Cold but Delicious! [Seoul, South Korea] 4 Nights 5 Days Solo Trip Gourmet Diary | Breakdown of Total Food Expenses: 214,500 KRW

The Korean viral food "Cheese Hotdog" was crispy and delicious when freshly fried. The cheese was supposed to stretch impressively but didn't. Still, I planned to share this joy online. Only the vendor smiled, though.

Korean B-class gourmet "Cheese Kimchi Wrapped Samgyeopsal" was innovative with its fragrant cheese, crunchy kimchi, and juicy pork. Despite its B-class status, the taste was A-class. Feeling betrayed by this high-quality dish, I realized I might be out of my league.

Korean skewers "Dakkochi" were sweet and slightly spicy. The sauce-soaked green onions were juicy. Like the spaces in music and design or the recovery period after a breakup, life needs pauses. Wait, "negi" (green onion) means tuna in Japanese?

Edible water "Mizutama Mochi" originated from Yamanashi's Mizu Shingen Mochi and gained worldwide attention. I found it in Seoul, too! The transparent agar jelly has a firm texture, and with kinako and kuromitsu, it resembles warabi mochi. It's heartwarming to see Japanese cuisine appreciated abroad.

In freezing Seoul's Myeongdong, I tried grilled skewers of octopus and sea snails! The warm, plump octopus was delightful, while the chewy sea snails had a bold flavor that grew on me with each bite. Realizing that chewy food can be satisfying, I compared the sea snails to my life, but it turned out to be more like flavorless gum.

Seoul is freezing... I warmed up in an izakaya with anchovy rice noodles. The chewy noodles and sparkling makgeolli brought happiness. The anchovy broth seemed simple but revealed deep flavors, much like conversations with profound individuals. Though I'm quite deep myself, I'd rather not dig that deep.

South Korea's fast internet makes working from the accommodation easy. Taking a break with the national drink, "Milk Uyu," felt great. Its simple sweet milk flavor is perfectly balanced. This comforting sweetness is something I aspire to emulate, though the sweetness only applied to myself.

This familiar mushroom-themed packaging... could it be a knockoff? Even with my pride, I had to try it. The chocolate had a mild milk flavor but was sweet enough. The cracker's crunchiness was close to the original, and it was delicious, so I let it slide.

During the day, Gwangjang Market is bustling like Ameyoko. At night, it's quieter but still vibrant. While most stalls close, Yukhoe Alley stays lively, boosting my spirits too! The fresh raw beef, fragrant with sesame oil, paired perfectly with beer. Asking a neighboring woman about yukhoe, I discovered she was a cautious Japanese tourist. It almost turned into my last supper of yukhoe.

I love discovering my tourist spots. Off Seoul's main paths, there were no tourists, only the sounds of small factories, creating a travel symphony. I tried Korean gimbap; the crunchy carrots and radish echoed in my head. The sound added to the flavor, though it would be delicious without it too.

Gwangjang Market, over 100 years old, exudes a nostalgic charm and food aroma. It's such a famous Seoul landmark that you might think it has the world's highest encounter rate for Japanese tourists. I enjoyed the chewy tteokbokki with its sweet and spicy soy sauce, confident it wouldn't get stuck in my throat. My ancient throat appreciated the comfort!

Good morning, Vegemil fans! Today, I introduce the charm of Korea's Vegemil. Rich in soy protein, it's a great morning boost! A milk substitute? Even better! With many flavors to choose from, it's fun to pick your favorite. Be careful not to turn into a bean from drinking too much! It's delicious and healthy, so give it a try and become a "bean" too!

Lessons from an izakaya. At Nogari Alley, prices seemed high due to the weak yen. While tofu kimchi was delicious, it cost over 1,700 yen! Most dishes had low-cost ingredients... I realized that mimicking and doubling the price could be profitable. "Copy to make money" indeed! Later, my izakaya, Tsuchiya, went viral on SNS. Trending: Arrested.

Welcome, fellow drink lovers! Experience Korean-style street food at pojangmacha. Have some hagfish, which looks gross but has a chewy, squid-like texture. The smoky, spicy sauce pairs perfectly with the hagfish, and a sip of bamboo charcoal-filtered Chamisul enhances the experience. Hagfish has become my drinking buddy!

Just like in the Philippines, I found a snack in Korea resembling a famous Japanese one. Released in 1971, Saewoo Kkang looked like it could be a copycat. The texture was similar, but it was much less salty. Not ideal with alcohol, but light and crunchy. It's impressive to create products that inspire copies worldwide. I can at least imitate eating happily!

A local-recommended restaurant served ultra-juicy samgyeopsal. The bitter taste of the marinated cutlassfish innards was surprisingly delicious! By the way, "Sam" in samgyeopsal means "three," referring to the meat layers. Despite having four layers, they call it "sam" to avoid the negative connotation of "four." I flaunted this fact, but it was actually from the waiter. I'm not one to carry my loincloth.

Korea's snack king, gyeranppang, is crispy on the outside, moist inside, and tastes like sweet castella. A bite-sized egg satisfies hunger instantly! With many variations, I decided to make it with sliced bread. I packed a piece of bread with a fried egg and knife, but couldn't prepare it in 40 seconds like Sheeta in Laputa...

Seoul's Chinatown at 9 PM was a sleeping city—a disappointment, yet the tranquility was fascinating. After embracing the solitude, I found an izakaya whose warmth and brightness soothed my heart. Maybe loneliness is necessary in life. I'll google it: "Is loneliness necessary in life?"... Did you mean "lonely Christmas"?