Éclair is the latest dessert cafe to hit the Itaewon area. As the name suggests, it unsurprisingly specializes in French éclairs. Eclairs are one of my absolute favourite desserts of all time. Choux pastry filled with flavoured creams and topped with fondant or ganache, what could be more yummy?

At Éclair they have a large range of different flavours which will make your mouth water the moment you look at them. I have been a lover of éclairs for as long as I can remember so was very keen to try as many as possible. I would have got one of every flavour had my budget allowed, but 3 seemed to suffice. But I will definitely be back to try the rose, chocolate, and caramel next time!

We got the double vanilla, cafe, and a cherry macaroon éclair.  The macaroon eclair was delightful, filled with pistachio crème and sour cherry jam. A crispy outside with a slightly chewy center, the flavour of cherry came through well and really complimented the pistachio creme inside. The vanilla eclair was filled with vanilla cream and topped with vanilla icing. You really can’t go wrong with vanilla. The cafe coffee flavoured eclair was also nice, although I wish the filling had had a touch more flavour as it was rather on the mild side. My only complaint were the little stickers which had been put on them. There really was no point to them at all, and really should be made of edible paper if they want to use them advertise the bakery (no one want’s paper on their food).

As well as éclairs, they have a range of macaroons and chocolate drinks.We were lucky enough to sample the chocolate and it was exceptional. So rich, thick and decadent, it took me right back to Paris, where they serve it so thick, you need a spoon of whipped cream to water it down. They also have a tropical chocolate flavour which combines passion fruit and chocolate in the most delightful way. Well worth a try if you are eating in.

Éclair is located at 247-9 Itaewon dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. It’s open from 12 to 8, however they close when they run out of delicious treats so I advise you to get there early to avoid disappointment. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and come out of exit 2. Walk straight until you come to the stairs and an underpass. Go through the tunnel and take the stairs on the left. Keep walking straight and follow the road around until you get to Well Being Mart. You should see that the road forks, cross over and take the left side. Keep walking straight, past Beer O’ Clock Pizza, and past the Ace Mart, then take the road that turns right directly after Ace Mart. There are lots of cool bars and restaurants along this street. Keep following the road until you reach Éclair. It’s on the right hand side opposite the CU. For more information call 02-337-8090 or check out their website.

Little gourmet ice-cream shops are popping up all over Korea like there’s no tomorrow. A trend is here that is set to grow and grow especially now that it’s summer. This one first opened in my neighborhood in the depths of winter and I scoffed about the foolishness of opening an ice-cream shop in the freezing icy cold and went about my business.

However as the winter thawed, the queues for this little shop grew longer and longer, it may have been warmer but I was still in no rush. Now I like ice cream as much as the next person but I’m not prepared to queue for the privilege. The hordes of Korean couples that have descended on our neighborhood will queue diligently while holding hands to get the sweet treat du jour but not me.

But a few nights ago I was sensationally hot and waiting for The Fat Boyfriend and I thought since there wasn’t a queue why not give it a try. I threw caution to the wind and bought myself a 5,300 cherry cone despite the fact I was down to my last 10,000 until pay day. A few moments later I was presented with a large cone dripping with cherry sauce.

The ice-cream was actually very good, and now I see what the fuss was about. Creamy and sweet it was heavenly. The cherry sauce was a little sweet for my tastes but still good, perhaps one of the more citrus flavours would be better against the sweet ice-cream. The star of the show really was the cone. It was just so good. The large portion was glazed giving it such a lovely crust. It was spot on and easy to share between the two of us. I will certainly be visiting them again soon, as long as there is no queue.

To get to Swi:t B, take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and go straight out of exit 2. keep walking straight until you reach the underpass. Go through and take the left hand stairs. Swi:t  B will be right in front of you.

