Hey beautiful friends & enemies~

Just casually sharing everything I ate last week, because let me tell you, it was an absolute feast! We had such great luck with the food, and not a single dish or snack was a miss — everything was super delicious! So, let’s kick off this food journey~

The first thing I tried after landing in Korea was a 치즈케이크 맛 빵 (cheese cake mat bbang), a cheesecake-flavored bread that looks like a giant pancake. And, of course, it had 라이언 (Ryan) from Kakao Friends on it. Not gonna lie, I totally fell for Ryan’s cuteness — he’s just too adorable! Seriously, this bread was a perfect balance of fluffy and creamy, with a slight tangy sweetness from the cheesecake flavor. It was the perfect little treat to start my Korean food adventure!

The second thing I had was an absolutely delicious dinner. Since it was insanely hot (around 36°C when we landed, haha), we decided to go for some refreshing 냉면 (naengmyeon), cold noodles. This dish is made of spaghetti-like noodles served in a cold, flavorful beef broth, spiced up with a bit of vinegar, and topped with slices of cucumber, pear, and a soft-boiled egg. It was magically delicious and so refreshing — honestly, it was the perfect meal for a scorching day when the heat makes it feel like you can’t even breathe. The balance of the slightly tangy broth and the crisp vegetables made it feel like pure comfort food. It’s one of those dishes that makes you feel instantly refreshed and satisfied.

I absolutely can’t miss out on the times we had 치킨 (chikin), or fried chicken. Korean fried chicken is simply the best, hands down! It’s deep-fried to crispy perfection, then coated in a flavorful sauce that’s usually a mix of sweet, spicy, and savory—truly next-level. The crunch on the outside, paired with the juicy tenderness of the meat inside, creates a taste explosion in your mouth. Whether it’s the classic 양념치킨 (yangnyeom chicken), which is coated in a spicy-sweet sauce, or 후라이드치킨 (huraideu chikin), the crispy fried version, Korean fried chicken is always a winner. It’s often served with pickled radish (called 무절임 or mu-jeorim), which helps balance out the richness of the chicken. Seriously, if you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out on a piece of heaven! 🍗✨ 

Not to forget all the delicious 일본 음식 > 일식 (ilbon eumsik, Japanese food) you can get in Korea! This was actually at a pretty famous place in 강남 (Gangnam), a district known for its trendy spots and delicious food. My friend took me there, and it’s particularly famous for its 우동 (udong), or udon noodle soup, but this time we decided to go for a rice bowl instead. We had 덮밥 (deopbap), a rice bowl topped with tender beef, a soft-boiled egg, and some veggies, along with two crispy fried shrimp (새우튀김 or saeutwigim) and 고구마튀김 (gogumatwigim), which is fried sweet potato. The combination of the savory beef, crunchy shrimp, and sweet potato was simply perfection. Every bite was so comforting and satisfying! The flavors balanced out so well, and it’s just one of those dishes you crave after a long day. 😋🍤🍠

And of course, I can’t forget all the pretty 카페 (kape, cafes) with their delicious cakes! There are so many adorable spots in Korea to grab a dessert, and each one is more charming than the last. 😍🍰 The cakes here are not only yummy, but they also look absolutely cute and Instagram-worthy! Whether it’s a delicate 레드벨벳 케이크 (redeubelbet keikeu, red velvet cake), a fluffy 치즈케이크 (chijeukeikeu, cheesecake), or a perfectly layered 티라미수 (tiramisoo, tiramisu), every single cake is a work of art. I just love how each café has its own style, with some offering modern, minimalistic décor, while others are more cozy and vintage. There’s something so peaceful about sitting in one of these cafés, sipping on a 아메리카노 (amerika-no, Americano) or 바닐라 라떼 (banilla latte, vanilla latte) while enjoying a slice of cake. Definitely a must-try experience if you’re ever in Korea! ☕🍰✨

ChatGPT said:

