Category Archives: Restaurant Reviews

Wine Odyssey

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I always seem to get a lot of requests asking for my advice on nice restaurants to visit for anniversaries and other such occasions. Well last week I got to add another to my list. Wine Odyssey is a chic, romantic wine bar and restaurant located in Hannam-dong. Warm and inviting, it breeds the feeling of romance as soon as you walk in, with the dim lights and plush furnishings. With an extensive wine list it’s the perfect place for oenophiles. They also have live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The perfect ambiance for those looking to go somewhere special.

While I waited a beautiful place was set for me and I was given a whole basket of bread all to myself. The baguette was perfect, real bread for once, with a lovely chewy texture and oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. The menu is large, filled with Spanish and Italian tapas dishes and main courses, with a few Russian favourites thrown in as a nod to its owner.

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I really find it hard to choose between things I love. So when I perused the menu and saw they had garlic mushrooms and garlic prawns I really was torn. Luckily for me I am a VIP food blogger and they agreed to let me have a half portion of each. The Setas a la Cazuela (18,000) were so good! Sizzling in the pan when they arrived and doused in a delicious garlic oil that was perfectly flavoured with garlic without being too strong. The mushrooms were so juicy. I kid you not, I wiped the bowl clean. Soaking up all that lovely garlic oil with my bread.

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As well as the mushrooms I had my Gambas al Ajillo (18,000).  Plump juicy King prawns in a garlic and chili oil. The sauce was so tasty without being hot. The chef told me the flavour comes from a Spanish sweet paprika he brought with him from Spain. A sure fire hit.

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Lobster Pasta (35,000) was my main course. It was presented so beautifully I felt I was being spoiled. There were generous chunks of lobster throughout the rich and tasty tomato sauce. Served over spaghetti this was a really nice dish and different from most of the pastas you get in Seoul. Authentic and tasty, you won’t be disappointed if you try this.

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To finish up I was treated to a service size tiramisu (8,000). The full sized portion is at least twice the size. Served up in an espresso cup this was the most adorable dessert ever. It was pretty damn tasty too. Smooth and creamy with a delightful coffee sponge without being too strong. The perfect end to a lovely meal.

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Wine Odyssey is located at 3F, 273-2 Hannam-dong,Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The restaurant is in Hannam-dong and not that close to a subway station. The closest one is Hangangjin (line 6). You can walk from there in about 10 minutes. The directions are kind of complicated, so just check your smartphone’s map for directions, if I can find it then so can you! Call 070-8959-1198 or check out their facebook page for more details.

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P’tit Paris

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Last week I was invited to try the newest French restaurant to hit Itaewon. P’tit Paris is a small and cute little restaurant which specializes in crepes! J’adore crepes and all things French, so I was super excited to try them out. There is a lovely large bar in the front and seating for about 10 in the cozy restaurant at the back. The menu is in French and Korean, but the lovely Uni is there to explain everything if you need any help.

We started off with a glass of their freshly squeezed orange juice (6,000). It was so tasty, I finished mine in minutes. My dining companion remarked that it was a little warm, so maybe a few ice-cubes wouldn’t go amiss. But not too many as we really wouldn’t want to take the space of that wonderful juice.

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Our first crepe to try was the Galette Champignons (12,000). I think we all know how much I love mushrooms, but mushrooms in a creamy cheese sauce wrapped up in a crepe is perfection. This was so tasty and comforting I will certainly be back to have another one. If we didn’t have more dishes coming I really would have had another one, it was just perfect.

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Our sec0nd crepe was the Galette Complete (12,000). Inside were mushrooms, ham, and cheese and it was topped with an egg. This was made in the very traditional way so the the egg wasn’t cooked 100% right through. I’m personally fine with having raw egg, but for those who don’t perhaps you can ask them to cook it more. The crepe again was nice and cheese and ham is always a winning combination. Although the mushrooms were not cooked in this one, I would have loved them to have been fried in butter first.

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Next up was Prosciutto salad (15,000). My assistant Victoria was starting to get a bit full by the time the salad showed up, but I really picked up the slack and ate the part of her share that she couldn’t manage. There was something so rich and creamy about this salad. Chunks of mozzarella, strips of prosciutto and lots of grated parmesan. It really was good and went perfectly with the crepes.

