Today is Sinsa-dong Garosugil cafehopping day! Was super duper tired and only managed to start the day at about 1pm! Hadn’t really sleep for the past 40hrs, since I woke up at around 8am on Saturday. By the time I settle down in Seoul at my Airbnb, it’s already past midnight, which means I only started sleeping today at about 1am+. Got myself some instant coffee at CU to wake myself up.
今天是新沙洞咖啡厅走透透的一天！超累超累，今天睡迟了。。下午1点才开始出门！将近40小时还没真正睡过，从周六的早上8点一直到今天早上1点才睡。昨晚抵达首尔，拿了行李后等等，到了 Airbnb 也已经过了12点。收拾一下，所以到了1点多才开始睡。先到 CU 买杯咖啡提提神！
#1: Found another instant coffee brand that is even better and stronger! I have been drinking Coffing Road coffee for years!
#2: Garosugil - the start of cafehopping adventure!
First stop was Yeonlib Coffee, a nice bakery with great coffee! All the bread names were in Korean. Chose one that look pretty good and translated it - Garlic Bread - great! It was so so good! The garlic bread that I’m familiar with is spreading some butter mix (usually butter, chopped garlic, sugar) on baguette slices and toast them. But for Yeonlib, they omitted the sugar and replace it with a crisp sugar glaze on the bread instead! Nice place to chill at! They also have a nice outdoor area, but it’s too cold now during winter. I guess it must be a hot-spot during spring and autumn!
今天的第一站是 Yeonlib Coffee，一间很漂亮的面包店／咖啡厅，这里的咖啡也好好喝！面包类的名字都是韩文。。选了个漂亮的，用 Google 翻译一下 - 大蒜面包 - 太棒了，至少不是什么奇怪的。真的好好吃，不是我熟悉的大蒜面包做法。通常就是把牛油酱（牛油，蒜蓉，糖）抹在法国面包片上，然后考过。他们的做法是把糖改成在面包上涂薄薄一层的脆糖釉。是个很好和朋友聚聚的地方，也有漂亮的户外座位。相信春天和秋天微冷的天气时，非常受欢迎。
Yeonlib Coffee 연립커피
Google Maps: 535-3 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 40 Dosan-daero 11-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
0800-2300hrs (Mon-Fri), 1000-2300hrs (Sat-Sun)
Also known as: Yeonlib Bread Factory 연립빵공장
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#3: Yeonlib Coffee.
#4: Yeonlib Coffee.
#5: The outdoor seating area. Isn't it pretty?
#6: Check out all these lovely bakes!
#7: Check out all these lovely bakes!
#8: Check out all these lovely bakes!
#9: Garlic Bread 롱갈릭 KRW3,900, Latte 카페라떼 KRW4,800.
#10: Their version of garlic bread is the normal soft bread, not baguette.
Next, was Maman Gateau, and on my way there, popped by Etoile. Etoile is a small French bakery store that sells a range of French pastries like madeleines in many flavours, financiers, croissants and caneles. I got the matcha madeleine and hojicha madeleine. I thought they were just plain madeleines glaze with flavoured chocolate, but no. It is actually matcha madeleine glazed with matcha chocolate, same goes for the hojicha flavour. Super good, strongly recommend this! After which, to Maman Gateau, to try their popular caramel roll cake in original and matcha flavours. They do have other flavours of roll cakes, as well as French pastries too. The Matcha Roll Cake is like one of the most perfect dessert I have ever had! Moist matcha cake with matcha caramel cream, topped with matcha paste and matcha streusel. Strongly recommend this place if you are a hardcore matcha fan!
接下来是 Maman Gateau。在去咖啡厅的路途中，经过了一间可爱的法式糕点店，Etoile，卖的都是大家熟悉的法式糕点如 financiers，caneles，羊角面包和各种口味的 madeleines。我买了抹茶和焙茶口味的 madeleine。开始以为只是普通的 madeleine，上面抹上一层的抹茶／焙茶巧克力，但其实连 madeleine 都是抹茶／焙茶口味！很好吃，很推荐！到了 Maman Gateau，来试试他们本店推荐的焦糖蛋卷，有原味和抹茶味，也有其他口味的蛋卷和法式糕点。他们的抹茶蛋卷真的是我目前吃过最完美的甜点之一！抹茶蛋糕很湿润，加上抹茶焦糖奶油，外面是一层的抹茶酱和沙上一些抹茶饼酥，好好吃！如果你是抹茶粉丝，一定一定要来试试。
Etoile 에뚜왈
Google Maps: 534-8 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 35 Apgujeong-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1230-2100hrs (daily)
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#11: Etoile.