After going for a walk around Namsan park last Sunday, I stumbled across this place. Yes I went for a walk on Sunday morning, it’s shocking I know but I had to get out of the house. It was the end of the 5 days vacation and I had spent the entire day before dying of a hangover and gorging on junk food and if I hadn’t gotten out of the house I would have gone stir crazy. A Sunday morning walk would never usually be my cup of tea so please don’t judge me.

Anyhow we stumbled across Chunk of Cheese, usually I wouldn’t be caught dead on that hill. Not because I’m too cool for school, just that I generally tend to try and avoid hills. Chunk of cheese is, shockingly, a cheese shop. With over 80 different varieties of cheese they have a huge selection which rivals that of Shinsegae and the foreign food mart. Including some rather good English Cheddars.

I’m not sure it’s worth an out and out trip if you live miles away, but if you live around this neck of the woods it will save you going to Itaewon. It will also worth a peek if you are in the area for dinner. They have lots of anti pasti style things too like salami, olives, wine etc. So if you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or wine and cheese evening then this would be the place to go. Sadly I can’t afford to host wine and cheese parties, but I’d certainly like to. I hold out of date hummus and vodka cocktail nights instead. I’m sure they will catch on any day now.

If you want to visit them personally Chunk of Cheese is located at 31-1 Hoenamu-ro, Yongsan-gu. Or you can call them on 02-795-3079 if you want to inquire about a particular cheese. They are also on Y-not Takeout. So if you live locally, you can have your cheese delivered direct to your door, isn’t that amazing!

Ok Fat Girl fans, I am about to rock your world right now so hold on to your hats. A mere two weeks ago the greatest company ever was launched in Korea. The name of that company is Y-Not takeout. These amazingly smart people have done what no one ever thought possible, delivery western food in Korea. The service is just starting out in Seoul but they plan to make it nationwide overtime. They are currently operating in the following central Seoul areas; Itaewon, Haebangchon, Kyungnidan, Hanam-dong, Yongsan Army Base and Banpo-dong.

A few months ago I was thrilled at the prospect of getting Indian food delivered to me through Chakra. But now I can get Mexican, Russian, Thai, American, African and even KFC! A bucket of the Colonel’s chicken delivered right to my bed. I’m salivating at the thought. No longer will I have to pester the Fat Boyfriend into going to Itaewon for food on hangover Sunday. I can get it delivered right to the door and the best thing is it’s all in English. No more Konglish and call backs to Pizza hut for me.

We tested the service out a few nights ago and decided to opt for some Mexican from Taco Amigo. This was actually the very first restaurant that I ate at in Itaewon nearly 6 years ago. So it’s about time that I got round to eating there again. I had forgotten how good it is. The Mexican cuisine here is actually very authentic while still offering the dishes you know and love. Even the corn tortillas taste homemade.

We placed our delivery order and  less than 45 minutes later it arrived with the kind and friendly delivery driver. You can pay with cash or card which makes it even simpler. As you can see above we ordered a chimichanga (13,000), Enchiladas Suizas (14,000), and Steak Taco set (10,000)which came with chips, rice, and beans. All this for only 41,000 and I didn’t even have to leave the sofa. I’m living the dream.

To check out the ever list of restaurants check their website. The site will tell you which ones are open and which are closed.  You can also order from more than one restaurant at a time. So if your fights revolve around Thai verses pizza as ours often do, peace will be resumed as you can have both, you just have to pay two delivery fees. You can even order on Kakao Talk. This service is so simple to use you will be able to navigate even through the hangover induced fog. Not convinced? Well too bad I’ve got a bucket of chicken to order.

Last night I was walking home from a lovely dinner with my fabulous assistant Victoria. We passed by Street Churros in Kyungnidan and I just couldn’t resist trying one. For only 2,000 each it would have been churlish not to, despite the fact that I had just eaten dinner and dessert. But you don’t get to be one of Seoul’s most awesome food bloggers without eating 2 desserts in a row.