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Finally we tried their special cinnamon apple filling crepe (15,000). This was lovely too. Just like an apple pie with a crepe instead of pie crust. It was so tasty we didn’t leave a bite. If there was a scoop of ice-cream on the top it would be heavenly. They also have a variety of other dessert crepes on the menu including Nutella!

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As well as the sweet and savoys crepes and galettes , there are salads and various other accompaniment dishes on the menu. There is also plenty of booze including wine, beers, and cocktails!  With Pancake Day on the way soon (March 4th) it’s the perfect place to try if you can’t or won’t make your own.

P’tit Paris is located at 57-19 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there, take a train to Itaewon station (Line6) and walk out of exit 1. Walk straight all the way down to the end of the road and walk up the hill. P’tit Paris is located in the small alleyway opposite Starbucks. For more information call 070-4243-3302 or check out their facebook page.

Brooklyn The Burger Joint

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So this weekend we ventured to Seorae, the French village, in search of Seoul’s best burger. Now I am a huge burger fan and always on the look out for an amazing burger that makes all my meat filled bun dreams come true. I have only ever heard good things about this place so I figured it was about time that I left Itaewon and actually went somewhere different for a change. After negotiating the little streets we finally found our way to Brooklyn Burger. And like any hip and trendy restaurant worth its salt in Korea, it had a nice big line outside. I guess it could have been worse right, a few people even took to buying burgers and sitting outside to eat them, this just fueled my hunger ten fold. We popped our name on the list and sat across the street to wait, there is a cute little coffee shop just next door though. We were fairly lucky being a twosome and only had to wait about 20 minutes before we were called forward into the inner sanctum.

The place is exactly what you would imagine, a cool hip place, with seating for about 20. There is even a whole wall dedicated to condiments, just my style. I’m actually considering adding this divine decorating feature to my own home. The menu consists of burgers, a few sides and shakes. Standard burger fare with no kimchi or Koreanized dishes to be seen.

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We had a look down the menu, all the burgers are reasonably similar, just with slightly different combinations of ingredients. The one that stood out right away was The Brooklyn Works (9,500). We split this one in half and both had a bite. At first bite I did go Mmmm. The measure in which I always quantify burger deliciousness. But only the first bite warranted one. After that I was like, it’s nice but not amazing. I still think the first time I had Burger B I was more delighted. To make your buger a set, you can get a half order of fries and a soda for an extra 5,000.

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We also tried the C.R.E.A.M – Cheddar Rules Everything Around Meat (9,500) This one was quite similar except it had more of the horseradish cream sauce and no salad. It was again a nice burger but not quite as good as the works. The Cheese Skirt burger seemed to be quite popular too.

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We opted not do do the set as I was hankering after the Chili cheese fries (10,500) This plate was huge, and smothered is fake cheese and chili. The chili was good but a little bit spicy for my taste,  although The Fat Boyfriend deemed it perfect. I personally would have rather had real cheese instead of the fake stuff. So for me the fries didn’t quite hit the mark. I’d probably just go for the regular ones next time.

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Other than the burgers, the reason to visit is the shakes. I couldn’t resist the Nutella with burnt marshmallows milkshake (6,500) This milkshake was epic. It was just as advertised and amazingly tasty. For me dipping a finger into the Nutella jar constitutes a good time, so a delicious creamy Nutella thick shake is holy grail of good times. The marshmallows were toasted to perfection and not burnt at all. If you have a sweet tooth then you must go try one. It is by far and away the best milkshake in Seoul and puts those sad little drinks at Once Upon a Milkshake completely to shame.

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So overall I didn’t really think that Brooklyn the Burger joint was the best burger in Seoul. So I guess I’m still searching. Although taste is so much a matter of preference that I don’t know if the perfect burger is even out there. It’s a nice place and I would go again, if only for the milkshake. Plus going on a weekend you are always guaranteed to partake in Korea’s favorite past time of queuing to get in restaurants, surely that alone is a fun filled Saturday. And if the queuing and the milkshake didn’t convince you, Seorae is also a great little neighborhood so it’s worth going just for a wonder and to take a trip to the huge Paris Croissant and buy some bread and a pot of 17,000 won butter. No I didn’t get it, The Fat Boyfriend wouldn’t let me :(  Although we did get the tiny 5,500 one instead :)

Brooklyn The Burger Joint is located at 551-32 1F Banpo-Dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Opening hours 11.30 – 21.30 (closed on Mondays) Call them on 02-533-7180 for more information.

