[KOREA] 익선동 IKSEONDONG, JEWEL IN THE CITY CENTER

Sometimes i wondering why Korea always offers something new and hype even this country can be said SMALL. Like this post, i quite confused, why suddenly this area become super hype out of nowhere ( or just me? ㅋㅋ). As you know, usually Jung-gu area pretty traditional cafe street famous with Samcheongdong or Insadong but for me IT MUCH PRETTIER THAN THOSEEE it like a small complex of hanok but fulls by cafe and restaurant. I doubt nobody hates this ♡ so here in this post, i will share with you some my beginner shots and some hype recommendations 

 익선동

IKSEONDONG

HOW TO GO

Jongno 3(sam)-ga MRT Station exit 4 (line5)

OPEN HOUR

around 10.00~ 23.00

( each place has different open hour)

#1

망원동티라미수

MANGWON-DONG TIRAMISU

Speciality : TIRAMISU & MILKTEA

Price range: ₩4000~7000

서울 종로구 수표로28길 22

낙원동 120-2 망원동티라미수

#2

살라댕

SALADAENG

Speciality: THAI CUISINE

Price range: ₩10000~25000

서울 종로구 돈화문로11다길 40

익선동 166-16

#3

창화당

CHANGHWADANG

Speciality: MANDOO, KOREAN DUMPLINGS

Price range: ₩7000~10000

서울 종로구 수표로28길 23

익선동 174 1층

#4

동백양과점

DONGBAEK YANGGWAJEOM

Speciality: COFFEESHOP & DESSERT

Price range: ₩8000~20000

서울 종로구 수표로28길 17-24

익선동 166-73

#5

서울커피

SEOUL COFFEE

Speciality: COFFEE & DESSERT

Price range: ₩5000~7000

서울 종로구 수표로28길 33-3

익선동 166-31 서울커피

AND this is my rest point HAHA my favorite among all because of pretty traditional homey feel! It super instagramable ♡ actually i want to try their famous ang redbean butter bread but they didn't have it that day :"""

WHAT I ORDERED

[Left] 식혜아이스크림

SIKHYE korean rice drink ICE CREAM

₩2000

It cute like soap!! It tasted exactly like sikhye, sweet and yummy but it doesn't really taste like icecream more into sorbet texture.

TASTE 8/10

[Right] 비엔나커피

VIENNA COFFEE

₩5500

strong bitter refreshing coffee with quite heavy cream on top, not the best that i've ever tried again but okey 

TASTE 8/10

[next photo] 비엔나 밀크티

VIENNA MIKTEA

₩5500

It much better than the coffee, i love tea fragrance here 

TASTE 9/10

OVERALL it super fascinating to explore around ikseondong area, it small and tight HAHA so make sure to come here on weekday OR you just can pass the way

[KOREA] 통인시장 TONGIN MARKET

After 2.5 years living in Seoul, this is my first time visiting this famous market that specializing on lunch box. That  is the unique part where you can buy traditional korean style lunch box using old coin (냥 nyang). But not only tradiitonal lunch box style, you can also do regular market shopping etc. 

통인시장

TONGIN MARKET

HOW TO GO:

Gyeongbokgung MRT Station exit 2 ( line 3)

서울 종로구 자하문로15길 18

OPEN HOURS

weekday 9.00~18.00

Weekend 9.00~13.00

Closed every monday

#1

BUY COINS

you can buy in the market entrance or in the middle of the market on the 2nd floor. It costs ₩5000/ for 10 coins and you'll also get a plastic lunch box.

#2

EXPLORING FOODS

so many choices that you can choose. And you can buy everywhere with the cojns as long the shop has "lunch cafe" logo. And here some of the best food that i thought worth your coins!

떡갈비 ddeokgalbi grilled minced pork with ricecake

2 COINS/2 PIECES

닭간정 dalkganjeong seasoned fried chicken

2 COINS

잡채 japchae stir fried potato stratch noodle 

2 COINS

스팸/참치 컵밥 Spam/jjamci keopbab spam or tuna cup rice

2 COINS

기름떡볶이 gireum tokpoki fried topoki

2 COINS

( it said as thr most famous food in the market but just too greasy for me and no other tasted than chili pepper taste)

전 jeon various korean pancake

2-3 COINS

튀김 twikim korean fritters

2 COINS/2 PIECES

#3

EATING!

so in the middle of the market near toilet there-'s eating area for lunch cafe on 2nd and 3rd floor. They also sell rice (1 coins) or soup (1 coins) and drinks, but they also provides water dispenser ( what korean restaurant without freeflow water) for you who need drink for free haha.

P.s SORRY i forgetted taking eating area photo because i was too hungry HAHA

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OVERALL i love love love this market. You can adjust and customize your lunch box and eat what you like. It located 15 mins walk away from Gyeongbok palace so make sure to come here while you are in the area.