As stated previously I ordered the Churro (2,000) and the Chocola dipping sauce (1,000). I was lucky that a fresh batch was just out of the fryer. The churro (kind of like a long thin Mexican donut for those not in the know), was good. It was rolled in cinnamon and sugar. I’m not a huge cinnamon fan, but it wasn’t over powering at all, it was nice and sugary. The dipping sauce that came with it was also tasty. Dark and rich, the perfect place to put your churro.

If I hadn’t already been rather full then I totally would have ordered the ice-cream with Baileys. They also do mulled wine, which I certainly plan to get on my next walk up to Itaewon. You know Fat Girl loves a cocktail on the go. The place is a tiny hole in the wall so no seating as such, but they do have jaunty barrels which you can lean upon outside. It’s a great spot for a quick and cheap dessert or drink. The inside is sparkly too which I always find appealing.

Street Churros is located at 222 Noksapyeong daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station and then take the lift (elevator) next to the 7-11 to get out. Walk over the over pass bridge and take a left. Walk straight down the road past Taco Chili Chili and Southern Sons and take a right at the CU. Street Churros is just on your right. You can call them on 02-792-1489 for more info.

A few months ago, Kyungnidan saw a new addition to it’s Thai restaurant empire in the form of Kkaolli Pochana. The two other restaurants Buddha’s Belly and A taste of Thailand, were obviously unable to meet the ever growing demand of people wanting to eat Thai food, so clearly Kkaolli Pochana was desperately needed.

From the outside you could blink and miss it, as it certainly doesn’t conjure images of fried rice and noodles, but step inside and it’s like being transported back to Khao San road. Those who enjoying a fine dining experience will be sorely disappointed. The tables and stools are plastic, the walls strung with fairy lights, and the atmosphere lively and loud.

When I arrived the restaurant was full but I didn’t have to wait too long for a table. However the waiter didn’t seem to speak much English, which is strange for this area of Seoul and we were passed on to the chef to verify that we wanted a table for two. Once sat, we waited for our menu, only to find that there wasn’t one. We had to make our choices from tatty pieces of paper pinned to the door in the corner. My eyesight is poor at best and I really did find it difficult to read without standing over the table that was just below it. It would make things a lot easier if they could print one out.

After surveying the choices we made our order, again neither of the waiters were able to receive our order so the cook had to be called out. We tried to tell them in Korean but they both seemed very afraid of talking to us. Strange in a foreign dominated neighborhood. However what the wait staff lacked in service skills they made up for a in speed and before we knew it the first dish had arrived. Thai green chicken curry (12,000). The curry was good, definitely a more accomplished version than those I manage at home but not quite the same as those I enjoyed in Thailand.

Our next choice was the Shrimp Pad Thai (12,000). Whenever visiting a Thai restaurant it has to be judged on how they execute the Pad Thai. It was jut as expected, I could have transported myself back to any of the restaurants that litter the streets of Bangkok. However we paid extra for shrimp and were only given two, a bit of a disappointment when you are sharing it.

Lastly we ordered a crab fried rice (8,000) What’s Thai food without some fried rice? This was just the ticket, I could have eaten this rice all day. It reminded me of the food I lived on when travelling my way around that beautiful country.

Overall we enjoyed our meal as seen from the picture below. The food has an authenticity that the other restaurants in the area don’t seem to. This is not better per se, just more real, especially to those who backpacked around the country eating cheaply. They ever serve Thai Buckets! If you are looking for a great foodie find then this may not be it, the chairs are not particularly comfortable and I’m pretty sure if you come on a weekend you will find yourself on the end of a big line. Hipster Koreans are going crazy over this little alleyway of eateries, the worse the seats and the bigger the line, the more they want it. Magpie brewery looks like a car-park, Booth Pizza makes you sit on crates, and the stools at Kkaolli Pochana are wobbly at best. However every time I walk past any of these establishments there are people queuing to eat. Is it worth the hype, I’m not sure. For me it depends on how long you have to queue. Since I live in the area then next time I will be getting my food to go.

