#kyungnidan

[steveneveral]

Some scenes from @hayley.neal.77 ‘s home jam session! 🥰😎🎸🎻🎵🎶 . . . #jamsession #musician #violin #acousticguitar #musicmakers #seoul #expatlife #funtimes #kyungnidan #haebangchon #해방촌 #이태원 (at Kyungnidan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4rw8NUFGaH/?igshid=1srqqlqpyled0

[torontoseoulcialite]

Summer Lane Cafe – A Hidden Gem for Brunch in Seoul!

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to find my perfect brunch in Seoul!  More than that, I can’t believe that someone else dreamed up my ideal Eggs Benedict.  Even more perfect?  It’s a 5 minute walk from my place on the Kyungnidan side of Itaewon/ Noksapyeong.  Summer Lane (써머레인) is an Australian-influenced cafe.  They mostly serve coffee, tea, other interesting-sounding beverages, and desserts.  The brunch we had on Saturday makes it a perfect destination for weekend brunch in Seoul.  I can’t believe they’ve been open for 4 months and last weekend was my first try!

#gallery-0-17 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-17 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-17 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-17 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Atomsphere at Summer Lane Cafe

While Summer Lane is a small cafe, they’ve made great use of the space.  The space is airy and bright.  The greenery adds a calm to the place.  You could easily have a group of up to 6 people seated at their largest table.  I’m hoping they’ll stay true to their word and start up the New York style bottomless mimosa brunch.  They’d like to start offering a Bloody Mary, but right now it’s just beer on the menu.  As much as I love Route 66, Sunday brunch in Seoul could get a massive upgrade if Summer Lane keeps their promise!

#gallery-0-18 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-18 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-18 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-18 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Summerlane 오늘도 활짝 문 열었습니다 🙂 맛있는 브런치와 디저트 모두 준비돼 있어요 😀. – – #summerlane #써머레인#브런치 #브런치카페 #이태원브런치 #이태원디저트 #이태원데이트 #경리단길데이트 #경리단길브런치 #경리단길카페 #경리단길디저트#수박케잌 #수박케이크

A post shared by Summer Lane (써머레인) (@summerlane_cafe) on Jun 27, 2017 at 6:23pm PDT

The Menu at Summer Lane Cafe

The duck prosciutto and truffle scrambled eggs at Guilty Pleasure are to die for.  The Saffa brunch at Braai Republic is killer, but so is the wait for a table.  I love these spots, but I don’t want to climb over a hill after a big night out.  An average, basic western breakfast in Seoul will generally cost around KRW 10,000.  For prime ingredients, you’re obviously going to pay a little bit more.  Our meals at Summer Lane Cafe came out to about KRW 15,000 each.  For the serving of delicious, western-style bacon on the platter plus plenty of avocado, it was a total bargain.   You’ll find Australian traditional eats like Pavlova as well as cheap and cheerful scones and cookies.  The prices are pretty in range with the area, so no surprises here once the bill arrives!  I’ll happily place Summer Lane Cafe on my list of favourite brunch in Seoul spots after Saturday.  It’s worth it to be a destination restaurant and I’m thrilled it’s so close!

#gallery-0-19 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-19 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-19 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-19 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Eats at Summer Lane Cafe

I can’t say I ever expected to have two poached eggs, a ton of bacon, avocado, and cheddar cheese cajun hollandaise sauce plopped onto a savoury waffle and called Eggs Benedict.  I’ve fairly certain if I dreamed up my perfect brunch in Seoul this would be it.  The poached eggs were perfectly runny, while the egg white was well-cooked.  The hollandaise had a hint of spice and was packed with flavour.  I don’t like too thick a hollandaise, either, and its consistency was what I craved.  Popping edible flowers on the side was a nice touch aesthetically.  My friend had the bacon and banana Croissant French Toast which was equally beautiful and a sensational serving size.  These were insta-worthy brunches that actually tasted phonemenal!

#gallery-0-20 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-20 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-20 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-20 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Getting to Summer Lane Cafe for Brunch in Seoul

Open Tue-Sun 08:00-20:00 and closed on Monday. Take exit 2 of Noksapyeong Station and walk straight until you reach the underpass.  Take the underpass and exit on the left hand side (if you can – there’s currently construction in the underpass so you might have to double back).   Walk up the main Kyungnidan street passing Cafe Pascucci, Paris Baguette, and Well Being Mart until you reach Maloney’s Pub.  Hang a right and walk up the street a couple of blocks then turn right.  Summer Lane Cafe will be on your left.  Alternatively, you can go from the top of the hill (where you’ll find Baskin-Robbins, 711, and “Club GS25” with the giant patio).  Follow the street between 711 and gs 25 away from Baskin-Robbins/ the Hyatt.  Walking along that street you can’t miss it.  After a couple of blocks it’ll be on your left-hand side.  We were actually headed to another restaurant when we were welcomed inside by one of their employees, Jess.  The service was impeccable – relaxed and also warm and friendly.  I definitely recommend a visit soon!

