Air Cafe (airplane cafe), Hapjeong/Hongdae

I am a self-confessed freak when it comes to themed cafes. I simply adore them. I love analysing the concepts behind their interior designs, I love oohing and aahing over the decor, and I absolutely love that feeling of escaping the humdrum of the regular world to be surrounded by a completely different atmosphere, even if it's only temporarily.

For that reason, I was super excited when I stumbled upon a few different blog entries (such as this one) about a place called "Air Cafe" in Hapjeong. According to the posts, the Air Cafe was an airplane themed place that served food set out like airplane meals, and you could sample different meals from different countries. The pictures showed the food all nicely laid out, as well as a ton of adorable decor that made it feel like you were in an airplane. Also, there were nifty little extras such as a menu shaped like an airplane ticket, with the ticket stub serving as your receipt that you could keep as a cute little souvenir. My themed cafe fetish was instantly aroused, and I decided that I simply had to check out the place. So, off to Hapjeong I went.

Air Cafe tucked away on level 3

50% discount if you get your drinks to go >:D

Awesome elevator decorations

Unfortunately though, the cafe didn't turn out to be like how I'd expected. Yes, the place still had the same theme, with the same layout, and the same gorgeous decorations..

But very much to my disappointment, the menu had changed -- both form and content-wise. Now it was no longer a plane ticket, but an arrival card. (Needless to say, there was nothing you could tear off and take back home with you. Sadface. T__T) Also, there didn't seem to be any airplane style meals, only drinks and a few snacks.

Arrival card menu

Kaya toast (4,000 won) & strawberry juice (5,800 won) 

Because I hadn't eaten lunch that day, I was really looking forward to eating there, so perhaps the disappointment hit harder than it would have under normal, non-hangry circumstances.

I definitely would still recommend this place if you're looking for somewhere nice to kick back and relax while you sip on a latte (or beer.. they do have alcomohol there). The decorations and little trinkets around the place make for a lovely environment to chill out in.. but, if you're hungry, it might be better to fill up somewhere else first before you go.

Air Cafe, Hapjeong
Hours: 11am - 11pm
Address: 서울시 마포구 서교동 404-19 갈물빌딩3층 (3rd floor Kalmul Building, 404-19 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul)
Website: http://blog.naver.com/the_air_cafe
Directions: From Hapjeong Station exit 3, take the first right and continue straight down until you can't go any further. The Air Cafe will be in front of you.

Yutaro Ramen, Cheonho

Japanese ramen, in my opinion, is one of the best foods to have in cold weather or on rainy days. Of course it's hard to beat the original stuff that you find in the Land of the Rising Sun, but if you've got a hankering for the sodium-infused soup dish, there's not much you can really do, short of rushing to the airport and hopping on the next plane out... Or is there?

Hoho! >:D

Luckily for dwaejis like me, Korea has its fair share of decent ramen restaurants, and Yutaro Ramen in Cheonho is one such place. I remember stumbling upon this particular joint on a day when the weather was exactly as described before. It was on a cold, dismal, grey Saturday in November last year that I set out to go house hunting with Angry Eddie. When we met at the agreed spot, we had an idea of which real estate agency we wanted to visit, but neither of us could function properly because we were both so hangry. (Hungry + angry. Worst combination EVAAAAR.) So, we decided it would be best to fill our bellies first with some comfort food before getting down and dirty with the hunt.

We didn't really know our way around the area, but in an attempt to head towards the general direction of the agency, we somehow found ourselves staring down the entrance of an alleyway with a few small restaurants in it, and Yutaro Ramen just so happened to be one of them.

The place isn't that big; there are only about 10 tables inside, but it's lit with warm yellow lighting and has a lovely, cosy feel to it. The menu is pretty simple:

As it turns out, Yutaro is a chain but at this particular branch there are some cute little hand-drawings on the corners of the menu, and I think these are supposed to represent the staff who work there. The bald man with the quirky moustache rolling out dough is the owner. It's quite cool, because that's exactly what he looks like and the last time I visited, he was indeed rolling out dough to make the ramen noodles with.

Yes, that's right. At Yutaro's, they make the noodles themselves and if your timing is right, you too might be able to catch them churning out the long strands of yellow goodness from the machine near the entrance.

Another very pleasing factor is that the soup is made from pork bone stock that's been boiled for at least 12 hours. This gives the liquid an amazing infusion of flavour that really hits the spot and helps to warm you up nicely.

So... handmade noodles + rich, savoury broth = ??

Shiro ramen (6,500 won)

A very satisfying end result, that's what. Even the egg is satisfying, and it's not just any ordinary egg either. It's been cooked to perfection in a soy sauce concoction, so there's none of that bland, rubbery egg white business, and the yolk is just solid enough around the edges while still being deliciously gooey in the centre.

Okay, so if I'm to be perfectly honest... Yutaro's probably isn't *the best* ramen I've ever had in Seoul, but it's definitely right up there with the good stuff. It's very, very satisfying, and I really love the cosy atmosphere of the place and how friendly the staff are. Oh, and added bonus that you can get free bowls of rice with your ramen.. All you have to do is ask. ^____^ Winner winner, chicken dinner! XD



Yutaro Ramen, Cheonho
Hours: 11:30am - 10:30pm
Address: 서울시 강동구 천호2동 454-44 (454-44 Cheonho2-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul)
Directions: From Cheonho Station exit 5, go straight and take the first left after Emart. Continue to the end of the alley then turn right. Take the second alley on your right again and look out for Yutaro Ramen a few metres down from the alley entrance.