#12: Many flavours of madeleines! Matcha flavour is all gone!
#13: Other items.
#14: Other items.
#15: Matcha Madeleine, KRW2,600.
#16: Matcha Madeleine, super good!
Maman Gateau 마망까토
30-12 Apgujeong-ro 10-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1000-2300hrs (daily)
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#17: Maman Gateau.
#18: Signature roll cakes.
#19: Matcha Roll 말차를케익, KRW6,800.
After which, is to the cafe opened by Lee Jong Suk, Cafe.89 Mansion. The cafe is huge, modern and nicely furnished, of course, he is so wealthy. He currently ranks #9 under the list of 2018 top 10 richest Korean actors, with #8 being Song Joong Ki (male lead of Descendants of the Sun), #7 being Lee Min Ho, and #1 is Kim Soo Hyun (male lead of My Love from the Star). It was close to the break time when I reached, so the 2nd floor was closed. I had a cappuccino with a nice skillful latte art!
接着是到李钟硕开的咖啡厅，Cafe.89 Mansion。这咖啡厅非常的时尚，装潢很漂亮，也很宽敞。当然，李钟硕那么有钱！2018年10位最富有韩国男演员里，他排第9名。第8是韩剧《太阳的后裔》男主角宋仲基，第7是李敏镐。而排在第1位的就是韩剧《来自星星的你》男主角，金秀贤！抵达时快接近休息时间，所以2楼暂时关闭。点了杯卡布奇诺，这里的咖啡师技术不错，拉花很漂亮！
Cafe.89 Mansion
Google Maps: 523-30 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 25 Apgujeong-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1100-1600hrs, 1700-2200hrs (daily)
Last Order: 3pm and 8:30pm
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#20: Cafe.89 Mansion.
#21: Cafe.89 Mansion.
#22: Cappuccino KRW6,500.
LINE Friends Store and Cafe
27 Dosan-daero 13-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1000-2200hrs (daily)
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#23: LINE Friends Store and Cafe.
#24: Brown and Choco, Choco is actually Brown's sister! Many thinks that it's his girlfriend!
#25: Cony.
#26: Jessica.
#27: LINE Friends Store and Cafe.
Cafe Kitsune 카페 키츠네
Google Maps: 535-13 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 23 Dosan-daero 13-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1100-2000hrs (daily)
Sinsa Station Exit 8
#28: Cafe Kitsune.
#29: Cafe Kitsune.
#30: Cafe Kitsune. A pretty, dreamy-feel cafe! Didn't went in as I felt I had too much sweet items for the day!
#31: Went in to Olive Young to take a look, LINE Friends wet tissue having 2+1 sale!
Walked around Garosugil for a while, before I head down to Myeongdong, to Myeongdong Kyoja. I don’t really like the standard Korean dumplings as it is always stuffed with lots of vegetables and glass noodles, with a little bit of meat. Myeongdong Kyoja’s version is just filled with meat, mixed with some scallions, so it is considered really good standard in Korea. The wrapper is also very thin. And no, it is not expensive, 10pcs for KRW10,000! Since it is winter now, they also served up complimentary hot soup!
在新沙洞区走走后，就到了明洞很有名的 ‘明洞饺子’。其实韩版的饺子没有很好吃，内陷都是很多的蔬菜和冬粉，肉的成分很少。不过明洞饺子的版本都是满满的肉，加了些葱，在韩式饺子里算是很好吃的等级！皮薄，陷多，也不贵，10粒韩币10,000！现在是寒冷的冬天，也附送了一碗热汤！
Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자
29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
1030-2130hrs (daily)
Closed on New Year’s Day and Chuseok Holiday
Myeongdong Station Exit 8
#32: Myeongdong Kyoja.