Make sure to pin this to your Seoul Food pinterest board for directions to this great spot for Brunch in Seoul! 

Where’s your favourite place to grab brunch in Seoul?  Leave me a note in the comments!

Seoul Food: Summer Lane Cafe – Brunch in Seoul (Itaewon) Summer Lane Cafe - A Hidden Gem for Brunch in Seoul! I can't believe it's taken me this long to find my perfect brunch in Seoul!  

[undergrnders-blog]

REFERENCES.

Even though this is extremely easy to google, I figured I’d copy and paste and compile a list of some of the live music venues in Seoul that if you wanted, you could obviously use as legitimate place where your muse could / does perform. ( I don’t know if it’ll be just me, but finally finding a spot where I think my muse could fit in best really gave me some inspiration / motivation. ) 

La Clé -- Translated as “The Key” in French, this cozy bar offers a low-key, informal venue for high-quality jazz. Old wooden panels, antique clocks, and telephones offer a warm, vintage glow. Mismatched but comfortable chairs, vintage posters, and a large album collection, displayed on shelves that spanned the width of the stage, round out the intimate ambiance. 

Club FF --  Club FF opened its doors in 2004, and is a cool place to discover local indie bands. The modest, club is located in indie-music mecca, Hongdae. The scene there is eclectic, with a mish-mash of rock, grunge, punk and hardcore metal bands. It’s a popular spot for foreigners and locals to rock out while sipping a beer or cocktail. Early in the night, live bands play loud and get the audience going; later on FF transforms into a dance club.

DOJO Lounge -- DOJO is a unique venue in the heart of Kyungnidan. DOJO features live bands every Friday and an open mic night every Tuesday. The owners are two true lovers of music, and DOJO is known for showcasing quality acts across many genres. It is the perfect place for anyone trying to find live music at a slightly more upscale venue, especially Itaewon residents who do not want to trek to Hongdae for shows.

Salon Badabie --  Many up-and-coming indie bands have performed on the compact stage of this unassuming little club in Hongdae. Since its inception Salon Badabie has been viewed as an indie band incubator, and it hosts a range of creative performance artists. The club almost closed down due to a lack of funds but musicians and fans joined forces to save it by hosting a number of fundraising concerts.

GBN Live House --  GBN Live House is run by punks, for punks. The circle pits can get rowdy, but overall everyone is very friendly and this is a great place to not only hear the best in Seoul punk and hardcore, but to meet new friends and cop a feel of the city’s DIY side. Beer is self-serve from cans in the fridge—anything else you want, you’ll have to smuggle in yourself.

Thunderhorse Tavern --  Thunderhorse Tavern is one of Seoul’s premiere destinations for all manner of live rock: blues, heavy metal, acoustic, or punk. The bar itself gets a great mix of Koreans and foreigners, all of them music fans.

Faust --  From the window behind the DJ booth, you can peer out at the lights of Itaewon while listening to the pumping music flowing from the DJ—the combination of which makes for a chill atmosphere. The music is most often house and the club hosts DJs from all over the world. The regular Der Faustian parties are a “local nights” series where you can hear tunes from resident DJs and DJs new to the club scene. If you love house music, Club Faust is the go-to for hearing the latest tunes.

Rocky Mountain Tavern --  Opened in August 2004, Rocky Mountain Tavern has been a popular spot on the Itaewon main street for nearly a decade. Not only does the pub have excellent food and drink, it also hosts bands every Saturday, and it is the largest live music venue in the neighborhood. Last year’s makeover left the second floor where the bands play more open and accommodating. The venue has held many band parties and fundraisers over the years, and the live shows are always a good time.

Club Ta --  Club Ta is a live concert venue located in Hongdae, home to many of Seoul’s indie bands and music artists. Owned by a member of the Korean band, Why Not?, for a little bit of extra music and street credibility, this small club only hosts about 50 to 100 people at a time. But by doing so, this club manages to avoid the loud, and more aggressive rock’n’roll vibe of many larger venues. You won’t find any mosh pits or crowd surfing here; the atmosphere is very laid-back, with a moody ambiance — perfect for enjoying the quiet, thoughtful bands often entertained at Club Ta. 

