Aloha from Korea: Foodie's Guide

  Aloha, everyone! 🌺 Today, I’m taking you to a true local gem that I’ve been visiting for 10 years : a charcoal-grilled pork rib restaurant called Hwadong Saenggalbi (Yuldong Branch) .  In case you aren't familiar with it, Yuldong Park is one of the most beloved getaway spots for Bundang locals. It boasts a massive, tranquil lake surrounded by lush walking trails and beautiful nature. People purposely drive here just to take a relaxing stroll, get some fresh air, and enjoy the peaceful vibe! With the warm weather we’re having, eating delicious K-BBQ and taking a stroll around the beautiful Yuldong Park right in front of the restaurant makes for the absolute perfect weekend itinerary! You can park right in front of the building. Because it’s such a popular Yuldong Park restaurant, there are many cars, but we always manage to find a spot! If you ever have trouble parking, just ask the owner—they will kindly sort it out for you. 🏢 Spacious & Perfect for Group Gatherings! ...

  Aloha, everyone! 🌺 Today, I visited one of my absolute favorite spots: Saesori Mulsori (새소리물소리) . This Hanok (traditional Korean house) cafe near Seoul was officially designated as a Gyeonggi-do Cultural Heritage last year, and was even highlighted by the BBC as a representative traditional Korean cafe! The autumn leaves are perfectly ripe right now, making it the absolute best time to visit. There are a few parking lots just outside the building, so parking is relatively easy. Just walking up to the entrance makes me so happy! My friend mentioned that this place has been featured on famous radio shows and various TV programs. But honestly, even without the media buzz, it has been a deeply loved and famous Hanok cafe in the Bundang/Seongnam area for a very long time! Because it was designated as a Cultural Heritage in 2024, they now limit the number of people entering to protect the site. Honestly, this might be a relief! It used to get so unbelievably crowded on weekends that...

  Aloha, everyone! 🌺 Today, I went to Apgujeong to see an art exhibition and ended up visiting a brunch spot that totally gave me the illusion of being in Paris! Since my daughter was born, I haven't been able to travel abroad as often (she gets terrible motion sickness, my little princess 😅) , so I absolutely love going on these little "gastronomic world tours" right here in Seoul!  The place I visited today is called Conque (꽁크) Apgujeong Main Branch . Doesn't the exterior look exactly like a restaurant in Paris? I swear I've seen a place exactly like this in France! Am I right?! The quiet, peaceful morning vibe of the Rodeo street perfectly matches Conque's gorgeous outdoor patio seating. Just imagining sitting at that sunlit table eating brunch makes me so happy~ Let's go inside! The interior design is just as stunning. It truly resembles a chic Parisian restaurant, making its atmosphere stand out even among all the trendy Apgujeong Rodeo brunch spo...

  Aloha, everyone! 🌺 I recently met up with a friend who works in the trendy Seongsu-dong area for lunch. Since Seongsu is the hottest spot in Seoul right now, we decided to check out a pasta place that’s been all over social media: Bribeet Seongsu (브리비트 성수) . The moment I saw the building, I understood the name! When I read it in Korean, I didn't make the connection, but "Beet" actually refers to the red beet vegetable ! Doesn't the color of the building look exactly like a red beet? It is unbelievably cute!  We took a little stroll around the neighborhood and arrived right when they opened, but there was already a long line formed! Luckily, we had made a reservation in advance, so we could walk right in. 💡 Jihye's Tip: I highly recommend making a reservation before you go to save yourself from waiting in line!   You can grab water and pickles from the self-service stand. The pickles are excellent—not too salty, very fresh, and the kind you just keep eating...

Aloha, everyone! 🌺 Today, I’m going to take you on a little trip to the sunny South of France! I recently visited a cafe in the Apgujeong area, and the atmosphere was so incredibly unique that I just had to share it with you all. It was a super windy and unexpectedly cold day. Lately, I’ve had quite a few "coffee failures" at trendy Apgujeong cafes (where the interiors are gorgeous but the coffee is... well, shocking 🥲). So, I was hesitating a lot before finally deciding to step into Tour à Tour (투아투아) . Looking from the outside, it was hard to guess what kind of place it was, but the online reviews praising their bakery were overwhelmingly positive! When you open the door to Tour à Tour , you can't help but be amazed. It feels like you've been teleported into a rustic farmhouse kitchen in the French countryside! The lighting is intentionally kept very low—almost as if they don't use electricity and only rely on natural sunlight and warm lanterns. The South of ...