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About Me

 Aloha! ๐ŸŒบ 

Welcome to ALOHA FROM KOREA: FOODIE'S GUIDE.

I’m Jihye, a native Korean foodie and an Art Director based in Seoul, South Korea. Having lived in Hawaii and London, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to experience diverse cultures and cuisines. However, my true passion lies in uncovering the most authentic local eats, hidden cafes, and beautiful travel spots right here in my home country, South Korea.

What You Will Find Here This blog is my digital diary and a foodie's ultimate guide. I share honest reviews of stylish cafes, hidden local restaurants, and beautiful retreats in Seoul and beyond. Whether you are looking for a perfect Hanok cafe, a cozy dessert spot, or authentic Korean recipes to try at home, you will find it here.

My Inspirations When I'm not exploring new restaurants or designing, I love immersing myself in Swing Dance, Graphic Design, Travel, and Cooking.

I am deeply inspired by movies like La La Land, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. My days are usually filled with the sounds of Laufey, Bruno Major, Tom Misch, and Jamiroquai. I also love reading books that spark creativity and personal growth, such as Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and Atomic Habits.

Through this blog, I hope to share my love for food and culture with you. Thank you for joining me on this delicious journey!

Mahalo, Jihye

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Authentic Korean Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken: Dakgangjeong (Korean Recipe)

Aloha! ๐ŸŒบ It’s Jihye in Seoul. Today, I’m thrilled to share a recipe for a dish that holds a very special place in Korean food culture: Korean Fried Chicken . KFC? Please go home! (No offense, but when it comes to fried chicken, Korea is on a whole other level.) From spicy to soy-garlic, oven-baked to green onion-topped, we have an endless variety. But today, I’m introducing one of the absolute absolute best: Dakgangjeong (๋‹ญ๊ฐ•์ •) . What is Dakgangjeong? Dakgangjeong is a bite-sized, boneless fried chicken that is double-fried for maximum crunch and tossed in a sticky, sweet, and spicy glaze. It's usually topped with crushed nuts or sesame seeds, and I love adding chewy Korean rice cakes ( Tteok ) to the mix for a fun texture! ๐Ÿ›’ Ingredients For the Chicken: 2 pieces of Chicken Breast (Pro tip: Chicken thighs taste much better for this!) Marinade: 2 Tbsp Sake, 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce, 1/2 Tbsp Ginger Powder, a pinch of black pepper Batter: 1/2 cup (or more)...

Ultimate Guide to Korean Grocery Shopping: Best Brands to Buy (Korean Pantry)

Aloha! ๐ŸŒบ It’s Jihye in Seoul. Many of my friends who want to cook authentic Korean food at home always tell me the same thing: "It's so hard to buy the 'right' Korean ingredients!" I completely understand. When you walk into a Korean grocery store (like H-Mart), there are hundreds of brands, endless types of sauces, and everything is written in Korean characters. If you can't read Korean, you might fall into the trap of buying copycat brands that taste completely different from the authentic ones. Today, I’m sharing my ultimate guide to the most reliable and famous Korean grocery brands that you can easily find in the USA and globally. I will update this list often, so bookmark this page for your next grocery run! 1. The Global Giants (You Must Know These!) Bibigo (๋น„๋น„๊ณ )   If there is one brand you must remember today, it's Bibigo (owned by CJ). They have taken the world by storm. They are most famous for their Mandu (Korean Dumplings) , which are absolu...

Korea's "No Brand" Supermarket: Matcha Station Haul & Secret Shopping Tips!

  Aloha~ ๐ŸŒบ If you live in Korea or are planning to visit, you must have heard of "No Brand" (๋…ธ๋ธŒ๋žœ๋“œ) . As someone who lives right next to a No Brand store, I visit almost every day! But what exactly is this place, and what should you buy? Today, I’m sharing my ultimate No Brand shopping tips and a review of their brand new, crazy "Matcha Station" lineup! 1. What is "No Brand"? & Pro Shopping Tips ๐Ÿ›’ No Brand is a private label by E-mart, one of Korea's largest retailers. Their concept is simple: remove fancy packaging and marketing costs to provide decent quality products at extremely low prices. ๐Ÿ’ก Aloha Girl’s Secret No Brand Shopping Tip! When shopping here, always check the back label for the "Manufacturer" (์ œ์กฐ์›). Check the Imports: Many snacks are imported from China or Taiwan and simply repackaged. Always double-check if you prefer local products! Find the Hidden Gems: Here is the real secret—many No Brand items are actually manu...