Woodstock Itaewon -- Woodstock Itaewon is one of the oldest bars on the main street, and the oldest live music venue in the neighborhood. It has hosted bands for the past 20 years. Nearly every band looking to play in the Itaewon area has set foot on their stage, and four bands perform there every Friday and Saturday. 

All That Jazz -- Often called the “granddaddy of jazz bars in Korea,” All That Jazz is a local legend that opened in 1976. The venue has hosted many big names, such as saxophone player Jung Sungjo and drummer Ryu Boksung, before they became famous. These days, however, the venue mixes up their set list with hot contemporary jazz bands such as Kuma Park and JHG. Located in the trendy Itaewon district in a stylish lounge behind the Hamilton Hotel, All That Jazz offers spacious, earthy interiors and seating for its customers.

Platoon Kunsthalle --  A uniquely designed building located in the middle of upscale Gangnam, Platoon Kunsthalle is an art hall that attracts people from around the city. Platoon is a hub for Seoul’s creative set, attracting those interested in street art, graphic design, video art, music, club culture, and political activism. 

Club Steel Face --  Club Steel Face is one of the newest live music clubs in Hongdae, the premiere party neighborhood in Seoul. Located six floors up, Steel Face is a small joint that is highly polished for a place that caters to indie and punk rock. Steel Face is small and intimate, with no stage—the bands play amongst the crowd, and it’s unlikely there will be more than 100 people in there. All sorts of fascinating acts pass through: shoegaze bands, noise rockers from Japan, hardcore outfits. 

Prism Live Hall --  Opened in 2012, this is a spacious venue with great acoustics. It is a subterranean club, dimly lit by neon lights emanating from the well-stocked bar. The live hall is equipped with a kicking sound system and can house more than 330 people. Popular Korean bands such as Crying Nut and Love X Stereo play here. ( music: psychedelic, rock, metal, indie, rockabilly, electro-punk. )

Cafe & Bar DDDa -- Not to be confused with Bar Da or Café DDDa, Cafe & Bar DDDa is perhaps the most chilled-out location in Seoul. Dimly lit with a brick wall and Beatnik motif, this is no place to throw yourself around. Rather, it’s a place to sit at a table, relax, and sip a glass of wine from their very extensive list. And of course, there’s the music. DDDa (pronounced Dee-Dee-Da) features a rotating line of performers playing all kinds of mellow music, especially jazz and blues. 

Radio Kitchen --  The nostalgic mood the radio brings + delicious food from the kitchen that unleashes inner piges within us. Also, the interior of the live stage makes you feel like you are in a cozy, little theatre. Radiokitchen is a down-to-earth music venue where you can basically bring anyone and everyone. ( music: soft rock, pop, acoustic, jazz. )

Acoustic Holic --  The circular shaped stage of Acousticholic is what really sets this acoustic music venue apart from others. The stage allows for viewers to have an intimate experience with musicians. You can sit around the stage and watch performers in such a close proximity that you might feel awkward from making frequent eyecontacts. ( music: acoustic, soft rock. )

Café BBang -- This small basement club boasts a bohemian and non-judgmental atmosphere where up-and-coming performers can express themselves freely to an audience seated on small benches. The lighting adds to the free, whimsical atmosphere; cardboard cut-outs and colored plastics offer mood lighting in unique shapes. In short, Café BBang considers itself a “safe space” of sorts for performers and audiences alike. It’s a place where musicians are “liberated from the constraints of society…to express anything — any emotion, any idea they want.” Café BBang claims that both performers and listeners can enjoy a mental and spiritual catharsis.

Venue/ --  This dive-y basement club attracts a fun-loving, unpretentious crowd for quality DJs spinning hip hop and electronica. There's no cover charge, but there's a queue after midnight.

Cakeshop --  Head underground to Itaewon's hippest club for electronic beats spun by international and top local DJs. Its attracts a lively, mixed crowd and is very popular so expect long queues.

Cafe Unplugged -- You can think of Cafe Unplugged more as a coffee & tea shop that holds open-mic nights. During daytime, the warm ray of sunshine pours through the large windows. At night, the cafe turns into a live music cafe where local musicians come and play. Cafe Unplugged is a homey place where you can come in and enjoy music while sipping on your favorite drink. ( music: acoustic, soft, jazz. ) 

Bitter Sweet Sound Café -- BSSF is an intimate and cozy cafe in the quieter streets of Hongdae that hosts live performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. BSSF is a great spot to study, read, and hang out with friends. Don’t be surprised if the person next to you gets up and plays on stage. Many musicians hang out at the cafe before and after their performance. 