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Chakraa

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On Sunday night I had some of the best Indian food I have eaten in Seoul.While enjoying a lovely cold evening in watching episodes of Elementary, we were deciding what on earth to have for dinner. Now usually Sunday is pizza Sunday in our house. However I  got rather drunk on Friday night and pizza Sunday was moved to Saturday. It was crazy cold so neither of us wanted to go out for dinner and I had forgotten to take the lamb out of the freezer to make the stew I was planning on. “I kinda fancy Indian,” I told The Fat Boyfriend wondering if I could persuade him to go up to Itaewon. “Hmm, I could do that I suppose,” he agreed. I sat googling Indian restaurants in Itaewon looking for menus so we could place a collection order. When lo and behold I came across Chakraa who actually deliver!!! Hurrah, hurrah indeed. Now despite living in the foreign food capital of Seoul, we still have very few delivery options. Except for Korean food, chicken, or pizza. HBC also doesn’t really have a great lot of take away options either these days since Indigo shut down. There are of course the wonderful sandwiches from Casablanca, burgers from about 20 different restaurants, or fish and chips, but that’s it. We can of course cross the bridge and go to Kyungnidan but crossing a bridge really requires a lot of effort. So to find another delivery option available to us is pretty much heaven on a plate. Please let me know if you know of any others.

Chakraa has a huge menu filled with curries of every imaginable kind. We ordered a butter chicken and a lamb rogan josh. The butter chicken (15,000) was exceptionally tasty, one of the nicest I have ever had, full of flavour while still being mild. It had good hints of coconut too. The lamb rogan josh (15,000) again was good, the sauce tasty and plenty of lamb. It was of a medium heat. Both curries were of a good size making them worth the money.

We also ordered chiken tikka (9,000). Boneless pieces of tandoori baked chicken, full of flavour and a good sized portion. I was thrilled to bits with these. I love my appetizers so we ordered the Samosas 4 pieces (5,000) These samosas were good, dare I say it even nicer than the ones at Everest. Lovely thick pastry outsides, filled with yummy curry potatoes in the middle, a must try.

We also ordered some Onion bhajis (9,000) for about 7. I love, love, love these at home but have yet to see them on a menu in Korea. They didn’t really look like the ones we get at home, but they were still deep fried onion bhaji goodness and I’m sure I would order them again.

Garlic naan (2,500) is an absolute must when I order a curry. I could live without rice but not garlic bread goodness. there are also a few other varieties of bread you can try. I will definitely be placing another order soon.

Chakraa restaurant is located at Seoul Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong 28-9 if you would like to visit them in person. If you are lazy like me and live in Hanam dong, Itaewon, Haebangchon, Songtan, Nonhyun dong, U.N Village, or Oksu dong then order up a delivery! Delivery times are 12pm-3pm and  5pm-9.30pm,  minimum order 20,000. For more info including the menu, please check out their website or call Call 02-796-2255.

Calling all Suwonites!!! There is also a branch in Suwon  at 2F, 436-45, Maetan-dong, Yeongtong-gu, suwon-si, gyeonggi-do. This branch also delivers to Maetandong and Yountong areas.

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Mi Casa – Revisited

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Last week I learned it’s not always wise to judge a first impression. I was invited to go back and try Mi Casa again after the owner read my last review. Since my visit over a year ago, the chef has changed and the menu revamped. With Spanish chef Manuel at the helm, the manager assured me that things have improved greatly since my last visit and I would not leave disappointed.

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The menu is chocked full of all the classic Spanish dishes. As well as all the tapas you could ask for they also have a burgeoning selection of wine and cocktails. I had to, of course, start with a sangria (13,000).

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After the complementary bread and aioli. The first dish we tried was the Gambas al ajillo (19,000) King prawns fried in olive oil and garlic. They arrived on a plate that was sizzling! The king prawns were plump and juicy and the garlic was well cooked without being overpowering. A nice start to the meal.

