A December to Remember
서울특별시 마포구 포은로 119 1층
호코리상점 (HOKORI)
December passed by in a blur of food, walks, and spontaneous plans across Mangwon-dong and several Seoul neighborhoods.
From hot pot and bakeries to cafés, markets, and late-night meals, every stop felt connected by appetite, season, and mood.
This is a casual record of winter days spent eating well, wandering freely, and realizing how quickly the year was ending.
December Days That Revolved Around Eating
December was packed with plans, and naturally, that meant eating a lot.
After seeing photos that made Mangwon-dong irresistible, I convinced a friend to join me for a small food-and-walk tour.
Before heading there, we stopped by Yongga Hot Pot in Myeongdong, which always feels like great value for the price.
I still prefer the Gangnam branch, but this one was satisfying enough.
Walking It Off, Then Eating Again
Even though I kept saying I was full, we decided to walk it off.
Of course, that didn’t stop me from eating again.
The meat pie was so good that I seriously considered taking another one home.
Prop Shops and Small Discoveries
We planned a short prop shop tour, and this area really felt like paradise for Monchhichi fans.
The prices were similar to Japan, which made buying things here feel reasonable.
At a vintage prop shop, I spotted a Slam Dunk eraser that instantly caught my attention.
Cafés, Cookies, and Christmas Mood
After just two shops, we were already tired, so a café stop felt necessary.
I tried a chewy cookie from Dubai, which was expensive but surprisingly worth it.
Thinking about the price of Chewy Balls, this one felt like a better deal.
It was already Christmas season, so we stopped by Ugly Bakery, where I spent more than planned.
Mangwon Hangang Park and Cold Evenings
The weather was nice, so we walked to Mangwon Hangang Park.
The sun was setting, and it suddenly felt real that this was already the last month of the year.
While waiting for Su-jin, the cold really hit.
Once we met, we agreed that soup was the only answer.
Soup, Snacks, and Familiar Comforts
It felt good to have gamjatang after such a long time.
On another day off, I went to Yeonhui-dong to try the famous squid gimbap, which lived up to the hype.
At Yeonhui Espresso Bar, I was disappointed they didn’t have melon sandwiches, but the mango sandwich and flat white were excellent.
Bookstores, Diaries, and Small Purchases
We wandered through Peter Pan Bakery and continued browsing prop shops.
Yeonhui-dong has a small, charming bookstore along with vintage and dishware shops.
I ended up buying a diary and promised myself I would actually use it in 2026.
Birthdays, Cakes, and Unexpected Flavors
It was my birthday, so I blew out candles on an Ugly Bakery cake.
The pistachio bread was good but slightly too sweet.
Later, we headed to Itaewon, where the weather felt strangely off.
Su-jin prepared a beautiful cake for me, which instantly lifted my mood.
From Pancakes to Steak, Then Nightfall
We started with pancakes and somehow moved straight to steak.
I don’t usually drink red wine, but that night it tasted surprisingly good.
After eating so much, it was suddenly nighttime.
Everyone made snowmen, and the city felt playful.
Late-Night Snacks and Winter Favorites
We stopped by Hongdae Chuu Play and misunderstood a 500 won sign completely.
At a spicy skewer place, I ended up taking the most food, amazed that it was only 13,000 won.
Winter has its perks, especially when it comes to eating good fish.
At this point, I can’t imagine going anywhere else for gopchang.
Company Dinners and Overindulgence
The day ended with a company dinner at a lobster buffet.
I somehow managed to eat ten lobsters.
If you ever go, the apple mango is a must.
The place felt like an ice cream paradise, and I had four mangoes and four servings of ice cream.
Wrapping Up the Month Across Seoul
After craving mala soup for a long time, they even gave me a Melona ice cream.
I went to Samsung Station with Juyun, where the space was small but clearly designed.
At COEX, the Starfield Library looked beautiful but was packed with people.
We ended up in Juyun’s neighborhood for drinks, where winter always means odeng.
Christmas Markets and Costly Lessons
The Christmas tree was filled with Sanrio decorations.
We visited a nearby tteok-suni place that was genuinely delicious.
Later, I went to Saint Augustine with my mom and wondered if it had always been this spicy.
After spending 100,000 won on food, we still had two Starbucks cakes.
We went to Jamsil to see the Christmas market, but it was already closed.
Buying a 50,000 won cream cake from a pop-up turned out to be a mistake.
With that money, I could have had a strawberry shiruko instead.
No comments yet.
