mood. The interior, small details, and the traditional Hawaiian music will have you mistaken that, in fact, you are at a cafe in Hawaii somewhere. It’s main dishes include, “BBQ Sunset Platter,” (It is a dish that has a set of ingredients: sausage, potato, chicken kebab, shrimp, Korean style pork), and “Cream Curry Udon,” which is just one of its many unique dishes on Bonjour Hawaii’s menu. Also, a pizza so addicting that it is nicknamed, “Drug Pizza,” is its specialty pizza called, “Sushi Pizza,” together with a fruit punch cocktail, you do not have to be jealous of someone who just went on a trip to Hawaii.     Through the restaurant’s appearance in the drama, “Doctors,” it created curiosity in the viewer’s mind. Since after the appearance it has become Hongdae’s, “hot place,” through words by mouth. Specifically, Bonjour Hawaii took on a role of a cafe that the main character Yoo Hae Jung (Park Shin Hae), operated. Back then, the restaurant was called, “ Suni Hawaii,” and Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won), Ryu Hye Jung (Park Shin Hye) who are couples in the drama, “Doctors,” had scenes where they were drinking beer, while enjoying their date.