Calling all bakery buffs -- Seongsu-dong's must-visit bagel shops

The success of London Bagel Museum has opened a new phase in Seoul’s bakery scene, with numerous unprecedented "styles" of bagels being enjoyed more like a dessert with a distinct Korean style than a simple breakfast bite topped with cream cheese. Seongsu-dong, a former industrial complex and an area known for shoemakers' shops, is a must-stop area for people on a "bread pilgrimage" seeking sweet and savory bagel variations. Some of the trendiest bakeries take rese

March 16, 2024

Flavor-full salads that don't get boring

The quest for salad has become much easier in Seoul in recent years thanks to many healthy spots popping up around the city, including salad franchise shops. It is quite difficult to imagine salad as something mouthwatering or super appetizing. But salads can be nutritious, affordable and delicious if you find the right one. There are many creative ways to enjoy salads; you won't get bored of eating the same basic green salad while on a diet. Here are some shops where you eat a wide variety

March 2, 2024

Boiling, filtering water can remove up to 90% of microplastics: study

Boiling and filtering tap water can drastically reduce the level of plastic particles in it, a study by China-based research team published Wednesday said. Scientists from the Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University conducted a study in which they observed the effect of boiling mineral-rich water, to see if it could lead to reduced human intake of nano/microplastics (NMPs). The researchers took multiple samples of tap water from the Guangzhou region, contaminated with varying levels of

Feb. 29, 2024

Michelin Guide’s Busan selections unveiled, Mosu stays tops in Seoul

Forty-three restaurants in Busan have made the list for year’s Michelin Guide, the prestigious culinary guidebook that has been published in South Korea for the past eight years. Of the 43, 15 restaurants in Busan have been distinguished as Bib Gourmand selections – nonstarred restaurants that offer excellent food at reasonable prices at around 45,000 won or less. Seoul’s Bib Gourmand list now features 57 restaurants, offering a wide range of local and foreign dining options. T

Feb. 23, 2024

[Weekender] 'Too cute to eat'

At Melting Of, a dessert cafe in Seoul’s vibrant Hongdae neighborhood, seven tables buzzed with youthful energy among the predominantly female patrons. "It's too cute to eat!" one woman at a table exclaimed in a high pitch as the order arrived, just a moment before beginning to devour the treats. At another table occupied by a young couple, the woman was absorbed in taking photos of a pandoro sweet bread with cream shaped into a rabbit. She meticulously reviewed each photo

Feb. 17, 2024

Chic and cozy brunch places in Yeouido

Located on the Han River, Yeouido is the country’s main financial district, filled with brokers and bankers in suits. The area's dining options run the gamut, from fancy restaurants for business meetings to decades-old cheap grub spots for busy office workers. What is not well known is that Yeouido has a vibrant brunch scene with several chic and cozy brunch spots to choose from. Besides Yeouido’s already famous Skyfarm Brunch cafe located on the 50th floor of FKI Tower, here ar

Feb. 17, 2024

[Graphic News] Exports of red pepper paste, Korean sauces hit record-high in 2023

South Korean exports of red pepper paste and sauces reached an all-time high last year on the back of the growing popularity of Korean food and cultural content, the Korean customs agency said. Overseas shipments of gochujang, soy sauce and various kinds of seasonings amounted to $384 million in 2023, rising 6.2 percent on-year, according to the Korea Customs Service. In terms of volume, the country shipped 131,800 metric tons of such items last year, the second-largest amount ever after 2021, w

Feb. 16, 2024

No need to fly 15 hours to Barcelona to satiate craving for authentic churros

An unusually long queue formed in the basement floor of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido last month. Shim Young-mi, 37, was one of the people who waited in line to try the New York-based Luke’s Lobster. She said she didn’t mind the long wait and the relatively high price for a palm-sized lobster roll that costs 21,500 won ($16.50). The price varies depending on how much lobster meat is in the roll -- a lobster roll with 100 grams of lobster meat sells for 29,500 won. “I wanted to t

Feb. 13, 2024

[New in Town] Patties brings flame-grilled burgers to Euljiro

Koreans might not be able to match the US in their love of beef patties, but burgers are one of the most popular options here to grab on the go. At Patties, a new homemade burger restaurant that opened in December near Euljiro 4-ga Station, you don’t want to finish your palm-sized burger in a few bites. Here, the burger is something to appreciate, enjoying every bite in a creative way, such as dipping it in a thick cream soup. Patties’ burgers come in five varieties -- basic, cheese,

Feb. 3, 2024

Treat yourself to classic French dessert culture

For some Koreans, spending time at a cafe might be a way to take an emotional refuge or relieve stress from a hectic life. But for many others, a cup of coffee or dessert at a cafe is merely a means to secure a place to work or study. Hoping to showcase the true French dessert culture, including quality time with friends with tea and traditional French nibbles, renowned chef Kim Na-rae presents the “French Gouter” program at the Park Hyatt Seoul in Gangnam, southern Seoul. Gouter, re