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Next up was the Patatas Bravas (15,000). This was the dish that I had the most problems with last time. Patatas Bravas is simple and classic dish and any Spanish restaurant worth it’s salt should get this right. However the first time I was presented with potato chips and a dipping sauce. However all my fears were washed away when this fabulous plate was put in front of us. It was exceptional. In fact this was the best patatas bravas I have ever eaten. Every element was perfect. The potatoes were crisp on the outside and soft and full of flavour in the middle. The tomato and white sauces were delicious. We devoured this plate in about a minute. It was so good I would have licked the plate clean. And if we didn’t have a paella coming I would have ordered another.

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We also had to have a try of the Calamari Frito (18,000). Deep fried baby squid with saffron. The calamari rings and tentacles were lightly seasoned and crisp. There were also a few pieces which were battered that we really enjoyed. The citrus oil that accompanied them was nice, but we would have preferred some more of their amazing aioli.

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Berenjenas Relleras (18,000) Eggplants filled with meat, tomatoes and cheese.  I love egg plant so this dish just popped right off the menu. The the meat balls inside were good, the egg plant was juicy and the sauce delicious.

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If you are anything like me, you can’t go to a Spanish restaurant without trying the paella. At Mi Casa they have a variety of different types but we ordered the Arroz Del Monte (39,000) Saffron chicken, chorizo and pork paella. This was a meat feast of a dish filled to the brim with thick slices of choirizo, plump pieces of pork, and chunks of juicy chicken thighs

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As you can see we really enjoyed it.

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Things have definitely changed for the better since my last visit and I left a very happy customer. The prices may seem expensive to some  but the quality of the dishes demands it. Mi Casa is the perfect mid-range priced restaurant thats perfect for a date or a special evening with friends. The atmosphere is elegant and classy and they have a fab lounge upstairs for you to drink the night away in.

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Mi Casa is located in the alleyway behind the Hamilton Hotel right opposite, My Thai China (see my review here) 119-21 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea. Call them on 02-790-0063 or check out their facebook page.

The Pizza Pub

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The Pizza Pub is the latest bar to hit Itaewon. Cool and sleek it’s a cut above the usual dive bars that serve self service beers. As well as a huge variety of  cheap bottled beers and ciders they also have great food too, which is why it is my current favourite hangout.

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With a name like The Pizza Pub, it would only serve that they are selling lovely home-made pizzas, otherwise they would really have to think about changing the name. The menu is a good mix of classics and more inventive gourmet choices. I was lucky enough to sample quite a few of them. My first choice had to be the BBQ Chicken  (13,500 S/17,000 L). My favourite pizza flavour by far, I can never resist this one on a menu. A good barbecue base with plenty of chicken and a great crust, there were no complaints here.

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Next up was White Arugula Pizza (13,500 S/17,000 L). With mozzarella, roast potatoes, bacon, and arugula all on top of a white sauce. Personally I love a white pizza, I’m not dissing the red sauce, I like that too, but I’m always pleased when I see a white one on the menu. This white sauce was especially tasty and everyone loves arugula right? It makes you feel like you are being healthy even though you’re having pizza.

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We also had to try the The Meat Empire (15,000 S/19,000 L). What could be better than an empire of meat? With pepperoni, smoked ham, chicken, pulled pork, and bacon. I don’t think any meat lover would be disappointed. I know that The Fat Boyfriend will be desperate to try this one.

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As well as all those delicious pizzas there are Chicken Wings, with bones or without (9,000). These are served  with your choice of an array of dipping sauces. I was lucky to be given a taste of all of them. Spicy Mango was one of my favourites along with the Creamy Buffalo, but no one can beat a pot of Ranch.