#33: Mandu, KRW10,000. Complimentary hot soup and kimchi!
Walked around Myeongdong for a while and headed back to Hongdae. Bought some Innisfree stuff for my friend and myself and was so disappointed that all Toy Story themed products were sold out, except for the tin box set! Went back home to take a short rest, before I head out for dinner!
在明洞区走完后，便回到弘大区。帮朋友买了些 Innisfree 产品。很失望，Toy Story 系列几乎都卖完了，只剩铁盒套！回家休息一下后，在再度出门，吃晚餐！
Dinner was at BHC Chicken. ‘BHC’ stands for ‘Better & Happier Choice’, featured in popular Korean drama, ‘My Love from another Star’, which started a new way to enjoy Korean fried chicken, with beer! Commonly known as ‘chimaek’, with ‘chi’ from the word ‘chi kin’ (chicken in Korean), and ‘maek’ from the word ‘maek ju’ (beer in Korean). Other than a huge range of chicken flavours, BHC also offers a huge range of beers. I had the sweet and sour chicken as I don’t see this fried chicken flavour often. It was so so good! Also ordered a portion of cheese balls - mozzarella-filled, the other layer has a mochi-like chewy texture.
晚餐是 BHC Chicken。‘BHC’ 代表 ‘Better & Happier Choice’，就是 ‘更好，更快乐的选择’ 的意思。也有在非常火的韩剧《来自星星的你》出现过，引起炸鸡新吃法，‘chimaek’，和啤酒一吃享用。在这里除了有许多炸鸡口味外，也有很多很多的啤酒品牌！我点了酸甜炸鸡，很少看到这口味的炸鸡，好好吃！也点了乳酪球。内陷当然就是莫扎里拉奶酪，外层有点像麻薯的口感，QQ。
BHC Chicken, BHC치킨
Google Maps: 163-12 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 22 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1600-0300hrs (daily)
Hongik University Station Exit 9
#34: Sweet and Sour Chicken (1 chicken), KRW20,000.
#35: Cheese Balls, KRW6,000 (5pcs).
Exchange Rate: S$1 = KRW825
Expenses for Day 2
Mineral Water: KRW500
Maxim Instant Coffee: KRW2,200
Yeonlib Coffee:
- Garlic Bread 롱갈릭 KRW3,900
- Latte 카페라떼 KRW4,800
Etoile:
- Matcha Madeleine KRW2,600
- Houji (hojicha) Madeleine KRW2,600
Maman Gateau, Matcha Roll 말차를케익 KRW6,800
Cafe.89 Mansion: Cappuccino KRW6,500
LINE Store:
- LINE Friends Mixed Gummy KRW1,800
- Brown Gummy (cola flavour) KRW1,800
Olive Young:
- Kakao Friends Apeach Wet Tissue 80pcs KRW2,000 (usual price KRW2,500)
- LINE Friends Wet Tissue 20pcs KRW900 x2 (2+1)
Myeongdong Kyoja: Mandu KRW10,000
Bag bought at Myeongdong: KRW10,000
Innisfree:
- Olive Real Cleansing Foam KRW10,000
- Special Care Mask (for elbow & heel) KRW3,000 x3
- Special Care Mask (for foot) KRW2,500 x5
- Skinny Coverfit Cushion Refill (N23) KRW12,000
- Cushion Puff (glow) KRW2,000
Innisfree Free Gifts:
- Cotton Pads (20pcs) x1pkt
- Jeju Lava Seawater Skin Sample
- Jeju Lava Seawater Lotion Sample
- Jeju Lava Seawater Essence Sample
Butter:
- Korea design Stamp Stickers (9pcs) KRW1,500
- Minion Lollipop (5pcs) KRW1,500
- Mini Plastic Ice Scoop KRW2,000
BHC Chicken:
- Cheese Balls KRW6,000 (5pcs)
- Sweet and Sour Chicken (1 chicken) KRW20,000
Mineral Water: KRW850 x2 (2+1)
Total Expenses for Day 2: KRW128,000 = S$155.15
Previous Expenses: S$1,350.94
Current Total Expenses: S$1,506.09