Jan. 27, 2024

[Graphic News] Korean-style fried chicken, kimchi among popular Korean foods overseas: poll

Korean-style fried chicken and kimchi were cited as some of the favorite “hansik” foods among people overseas, a poll showed, with more people becoming aware of Korean cuisine. The survey was based on respondents from 18 major cities across the globe, including New York, Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City, in 2023. It was conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to study the awareness of hansik, or Korean cuisine, among people overseas. According to the survey, 60 p

Jan. 26, 2024

Luxury brand flagship stores are now gourmet hot spots

With Seoul quickly becoming a center of luxury spending, even when compared to cities like London and Paris, global luxury powerhouses are flocking to the city to launch gourmet programs at their flagship stores as part of their efforts to cement their loyal fan base, as well as attract an influx of new buyers. Industry insiders say such high-end gourmet experiences allow clientele to enjoy a unique atmosphere that incorporates the diversity and identity of the brand. Woori Louis Vuitton At th

Jan. 20, 2024

[New in Town] Salt butter bread variations are on point at Artist Bakery

London Bagel Museum is a household name in Korea when it comes to the bakery scene here. It is not an exaggeration that this top-rated fresh-baked bagel and hot soup brunch place that opened in 2021 led huge bagel boom here. People also visit here just to experience the exotic atmosphere inside the café that has an eccentric British aesthetic. There are currently four London Bagel Museum stores across the country -- Anguk, Dosan, Jamsil and Jeju. Lee Hyo-jung, Chief Brand Officer of LBM C

Jan. 13, 2024

Fried chicken voted most popular K-food overseas

Korean-style fried chicken was selected as the favorite Korean food outside of Korea, according to the results of a government survey announced Thursday. In an international study involving some 9,000 people living in 18 major cities across the world, officials investigated the global perception of Korean food. The study excluded anyone of Korean descent and surveyed people in New York, Toronto, Paris, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Rio de Janeiro. About

Jan. 6, 2024

[New in Town] Baby Pumpkin offers savory, creative 'pumpkin' experience

Pumpkin, known as a seasonal superfood, is generally enjoyed either in soup, as a garnish or as a side dish. While there are different kinds of pumpkins from yellow pumpkin to green pumpkin --known as aehobak in Korean -- not many people here think of using them in a grilled salad or cooking it with rice. To break the mold, Kim Seung-kyu, a young chef in charge of menu development and cooking at Baby Pumpkin, says he wanted to offer diners a fun experience while making the most of his restaurant

Jan. 6, 2024

Celebrated pastry chefs to mesmerize with desserts in Seoul on Jan. 14

Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, looks to attract those with a prominent sweet tooth in a one-time, dessert-themed event at the hotel’s top floor restaurant, The Lounge, on Jan. 14. The upcoming food event, “Four Hands Dessert: A Taste of Seoul and Paris,” invites renowned chefs Kim Na-rae and Lee Ji-myung to showcase their creativity and inspiration. The event offers an eight-course dessert menu along with a glass of Champagne and a cocktail. While visitor

Jan. 5, 2024

[New in Town] Justin Quek's Flavours of Asia lands at Lotte Department Store in Myeong-dong

Koreans can now enjoy the taste of Singaporean celebrity chef Justin Quek’s flagship restaurant Justin Flavours of Asia at the basement food court of Lotte Department Store’s Myeong-dong branch in Sogong-dong, Seoul. Catering to a wide range of visitors from nearby Myeong-dong’s busy office workers, tourists hungry and tired from shopping at downtown Seoul's largest shopping block as well as Singaporeans craving food from home, Justin Flavours of Asia opened in Seoul on De

Dec. 23, 2023

Korea’s go-to winter treats to help beat the cold

On a cold winter's day, the aroma of freshly baked goods is hard to resist. As you look around, you will soon spot people clutching bags of hot and humble delicacies, perfect for snacking on as they walk Seoul's icy streets. From hotteok and steamed corn to roasted chestnuts, there are seemingly endless varieties of winter snacks to help you beat the cold. With temperatures below zero on most days and brisk winds, Korean winters are an ideal time to enjoy some of the nation's most

Dec. 9, 2023

[Contribution] Future of agriculture

By Chung Hwang-keun Minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs “Technology changes agriculture and, consequently, the lives of farmers,” said John May, chairman and CEO of John Deere, an American manufacturer of farm machinery and industrial equipment that is drawing the world’s attention for its advanced autonomous farming machines. By implication, he emphasized the necessity of technological innovation in agriculture, going beyond traditional ways of farming, to re

Dec. 6, 2023

Try Seoul’s cheap, fulfilling street grub at Gwangjang Market

Located in the vibrant area near Jongno 5-ga Station on Subway Line No. 1, Gwangjang Market is Seoul’s flagship marketplace, with a history dating back to 1905 and which still thrives as a popular tourist destination. The market began as a small trading center that brought in goods from nearby regions and grew into a large wholesale market offering a wide variety of goods, including groceries, dried fish and imported and traditional goods, to name a few. Because the eateries inside the lab

Dec. 2, 2023