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The host also put a basket of the Fried Kimchi and Pickles (8,000) in front of me. I think  we all are aware of my feelings about kimchi. But I am a polite and charming girl and figured it would be rude not to try it. I picked up a piece and dipped it into the accompanying samjang mayo. I put it into my mouth and chewed and didn’t hate it. I ate a another piece, it was all right. I tried a pickle, it was good. Not bad I thought to myself, but as we waited for our next pizza I ate piece after piece until the basket was empty. Then that night when I was back at home I found myself thinking about it more and more. The next day at work I couldn’t get it off my mind. When my friends suggested a drink I immediately hailed The Pizza Pub as the destination and strode there as fast as I could, ordering myself a basket straight away. It was just as good as I remembered. Is it possible that after 5 long years I could have been converted? No, it’s the deep fried goodness that did it, I’d eat a smelly old sock if you breaded it, deep fried it, and gave me a good dipping sauce. But either way this dish is spectacular and I have no doubt will be the star dish on the menu.

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We also had to have a try of the Garlic Sticks (9,000). Garlic bread is the one thing that is missing from virtually every pizza establishment throughout the peninsula. Why I have no idea, since Koreans, love bread, garlic, and cheese, surely it should be right up their street. But for some sad reason it’s never truly made it’s way on to the menus. These garlic sticks have a pizza base and are topped with lashings of garlic butter and cheese served with more melted garlic butter just in case you wanted more.

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For those of you more interested in the drinks than the food, they have a tonne of imported largers, beers, and ciders. Big brands and and craft beers can all be found in the fridges. Just help yourself and pay at the till.

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The Pizza Pub is located at 2F 131-3 Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 140-858. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line 6) and come out of exit 3. Turn back on yourself and take a left at the crossroads. Walk straight past Taco Bell and look for the building 2 doors down. The Pizza Pub is on the second floor. For more information you can call them on 010-5295-4551 or check out their facebook page.

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Bulldogs

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When I found out that this new British restaurant had opened, I was chuffed to bits to say the least. When I found out they had Pimm’s I was ecstatic. Being from the motherland myself, I love all things British. So a taste of home was just what the doctor ordered and I wasted no time at all in paying them a visit.

Located on furniture street, Bulldogs is cool, hip, and minimalist in it’s decor with a salute to British icons pasts and present. We took a seat and scanned the menu.  Salt and vinegar popcorn was given to us to snack on while we waited for our drinks. What a fab idea I thought, there is not enough salt and vinegar for my liking in the land of the morning calm. Although owner Tom tells us he is still tinkering with the recipe. Koreans aren’t used to the flavour of vinegar so he doesn’t want to make it too over powering. Personally I like mine so strong I cant feel my tongue after eating a family sized bag of crisps.

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Our drinks arrived and how lovely they looked. A homemade Pimm’s for me (12,500). I think we all know by now what a fan of Pimm’s I am. It thoroughly upsets me to not have a bottle nestled under my sink, ready to make my favourite summer cocktail. So a bar selling it is fantastic. The recipe produces a very good result, if there were a few strawberries in there, he would have pretty much cracked it. I know what I will be drinking this summer. I also adore the giant jar it comes in, making it well worth the price tag, it’s like 2 drinks in one.

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My assistant Victoria chose the peachy Punch (12,500). Bulldogs have devised a whole collection of cocktails featuring Britain’s favourite drink, tea! Served up in a giant teapot, it’s quite a sight. Teapots are the new jars don’t you know? This one has a fruity twist but you can still taste the tea. We also tried the aptly named G & Tea! A cool twist on the classic.

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On to the fare. Hot dogs dominate the menu thus far, but restaurateur Tom assures that it will be growing bigger over time. The hot dogs all range in price but are 8,000-9,500 for 2 and 11.5-13,000 for 3. With 7 different kinds on the menu, they are anything but the usual. In Fat Girl tradition I decided to give four a go. First the “Slumdog Millionaire”  an Indian take on a hot dog. Topped with curry sauce, yoghurt, onions, and cucumber. We definitely liked this one. Assistant Victoria forced the Kimchi one upon me. Despite the fact we are a kimchi free zone it would have been churlish not to give it a try. Despite my lack of interest in kimchi it was not bad, I would have eaten it if I didn’t have more food coming.

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The Mash & Gravy was spectacular. Sausage, mash, and gravy are a match made in heaven so I don’t know why no one has ever thought of putting them in a hot dog. What could be finer, those deep fried onions on top were orgasmic in themselves. This one was my favourite by far. I also enjoyed the brunch hot dog. More traditional toppings such as an egg, bacon, hash browns, and ketchup. This one was breakfast in a bite. Perfect after too many drinks at the weekend.

