Free and easy in Seoul – exploring Insadong, trying the best Jajangmyeon in Seoul and visit Hello Kitty Cafe at Hongdae

14 November 2014

Having seen all the autumn foliage that we wanted to see and done a lot of shopping at Myeongdong the day before, our plan for this day was rather free and easy. This day turned out to be “a day of Hits and Misses” as we went in search of good food and places that interest us.

From Myeongdong, we took a taxi to Insadong. We had good samgyetang at the Hwanghu Sangyetang restaurant located on a 2nd floor shop along the Insadong 10 gil during our last trip to Seoul and we wanted to go back to the same restaurant again. However, we could not find it anymore. Checking with the tourist information booth and we were told that the restaurant is now located near Gyeongbukgung, quite near to the Tosokchon restaurant that we went a few days ago. The next best thing was to go find something else to eat within Insadong and MISS our samgyetang meal.

Korean restaurant in traditional hanok at Insadong where we had Doenjang Jjigae (brown bean paste soup) and bibimbap.

After our “breakfast” of Doenjang Jjigae (brown bean paste soup) and bibimbap at a nice Korean Restaurant, we went to Ssamzie-gil , the shopping and arts complex, to see if we could get anything for the kids back home.



Creativity at a staircase in Ssamzie-gil - the shopping and arts complex.

I remembered shooting a picture of the sheep in May during my last visit. It is more colourful now in autumn.


At the roof of Ssamzie-gil.

There was nothing much more to excite us at Insadong. Many shops and cafes, including a Starbuck with Korean signboard, we had seen before. What was a HIT for us was a hot cup of herbal ginger tea sold by a street vendor and a hotteok (the Korean sweet pancake) served in a paper cup.

From Insadong, we decided to go find the best Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodle) in Seoul. My research prior to the trip led me to Andongjang, the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seoul.  It is located near the Euljiro 3-ga Station area. On the way, we walked past the familiar Cheonggyecheon stream where the annual Lantern Festival is held. We will be back later this evening to see the lit lanterns at night.

We managed to find the Andongjang Chinese Restaurant without much trouble. It is along the main street between exit 10 and 11 of the Euljiro 3-ga subway station. Andongjang is one of the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seoul. Their history started way back in 1948 and apparently Jajangmyeon is a Chinese dish!

Andongjang Chinese Restaurant is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seoul.

Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodle) at Andongjang restaurant.


The noodles could be ordered with an option of added minced meat. It was a relatively cheap and good meal.

Our next destination for the day is at Hongdae. We took the Seoul subway and alighted at the Hongik University Station. For me, one of the must-see places in Seoul is the shooting location of “The 1st Shop of the Coffee Prince”, featuring my favourite Korean actress Yoon Eun Hye. I was disappointed in my previous visit because it was closed and I could only see the site from the outside. Prior to this trip, I had read some reviews on the internet that the shop has reopened and is under new management.


BIG MISS – it was closed. Again!

Shooting location of “The 1st Shop of the Coffee Prince” – closed again.

Picture of lead actress Yoon Eun Hye at the shooting location of “The 1st Shop of the Coffee Prince”.

Under proper management, I believed this place can be a big hit with many tourists and fans of k-drama. Sadly, it seems not to be and is quite a big disappointment to the many fans who came.

Anyway, the Hongdae area (the area in front of Hongik University) is a neighbourhood known for its many unique themed cafes, cosy galleries, accessory stores, fashion shops for the young and gourmet eateries. This is a popular hang-out for the locals in their 20s and 30s and a fascinating place to walk around. The shops here would appeal to our kids. If only they were here with us.

Hongdae is a popular hang-out for the locals in their 20s and 30s and a fascinating place to walk around.

Hello Kitty Cafe – the old one. It has been relocated to another location within Hongdae.

We went to search for the Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae as shown on my map and found it closed!
MISS again.


Fortunately a sign outside the cafe told us the location of the new cafe. The location of the new cafe was still within Hongdae. It was a short walk to the new location of the cafe. It was opened.

A real HIT this time.

The new cafe had its own building on high ground, within a landed property.

Entrance to the new Hello Kitty Cafe site.

A stone path with these lights to guide the way to the main cafe inside the site.

The cafe building.

Entrance to the cafe.

It even has a Hello Kitty gift shop next to the main building.



We went to sit on the second floor of the cafe as the ground floor was quite crowded.

Second Floor sitting area.

Hello Kitty on the Table top.

Hello Kitty on our coffee – sweet potato coffee.

Hello Kitty on our green tea latte.


Special bedroom for Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty sofa.

Hello Kitty everywhere, except the rest-room.

Hongdae has plenty of restaurants and would be a good place for a sit-down dinner. We wanted to try the famous Kyochon Fried Chicken and knew that there was a branch in Hongdae. We spent some time trying to locate this branch as it was not marked on our map. We managed to find it along a small back lane.

Unfortunately, this branch is quite small and catered mostly to takeaway meals. Since we were not that hungry, we decided to buy a takeaway pack to eat in our hotel instead. I think this could be consider a HIT too. There are a few flavours to choose from and we could only try one this time. We picked the Honey Fried Chicken. Quite unique and nice tasting fried chicken. 

Guess who is endorsing Kyochon Chicken – Lee Min Ho!


We chose to try the Honey Fried Chicken, our takeaway dinner before going to the Seoul Lantern Festival.