In the previous episode, I introduced some worth-visiting cafes in Yeonnam-dong. There was also a mysterious 365-day Christmas store that you can never find the entrance to. I know not everyone has seen it yet, so go watch that video first. In this episode, I will continue to stay in Seoul, and explore the lesser-known district of Yongsan. In recent years, Yongsan has opened many unique restaurants and cafes. Just above Yongsan Station, there is a large shopping mall called I'PARK. It's only two stations away from Seoul Station, so it's conveniently located. I recommend taking a day to explore this area. The three stations, Yongsan, Sinyongsan, and Samgakji, are very close to each other, and the area between these stations is known as the trendy "Yongridan-gil" among Koreans. It's an area where a group of stylish small shops gather. Koreans call it "Yongridan-gil" because it's near the Yongsan district. Yongridan-gil emerged during the pandemic, and many restaurants serving different international cuisines have opened here. Since people couldn't travel overseas at that time, this area, which gathers many exotic restaurants, became very popular. Today, I went to a restaurant called SAM SAM SAM which is also a popular spot with long queues. I arrived a little after 5 p.m. and there were already more than ten groups of customers waiting outside. Luckily, the restaurant allows you to leave your phone number and wait, After registering, I could wander around nearby. The restaurant updates the queue status online in real-time. However, I want to remind everyone that when your number is called, all members of your party must be present to be seated. SAM SAM SAM is a retro-style American restaurant with a cozy, home-cooked feel. The interior space is not very large, with an open kitchen and a counter in the middle where you can see the chefs preparing the food. The restaurant is decorated with many tomato posters, so many of the dishes are tomato-themed. I ordered a bacon risotto and their signature steak. The risotto had thick, crispy bacon and the sauce was a barbecue sauce. t had a delightful smoky flavor, with cheese and herbs on top. The taste was really good. As for the signature steak, it was served pre-sliced. You could see a hint of pink in the middle of each slice. It wasn't overcooked. The restaurant also provided a piece of butter, perhaps thinking that spreading it on the steak would enhance the flavor. However, I felt it was optional, as adding the butter didn't make a significant difference. The steak had a slightly spicy seasoning, and the taste was good, but if you eat too many pieces, it can become spicy, so it's best to enjoy it with some fries. At the intersection near SAM SAM SAM, there's another incredibly popular café. You can already see two giant teddy bear dolls in front of it from a distance, and many people like to take photos here. This teddy bear café was founded by a Korean food blogger named "DDUKI" Their signature items are various flavors of French croissants, and as soon as you enter, you'll see a wide selection of croissants. Behind the bread counter is the oven, where fresh croissants are baked regularly. In addition to the basic croissants and Danish pastries, they also have sandwiches made with croissants and desserts with added pudding. These special items are made to order. Since I've just had a meal, I mainly want to have a drink now, but I'll still try two croissant flavors. Let's see if this restaurant, known as one of the top three croissant places in Korea, lives up to its legendary deliciousness. The atmosphere of this café has a French vibe, and you can see teddy bear decorations in every corner of the shop. Although the interior space seems quite large, there is a small loft design in the middle, so there aren't too many seats. No wonder there's usually a queue most of the time. The croissants here are famous because they have a French chef in charge, ensuring an authentic taste. I tried a Margherita croissant, which is similar to the toppings of a Margherita pizza —tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil— but with a croissant crust. The top is lightly drizzled with a bit of Italian balsamic vinegar, creating a delicious sweet and tangy flavor. Another sweet croissant I tried was the Cronut, which has a caramel glaze on top. The croissant has a rich buttery flavor, and it tastes even better when it's freshly baked. Since I came in the evening, I didn't order coffee. Instead, I opted for a Mojito sparkling drink, which has a refreshing flavor and helps cleanse the palate. One important note is that all the dishes here, unless they are freshly baked, are served at room temperature. The staff won't heat them up for you after ordering, so here's a little tip: there's a self-service area with a oven behind the loft stairs. If you want to have a hot meal, you can use it to heat up your food. After leaving Yongridan-gil, I returned to I'PARK which located on top of Yongsan Station. This mall is very large and is a comprehensive shopping