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We also tried out the Bulldog Fries (12,000.) There is not much in life that I enjoy more than fries topped with steak, bacon bites, and garlic mayo. Throw in some coleslaw and you have a party in your mouth where everyone is invited. There is also kimchi, though  I can always ignore that and  I think next time I shall just ask for extra coleslaw instead. Cabbage has never looked sexier than when its dressed in mayonnaise.

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I didn’t really have much more room after all the goods I had sampled so far, but I managed to make some for scotch eggs (10,000). Still a recent convert to scotch eggs, freshly out of the fryer is how I like them. Cold on the supermarket shelves can stay in England. I like them fresh and hot. With their oozy yolks these were perfect. A little more seasoning in the sausage mix wouldn’t go amiss but the coating was crunchy. A nice mushroom and bacon salad was paired and went well with the eggs.

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The dessert menu is still under construction but we were lucky enough to try the sticky toffee pudding. Mmmmmmm.

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Bulldogs is a cool bar with cool food and even cooler music. All British tunes make it my new choice of hangout. Festooned with Britain’s  greats on the walls and even Harry and Hermione guarding the loos, it’s a motherland haven. So Keep Calm and go to Bulldogs.

Bulldogs is located at 2F 116 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon station and walk out of exit 3. Go back on yourself and take a left at the intersection. Go stright past Taco bell, its a few doors down on the left on the second floor. Call 02-6248-2998 or check out their facebook page for more information.  Bulldogs is opened Sun-Thur 11.30am-11.00pm Fri-Sat 11.30am – 12am Closed Mondays

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Dillinger’s

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A few weeks ago  I was enjoying a nice Friday night drink with The Fat Boyfriend in Dillinger’s. I was filled to the brim with the post work euphoria you only get on a Friday night. What better feeling is there in the world than knowing you have the entire weekend stretched before you. Despite the cold weather I opted for a sangria (9,000). I guess I was trying to get myself back in that summer groove. Well one sip of the surprisingly tasty sangria and I was there. It was so sweet and yummy, filled with strawberries, it was quite the delight.

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Whilst The Fat Boyfriend supped down a pint of John Smiths, we mulled over where to eat dinner. As a food reviewer choosing where to go for dinner is no easy task. We discussed various options at length when I happened to look out the window to see that it was bucketing it down with rain. “Why don’t we just eat here?” We both said in unison. The waiter was summoned and a menu swiftly arrived.

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After a quick peruse of their standard pub fare, I opted for a chicken and bacon sandwich (12,900.) Chicken tenders, bacon, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing all housed in a ciabatta bun. It also came with fries (hurrah) and I ordered extra ranch dressing on the side. A good sandwich that was much nicer than I had anticipated.

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The Fat Boyfriend went for the Bangers & Mash (11,900.) But when it arrived he soon had half stolen. I’m generally not much of a fan of bangers and mash, but figured I would give it a try as it looked so nice. And oh my it was! The two herby sausages were so juicy and full of flavour. The mash was lovely, the green beans tasty, and the gravy was perfection. The wholegrain mustard on the side was just the thing to seal the deal. I can’t believe I almost missed out on trying this fabulous sausage and mash potato goodness. Next time you stop by for a drink or three, be sure to order yourself up a plate.

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Dillinger’s is located at 72-32, Itaewon 1 -dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line 6) and come out of exit 4. Walk straight for about 150 meters, Dillinger’s is on the left just opposite ABC Mart on the 2nd floor. For more info you can check out their facebook page or call them on 02-793-7232.

Everest

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Last week we ventured to Everest in honour of my lovely friend Sophie’s birthday. Everest is a real stalwart of the curry community and has been an ex-pat favourite for years. I have visited on various occasions but have now only just gotten around to writing a post for it. Although well known, as being the best Indian in Seoul, there are still plenty of you who have never heard of this gem hidden in a small alley in Dongdaemun. The menu has more or less everything you would expect and more, curries of chicken, mutton, and paneer. Appetisers such as samosa, pakoras, rice,  noodles, and sides dishes galore. There were quite a few of us at the table, but here is what I tried.