[slatslatslats]

170422 a very, very long saturday. went to see vocalist and bassist of igloo bay busking at understage and vinyl & plastic. browsed LPs and CDs. was a really, really cool and refreshing place. walked over to kyungnidan for dumplings and then we ended up at thunderhorse to see whyme?, triss and funcity. got very drunk, had a lot of fun, got to greet a kitty at one point (highlight of the night honestly), cream cheese pizza is very sweet but not necessarily bad and i got home at 6:30 in the morning. d-59. will miss these twisted nights.

[battlefoxes]

Kyungnidan, Seoul, Korea (at Gyeongnidan-Gil)

[koreacurated-blog]

A new scrumptious brunch place opened up just minutes from our home. #unclesamspancake #brunch #breakfast #delicious #yum #foodporn #saturday #morning #date #kyungnidan #itaewon #yongsangu #seoul #korea #맛스타그램 #먹스타 #이태원 #맛집 #브런치 #맛있다

[bitesofseoul-blog]

Porchetta (Itaewon/Kyungnidan)

Located outside of the main area of Itaewon, Porchetta is a delicious little secret. The restaurant calls itself an "Italian bistro" and specializes in sandwiches. The inside of Porchetta is fairly small, only a handful on tables and a small patio area. The decor is adorable, and the service is quick and friendly with waiters speaking both English and Korean.

While everything on the menu at Porchetta sounds delicious, my friend and I ultimately decided to both order the same thing. When I saw that they had French Dip on the menu, I couldn't say no and neither could my friend! A French Dip sandwich in Korea, are you kidding me?! For those of you who are not aware, a French Dip Sandwich is sliced beef served with a slice of cheese and au jus dipping sauce.

A word of advice, this French Dip also comes with mushrooms on it, so if you aren't a fan of this veggie, make sure to ask for no mushrooms!

The beef was cut a little bit thick for my liking, but the au jus was perfect, the bun was incredible, and the cheese was melted perfectly. The French Dip is served on a ciabatta bun that tastes just like they do back home, it even has flour on top! For those of you craving a French Dip in Korea, Porchetta definitely delivers. 

The sandwich is called Roast Beef Sandwich on the menu, not French Dip.

We also ordered a serving of Garlic Fries. The fries were very fresh, and thick cut. They were loaded with tons of garlic and were definitely the perfect side dish for our french dips. They were also served with a side of ranch dip, a delicious dip you rarely see in Korea. Porchetta also stocks tons of Western drinks such as Dr. Pepper and Ginger Ale. They also serve freshly squeezed orange juice and a plethora of other ades, teas and coffees. 

For those of you with a sweet tooth, Porchetta also serves these amazing cookie sandwiches. I've had the sandwiches (twice!) before and both times was very impressed. Although I failed to take pictures, below you'll see a picture of a poster advertising their sandwiches. Each sandwich is made from two freshly made cookies, a scoop of ice cream and one topping of your choice. I chose vanilla ice cream and brownie pieces and was amazed at the deliciousness. 

Final Say: Porchetta is a delightful restaurant if you're in the mood for a sandwich. While the sandwiches are a bit pricy, the ingredients are fresh and the dishes are delicious.

Directions: Go out exit 2 of Noksapyeong station (line 5, one stop over from Itaewon) walk straight for about 3 minutes until you come to a stairwell leading to an underpass. Walk through the underpass to the other side of the street heading towards Seoul Tower. Go up the hill to your right. Porchetta is located on your left. 

Address: 658 Itaewon 2 dong, Yongsan -Gu, Seoul

[torontoseoulcialite]

Cry Cheese Burger – Korea’s Answer to In-N-Out Burger

Since moving to Korea back in February 2015, I’ve heard expats moan and groan about missing In-N-Out Burger.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the American mating call moan of “Animal Style Friiiiiies”.  If I had man won ($10) for each, I’d have enough to open my own franchise for fresh burgers and dirty, messy, loaded fries.  Thankfully, I don’t need to become a restaurateur to have a decent knock-off.   In true Gangnam Style, Cry Cheese Burger (크라이치즈버거) is a total rip off of In-N-Out Burger.  It’s cheap, cheerful, and, as advertised, delicious.