center. I'PARK is divided into four interconnected buildings, each with a different theme. The first building I visited was Living Park, which houses many boutique stores and home goods stores. One of them is MU:U MU:U, which I have previously introduced in my videos in Yeonnam-dong. This MU:U MU:U in Yongsan is even larger than the Yeonnam-dong branch, and they have a wider range of products. MU:U MU:U itself is a diverse cultural and creative store. They collaborate with more than twenty Korean designers. The entire store is filled with various types of stationery, postcards, and lifestyle goods. The store is divided into different sections, and each display shelf features the works of a specific designer. This time, I found many designs that I had never seen before, so it took some time to explore them thoroughly. I'PARK is divided into four buildings: The Center, Taste Park, Fashion Park, and Living Park. Each building has multiple floors, and while each has its own theme, apart from Taste Park, which houses many restaurants, the other buildings also have dining places such as cafes. Living Park features many shops related to animation and cartoons, and they occasionally have pop-up stores. This time, the ground floor happened to have a pop-up store dedicated to Disney and Pixar. Each display shelf had a different theme, and many of the products were Korean licensed versions, which were different from what I usually see in Japan. The next place I visited was Modern House on the fourth floor of Living Park. Modern House is a large chain of home goods stores in Korea. You can find many cost-effective home products here. They have everything from kitchenware to various types of Korean-style accessories, and the store is incredibly spacious. It's a bit overwhelming with so much to see! Coincidentally, I visited just before Christmas, so there was a dedicated area in the store selling Christmas-related items. There were particularly many party tableware and decorations. However, apart from holiday-themed items, the store mainly sells everyday home goods. There are many minimalist and well-designed kitchenware items in Korea, and the prices here are quite affordable. So, I plan to buy one to take home. Each floor of I'PARK is incredibly spacious. On this floor, apart from Modern House, there are many different home goods stores. Whether it's stores selling large furniture or indoor fragrances and candles, you can find all sorts of small home essentials. You can even find gardening supplies and decorations. Just exploring this building alone can take quite a while. Each building in I'PARK is interconnected. After leaving Living Park, you can directly enter Fashion Park. Fashion Park has a wide range of different clothing brands for both men and women. They even have children's clothing, so it's suitable for families to visit together. Korea has many fast-fashion chain stores, and there are a few that I always make sure to visit whenever I come to Korea. One commendable aspect of I'PARK is that its stores are well-categorized. Similar stores and brands are arranged nearby, making it convenient for everyone to shop all at once. Finally, after shopping, if you're looking for something to eat, you can head to Taste Park. It brings together various cuisines from around the world, from traditional Korean dishes to Korean street snacks and even Japanese cuisine. There's something for everyone. I chose to try this restaurant, PORTO7, because it specializes in Italian cuisine. I noticed that their signature dish is Truffle Cream Gnocchi, so I decided to give it a try. Once seated, you can directly order using the tablet provided on the table. The tablet displays multiple languages with pictures and translations, making it easy to order. I ordered a Truffle Cream Gnocchi and a Seafood Tomato Stew. Gnocchi, which means "玉棋" in Chinese, is a traditional Italian food. Some people call it Italian potato dumplings because of its resemblance to dumplings. I thought it would taste like dumplings, but it turned out to be more like potato balls. The Seafood Tomato Stew contained crab, shrimp, squid, and mussels, and the portion was generous. The dish is originally spicy, but I was worried about the spiciness level in Korea, so I specifically requested it to be non-spicy. The combination of seafood, clamshell pasta, and tomato sauce was delicious. The truffle sauce on the Gnocchi was fragrant, and it tasted somewhat like truffle cream mashed potatoes. However, the potato balls themselves had a crispy outer layer, making them resemble french fries. It was a unique and delicious combination. That concludes our introduction to the Yongsan District in this episode. In the next episode, I will provide a detailed guide to the Mangwon-dong area, which has many stores worth exploring. If you want to continue watching my travel videos, please subscribe to my channel. If you enjoyed my content, please like and leave a comment to let me know. Also, remember to follow me on Instagram. See you in the next episode!