To get to Kkaolli Pochana, take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) exit 2 and walk straight down past the entrance leading to Hae bang chon and go over the pedestrian bridge  above the road. Take the right hand set of stairs down and walk straight down the alley on your left. Kkaolli Pochana is just on the left hand side.

Flower Gin is an awesome new bar in my area that unsurprisingly, sells flowers and gin. Now we all know that fat girl is a lover of vodka, but I don’t mind having a gin or two once in a while. I was a thrilled about this lovely new bar because my best friend Matt (gin connoisseur and out and out  lush) is absolutely mad for Hendricks gin. It’s always been his fave so we were very excited to go and have a couple of cocktails.

Although the bar is small, there were already a few people inside. You can get your cocktails to stay or to go. The gin and tonic (6,600) comes with a slice of cucumber, just like it should .There is also a small flower in every glass, what could be more perfect?

I had the gin and ginger (6,900) , which is a little bit milder than the tonic. It was served with lemon, cucumber ,and a flower and was absolutely divine.

They even have the famed Hendricks teacups and teapots, although they are just used for display. You can even pick up a bunch of flowers while you are here. There are also two adorable patio chairs outside as a little smoking area.

Flower Gin is located in Kyungnidan at 684 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan -Gu, Seoul. To get there come out of Noksapyeong station (line 6) exit 2 and walk straight down past the entrance leading to Hae bang chon and go over the pedestrian bridge  above the road. You will see Flower Gin as you exit the left hand set of stairs on the other side.

Last Saturday I helped lead 10 unsuspecting victims  around Kyungnidan on the Chips Maps foodie crawl. We all met up at Noksapyeong station then trawled around the area and tried to eat as much as humanly possible.

Our first stop was Craftworks Taphouse where we enjoyed chicken pepper poppers with 12 different dips. We all had different favourites, so here are our top picks , peri peri, buffalo, honey mustard and chipotle mayonnaise. I will have to go back to try a few more next time. A Bloody Mary and some chicken later it was time to move on.

Our second stop was Springs Taphouse, another craft beer joint. Although it was a food crawl we did spend a lot of time drinking, as eating can be very thirsty work. At Springs Taphouse we tried the three mushroom pate with cherry tomato and chickpea tapenade. I love this dish so was thrilled to be able to try it again, everyone agreed that it was absolutely delicious.

Third stop was Beer O’ Clock pizza. I had been meaning to eat here for quite some time now, so was very keen to try it out. The pizza crust was thin and crispy just how I like it. I was starting to get pretty full by this point but still managed to eat 2 slices.

Last stop was Maloneys. Here we enjoyed mini sliders. Thank God they were mini as I might not have managed a whole one. The meat was juicy and tasty though, I will be definitely coming back for a full sized one when I have more room.  We even stayed here and had a few more drinks after we were finished.

Everyone on the crawl was tonnes of fun and we all enjoyed a great afternoon. I am already looking forward to next weeks crawl around the world in Itaewon. If you would like to sign up for one of the future crawls, please check out the facebook page for more details.

Before I jetted off to Bali I paid a visit to Springs Tap House in lieu of my new job at Chips Maps. Yes, I am finally going to be a published writer!!! For those of you not in the know, Chips maps is a FREE magazine, listing all the wonderful places in the Itaewon area that you can eat and drink. It also has other useful places too, but I think you know where my priorities lie. This month I have written the piece for neighbourhood grub, a star dish that you can get at one of the wonderful eateries in the area that you won’t find anywhere else. So be sure to grab a copy and read all about it. Here is a more comprehensive review of the latest gastro-pub and craft beer joint in our fair area.

When arriving at Springs Tap House I was struck by how fancy the menu was. When walking past It was not what I expected at all. I was thinking it would be just beer and pub food but the menu is far more complex than that and actually offers one of the best gourmet experiences in the area. Hummus pizza, corned beef tongue, and Jeju-do bacon all feature on the unique menu.

