Culinary Adventures in Korea
경기 성남시 수정구 상적동 30-1
This post is a personal collection of everyday places visited during a stay in Korea, centered around food, cafes, family time, and familiar neighborhoods.
Rather than focusing on one destination, it captures small but meaningful moments, from comfort meals and favorite cafes to department stores, bakeries, and time spent with loved ones.
It is a record of how ordinary routines, tastes, and conversations become the most memorable parts of a trip back home.
Comfort Food That Always Comes First
Di-An Dumpling Hot Pot has never really felt like just a dumpling hot pot restaurant.
Every visit starts the same way, calling it shabu-shabu instead, paired with a sweet pumpkin cheese cutlet. It has become a ritual, a warm and cozy place visited almost immediately after arriving in Korea.
Cafes With Familiar Views and Flavors
Cafe Rosemary sits right next to the shabu-shabu place, offering a great view and consistently good coffee and pastries.
Even though the prices are on the higher side and the cafe is always crowded, the quality keeps people coming back.
Inner Coffee in Gongdeok brings back memories of dates along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail.
While the coffee is usually reliable, one visit came with unexpectedly burnt-tasting beans, though the sandwiches were still enjoyable.
The fact that outside food is allowed makes it an easy place to return to.
Department Stores, Food Courts, and Small Joys
Pangyo Hyundai Department Store remains a favorite spot, especially during the Christmas season when the decorations transform the entire space.
The newly remodeled underground food court at the Sinchon Hyundai Department Store was impossible to resist, once again proving why Korean food courts are so tempting.
Gimpo Hyundai Outlet was another familiar stop while organizing business matters in Korea.
Moments like trying on hats at Kim Hyun Ah’s shop, enjoying Sangtu snacks, and rethinking famous bakeries became part of the journey.
Baking Classes and Specialty Coffee
A one-day financier baking class at the Hyundai Department Store Cultural Center had been long anticipated.
Despite a love for financiers, the final result was surprisingly disappointing, a reminder that baking is harder than it looks.
Hueilgo in Gongdeok lived up to its reputation.
Recommended by a favorite coffee YouTuber, the latte art and beans stood out, and buying Geisha beans for the first time felt especially meaningful.
Meals, Meetings, and Unexpected Encounters
Some days were marked by meaningful moments, such as dinner at Outback followed by a make-a-cake experience on the day of meeting a family member’s partner for the first time.
Other days were quieter, like spending time with a nephew and being amazed by how perceptive children can be.
A visit to Chef Cheon Sang Hyun’s Chinese restaurant, later featured on television, turned out to be a lucky discovery.
The jajangmyeon and jjamppong were satisfying, and the unexpected location made the experience even more memorable.
Sauna Days and Neighborhood Favorites
The Orakai Hotel sauna is a must-visit every time.
Living abroad makes Korean saunas feel even more precious, especially the familiar back-scrubbing service.
With prices set to rise next year, it felt like another reminder of how routines slowly change.
Simple neighborhood outings included kalguksu meals, cafe lattes, and visits to small prop shops.
Unexpected moments, like spotting athlete Woo Sang-hyeok without anyone else noticing, added quiet excitement to otherwise ordinary days.
Ending With Familiar Comfort
For Brothers Dogok remains the neighborhood’s go-to pho restaurant, always busy and consistently good.
Since not everyone in the family enjoys pho, it became a special place shared with a parent during visits.
These everyday meals, cafes, and walks are what ultimately define the trip, leaving behind memories far richer than any single destination.
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