One of my absolute favorite things in Korea are the small shops called 편의점 (pyeonheejeom), or convenience stores, where you can grab snacks, water, and pretty much anything you need at any hour of the day or night—24/7! 🌙✨ These little shops are a lifesaver, especially when you’re in need of a quick snack or some emergency essentials like bandages, socks, or soap. What makes them even better is that they sell everything in small, convenient portions, which is perfect for someone like me who’s always on the go. 🏃‍♀️

But the best part? Some 편의점 even have little corners where you can make yourself a cup of 라면 (ramyeon, instant noodles)! 🍜 Just grab your cup, choose your favorite noodle flavor (they have so many), add hot water, and boom—you’ve got yourself a quick, satisfying meal. It’s like a mini food station on every corner of the city, and honestly, it’s hard not to pop in every day! 😄 

What I like the most are all these things you can grill on your table. There is a grill in the middle of the table, and you can order different dishes. We had 닭갈비 (Dak Galbi) and its variations like ours which was with spicy chicken breast, octopus, and veggies. Some noodles on the side and kimchi with radish. So delicious!

닭갈비 (Dak Galbi) is a popular Korean dish that consists of marinated chicken, typically cooked on a grill with vegetables like cabbage, sweet potato, and onions. It’s spicy, flavorful, and a fun dish to share with friends! 😋

 The best kind of ice cream in Korea is of course 빙수 (Bingsu)! It’s shaved frozen milk topped with a variety of toppings of your choice. We had the 블루베리 치즈케이크 빙수 (Blueberry Cheesecake Bingsu), and it was absolutely heavenly! 🍧

Bingsu is the ultimate summer treat in Korea, and the combination of the cold, fluffy shaved ice with rich toppings like fruits, condensed milk, or in this case, cheesecake, is just perfect for cooling off in the hot weather. Seriously, it’s a must-try when you visit Korea! 😍

OMG, this was so delicious! It was 회덮밥 (Hoe Deopbap), which is raw fish on top of rice. The fish was incredibly fresh and so, so good. I got half 참치 (Chamchi, tuna) and half 연어 (Yeon-eo, salmon). The combination of the tender, melt-in-your-mouth fish with the warm rice was just perfect. 🍣🍚

We also shared a huge salad on the side, and let me tell you, the greens were so fresh and crisp. I can still be dreaming about this meal even months later… It was one of those unforgettable meals that really make you fall in love with Korean food. 😋

Since it’s summer, ice cream is definitely a must, right? And of course, I had to go for 녹차 아이스크림 (Green Tea Ice Cream)! 🍦🍵 There’s no better place to satisfy that craving than Baskin Robbins. The rich, creamy green tea flavor was just perfect, and it was so refreshing in the heat! You really can’t go wrong with this classic, especially in the summer. 😍

Can we talk about how adorable it is when drinks are served in actual fruits? 🍉🍍 I was so impressed that I had to go back the very next day! On the left, you can see a delicious hot dish with octopus, meat, and veggies all drenched in a spicy sauce, and on the right, there’s a rice bowl topped with perfectly grilled octopus. Both were so mouthwatering, I can’t even describe how good they were! 😋

 Fresh iced grapefruit juice at the coolest café ever, Watco 왓코, right across from my university, Sogang University. 🍊✨ It was so cozy! At first, there were no free seats in the main area, so we ended up at a shoe shop nearby that had a cozy little spot to sit. The vibe there was amazing—super chill and perfect for sipping on that refreshing grapefruit juice. Definitely one of my favorite spots around Sogang!

 Here, we tried 무뼈 닭발 (fried chicken feet without bones) on top of rice, and it was actually the house specialty. Honestly, it totally lived up to its title as the top seller! Crispy, flavorful, and surprisingly delicious—it was definitely a dish worth trying!

Last but not least, my absolute favorite spot for coffee and light snacks while either getting some uni work done or just chilling with friends is Aki Coffee near Yonsei University. The atmosphere is perfect—super cozy with an indie vibe—and it’s so close to my place. They also have the cutest dog, which just makes everything better! I can already tell I’ll be spending a lot of time there. Can’t wait to be a regular!

 

And for now..

..keep it delicious… thehehee~

..au revoir

–M