My first choice was the Deer Hunter (15,000). A freshly ground venison burger topped with lettuce, red onion and whole grain Dijon mustard housed in a home-made artisan bun.The venison was grilled to perfection, while still being nice and rare in the middle. Just the way I like it. The home-made mustard was also a great accompaniment. There was a little too much lettuce in the burger but it wasn’t much of a chore to take some out. The shoe string fries that accompanied the dish were perfect, they were topped with a rosemary infused salt that was excellent. All in all a good burger. I would be interested to try the beef version next time too.

My second dish of choice Triple Crown Pate (13,000). \Oven baked gruyere and three mushroom pate and a chick pea and cherry tomato tapenade served with toasted bread chips. The presentation of this dish was spectacular. The second the server put the dish on our table my nostrils were filled with the glorious aroma of truffles. It was like a sweet perfume that accompanied our whole meal. Both the pate and the tapenade were delicious and I would certainly order this dish again.

Not surprisingly this gastro-pub has plenty of beer. Original imported beers from Canada all with jaunty names. My favourite being the Fat guy, as he seemed like a man after my own heart.

All in all I was very impressed with Springs  Tap house. The menu was adventurous and well executed. I will certainly be visiting them again soon to try a few more dishes.

Springs Tap house is located in Kyungnidan at 658 Itaewon-dong, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong Station (line 6). Walk straight out of exit 2  for about 500 meters until you get to the underground walkway. Go down the stairs, turn right and cross the street (underground) then go up the left-side exit of the underground walkway.
Walk 10 meters and you’ll see The Springs Tap House across the street between Bao and Pier 39. For more information check out their facebook page or call them on  02-759-7732.

Located at the spot where the now departed Poutine Factory was situated, is the newly renovated Once Upon A Milkshake. We waited weeks for them to open so last weekend, I thought it was about high time I go and taste one, as I really don’t drink enough of my calories. With a bounty of fab flavours I was overwhelmed on which one to choose. You can also mix two for an extra charge and choose your milkshake’s thickness.

Feeling in a fruity mood I decided to opt for a strawberry. Just one taste though and the disappointment spread across my face. It was just so milky and bland. Not a hint of strawberry or any sweetness could be found. For a flavour named Real Strawberry is was a bit of a joke. It just tasted like the insipid vanilla ice-cream that was used to make it. I like vanilla but it was just so lackluster.

I decided before writing my review I should at least try one more. Maybe the strawberry was not as I would like it, but one of the sweeter flavours may hit the spot. So I tried the cookies and cream. The cookies and cream milkshake was so bad I didn’t even finish it. Coming from a serial gorger like myself that is bad, it’s a rare occasion when I won’t finish something. It was every worse than the strawberry. A thick sludgy cream with a few cookie crumbs in. The only nice thing I can say about these is that they are a good consistency.

There are three sizes available at Once Upon A Milkshake;  mini 80z (4,000); regular 12 oz (6,000); and large 16oz (7,000). The mini is tiny, and the regular is very small too. I buy a lot of smoothies and frappucinos but I have to say these were expensive for their size. I’d be willing to bite the bullet on that if they were tasty though, but these just fell flat on their face. Quite ironically their slogan is premium ice-cream at non premium prices. The ice-cream is neither premium or good value. Save your tastebuds and your money and visit Baskin Robbins instead.

As you may have surmised from this review, I will not be returning to Once Upon A Milkshake for their overpriced and underwhelming milkshakes. I wish Poutine Factory would come back, their food was pricey too, but at least it tasted good. You can get a better milkshake at Mcdonalds for a lot less.

If you would like to still see for yourself, Once Upon A Milkshake is located at 242 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there come out of Noksapyeong station (line 6) exit 2 walk straight until you reach the overhead bridge. Walk over the bridge and take the stairs on the right. Go straight and Once Upon A Milkshake is on the left. You can call them on (070) 7435-3513 or check out their facebook page for more info.