I’ve never been able to turn down a samosa or 4 so I was especially glad when I remembered they were on the menu here. At a mere 3,000 for two you could easily get half a dozen orders of them. The samosa skin it’self is quite thick, more like pastry than the thin springroll wrappers that are usually used. But it is no less delicious for it. A nice filling awaits inside and two spicy dips on the side. I only wish I had ordered more.

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I was feeling in a chicken mood so ordered up a chicken tikka (7,000). Chunks of marinated chicken breast char-grilled in a tandoori oven. The tikka at Everest has such a wonderful flavour, with a squeeze of lemon it’s the perfect balance of flavours.

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You know I can never get enough lamb, so I also had a mutton curry (8,000). Which was wonderfully flavourful without being too spicy. But they do have a vindaloo (10,000) which really packs a punch for those who like it hot, hot, hot. On this occasion it’s was almost too much for the Fat Boyfriend to finish all the sauce.

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No curry is complete without naan bread and the garlic naan (2,500) here is to die for. The huge pieces of warm delicious chewy thin bread just perfect for digging into a curry. One is more than enough but it wont stop you wanting more.

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I also ordered up a batch of raita (5,000). This refreshing yogurt dip is perfect for dipping all those extra samosas and naan breads into. As well as cooling down a spicy curry. It also comes served in a bucket which I think is pretty bad-ass. Not enough foods come in a bucket for my liking.

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I also have to mention  the Nepali chicken set which the birthday girl ordered. A chicken curry, rice, daal, potatoes, naan bread and vegetables. This is the perfect thing for those unfamiliar with Indian food to order as you can try a bit of everything for a mere 10,000. You can still afford to order extras if you want them too.

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A mango lassi (3,000) was just the ticket to wash down a curry for those still suffering from weekend hangovers (so not me.) They also have draft and bottled beer for those who know how to take a drink.

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Everest is located at  148-1 Changsin-dong, Jongro -gu, Seoul, 110-540 (서울 종로구 창신동 148-1). To get there take a train to Dongdaemun station (Line 1&4) Walk straight out of exit 3 and take the first left next to the pharmacy. Walk straight and take the first right, you should see the sign for Everest in front of you. For more information including a copy of their menu you can check out their website or call them on 02-766-8850.

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Hollywood

Posted in Restaurant Reviews by

If I were able to concentrate better, then I would have brought you this post on Tuesday.  But sadly for you dear readers, I am easily distracted and spend my free time at work watching episodes of Million Dollar Listings instead of writing this blog. But none the less, despite the delay, here we are. So as I say, a couple of Tuesdays ago we ventured into Hollywood for a few drinks to wish our lovely friends Eleanor and Kirstie well on their travels to India. We were in need of  a bar that provided sustenance and beverages of the alcoholic variety when I recalled that Hollywood had half price appetizers on Tuesdays.

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I had a good look of the menu and settled upon the Chicken wings, in a barbecue sauce. They were good, the sauce was excellent and hit the spot exactly, even more so since they were a mere 4,000. They will also give you ranch dressing for 500 won!

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Now, when I see that food is on offer, I like to buy twice as much. Why couldn’t I behave like a normal person and buy one discount appetizer and save the money, no no no Fatgirl has to eat twice as much, saving nothing at all. So on to my next order. Popcorn chicken, little pieces of chicken breast, breaded in a crazy crispy coating, and came with a side of chips for 5,000. These were really good,  and we ordered quite a few more of these between us.

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Another hit was the poutine (4,250). Not remotely authentic, but really really good. Match stick fries, a delicious thick gravy, and cheese. So comforting, even if it was a bit wrong.

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We also had a buffulo wings, (4,000) again, great.

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The chicken burrito, was also a hit (4,000).

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We also tried the deep fried  chili peppers (5,500). Although these were probably our least favourite of all the things we tried.

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So next Tuesday I would definitely advise you hit up Hollywood for all the fried goods they are worth. It’s Christmas eve so you don’t even have to go to work the next day. Merry Christmas!

Hollywoood is located at 123-33 Itaewon 1(il)-dong Yongsan-gu Seoul Korea. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (Line 6.) Come out of exit 2 and walk straight for about a minute. Hollywood islocated on the left on the 3rd floor  of the building next to Smoothie king. You can call them on 02-749-1659.