#gallery-0-13 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-13 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-13 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-13 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Fresh Promises from Cry Cheese Burger

Don’t cry ’cause it’s a knock-off, smile ’cause it’s available!  While In-N-Out Burger uses branding full of bold red, Cry Cheese Burger has opted for smiley face yellow.  We popped in around 4 PM on the Friday during the massive Chuseok week off and found it to be fairly busy even mid-afternoon.  There was so much seating that we had an entire row to ourselves to instagram tasty cheeseburgers and animal-style fries to our hearts’ content.  The walls were decorated with bright, informative (in Korean) posters declaring Cry Cheese Burger’s dedication to locally-sourced meat and produce.  As you can see by the baskets of potatoes (and the “raw fries” option), their French fries are made in house, daily, and almost to order.

#gallery-0-14 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-14 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-14 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-14 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Set A (KRW 7,300) : Cry Cheese Burger, Cheese Fries, Fountain Drink

If you want a taste of home that is under 10 bucks for a fatty Kathy meal?  Get thee to Cry Cheese Burger.  The short and wide flat-top grilled patty was squished between an uber-fresh tomato, crisp iceberg lettuce, American cheese, and American-style garlic mayo.  The bun was soft with a perfectly toasted inner layer which I’m certain had had a healthy dose of butter lobbed on.  I didn’t even mind the thick stack of onions!  I visited with Amanda (@seoulody) who completely melted into her chair getting that first taste of the caramelized onions, melty, ooey-gooey American cheese, and tons of Thousand Islands salad dressing piled on top of a small hill of soft, shoe-string fries.  According to that California native, even without the ground beef the Animal-style fries were right on the money.

#gallery-0-15 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-15 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-15 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-15 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Directions to Cry Cheese Burger

Cry Cheese Burger COEX/ Daechi Location: Samseong Subway Station Take Exit 1.  Walk straight about 1.5 blocks and it will be on your right-hand side.  Open daily 11 AM – 8:30 PM (Last Order).

Cry Cheese Burger Bucheon Location: 35 Sinheung-ro 52beon-gil, Simgok 2(i)-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do.  Open Daily 10 AM – 9:30 PM

After talking cured meats on @thisthatamy with @chuckishere, @white_japan and I got our hands on a Reuben AND the star of the @calikitch show: the Pastrami Burger! It did not disappoint. Get there early so you don't miss out! 🍔 // #burgers . . . . . #passportexpress #passportready #roamingtheworld #roamtheplanet #SeeTheWorld #sheisnotlost #solotravel #stayandwander #theeverygirl #theglobewanderer #TheTravelWomen #timeoutsociety #tlpicks #travel #traveladdict #travelandleisure #travelandlife #travelawesome #travelblog #travelblogger #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelbug #traveldeeper #traveldiaries #traveldiary #traveler #travelfam

A post shared by Kate 🛫 Travel Blogger (@torontoseoulcialite) on Oct 3, 2017 at 7:50pm PDT

For a Truly Decadent Burger, Visit Cali Kitchen

I’ve been on a hunt for an exquisite, juicy, luxury burger in Seoul.  You’ll notice I don’t write about burger joints all that much simply because I don’t think the meat to bun to topping ratio has been quite figured out.  The meat quality isn’t all that fab most places, and the buns tend to either be quite dry or too sweet.  I recently tried the burger at Cali Kitchen (we sampled the pastrami burger and the double cheeseburger loaded with Chuck’s famous chili).  If you want a fantastic burger with primo toppings and a brilliant balance, stay up to date on their Facebook, visit their website, or get into their store in Kyungnidan.  It’s a truly memorable burger made with love, and Chuck’s meat (a labour of love in and of itself).

Think you’ve found Seoul’s best burger?  How about Seoul’s best burger value?  Let us know in the comments!

Seoul Food: Cry Cheese Burger, In-N-Out Burger done Gangnam Style Cry Cheese Burger - Korea's Answer to In-N-Out Burger Since moving to Korea back in February 2015, I've heard expats moan and groan about missing In-N-Out Burger. 

[torontoseoulcialite]

Editing photos of our delicious Saturday morning #brunch at @summerlane_cafe in Kyungnidan. Stop by for service which rivals the spectacular eats and fresh drinks! #SeoulFood 🍊 (at Summer Lane)

[koreacurated-blog]

Spring is here! Back to one of our favorite things, people watching! From @corymay81 - Saturday in Kyungnidan, chilling on some steps with my love Marie and enjoying some beers. Spring weather is here! #kyungnidan #경리단길 #seoul #korea #southkorea #korean #asia #koreacurated #theta360 #nightlife #peoplewatching

[koreacurated-blog]

Today we visited the Boseokgil Market in Kyungnidan, Seoul looking for artists to work with for our monthly subscription box.