After spending a week in Korea, finally had some time to get some Isaac Toast! Too much places to go… So much food and cafes to try that I didn’t even have time for this! Isaac Toast came to Singapore last June, and it was so good! The slices of bread were spread with a special sauce that you probably had never tried it before, and this is what makes Isaac Toast so tasty and worth queuing for! Though it was good, but the Singapore’s version was priced at a price range which I felt was not worth paying for a sandwich, between S$4.50-S$6.90. Korea’s Isaac Toast concept was supposed to be a quick breakfast or takeout meal, and is definitely more affordable than the usual meals, which is why it is so well loved. Korea’s price range falls between KRW2,400-KRW3,800, that is S$2.90-S$4.60. Their usual meals are usually priced around KRW8,000-KRW12,000. I tried the newly launched Pizza Toast which I find it pretty unique, and is something that is not available in Singapore. It consists of the usual bread slices with Isaac’s special sauce, egg with corn, pickles, herbed ham, mozzarella, bolognese sauce and cheddar. So much ingredients for only KRW3,500! If you compare it with a simple street food like tteokbokki, selling at KRW3,000, which is just ricecakes in gochujang (a type of chilli paste) sauce. Singapore’s version is already pretty good and the Korea version is so much better!
很快的，在韩国已经过了一周，终于有点时间试试 Isaac Toast！真的太多地方想去。。很多的食物和咖啡厅都还没有时间去！Isaac Toast 去年6月来到了新加坡，真的很好吃！他们的面包上涂了一层特制酱，这味道很新鲜，应该很难在别的地方试到。这也是为什么大家都爱排，爱吃 Isaac Toast！虽然好吃，但新加坡售卖的价格不便宜，一份大概新币4.50之6.90。这个价格买份三文治，真的有点不值。韩国 Isaac Toast 是快速早餐或外带的概念，所以较比之下，比吃一餐的价钱便宜许多。经济划算，又好吃，所以大众欢迎。韩国销售的价格在韩币2,400之3,800之间，也就是大概新币2.90之4.60。平均在韩国一餐就至少需要韩币8,000之12,000。点了他们刚推出的新口味，比萨吐司，觉得味道很特别，在新加坡的 Isaac Toast 没有卖。吐司包括了涂了特制酱的面包，加了玉米的煎蛋，腌黄瓜，香料火腿，莫扎里拉乳酪，番茄肉酱和切达乳酪。只需韩币3,500，也太多料了吧！和一份简单的韩币3,000的辣炒年糕比，这太划算了！新加坡的版本已经相当好吃了，不过韩国的，更好吃！
Isaac Toast 이삭 토스트
93 Wausan-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
0800-2100hrs (Mon-Fri), 0900-2200hrs (Sat-Sun)
Hongik University Station Exit 9
#1: Isaac Toast.
#2: Most stores do not have a seating area as it's meant to be a quick breakfast and takeaway concept. This store at Hongdae near Hongik University do have seats.
#3: Inside the store.
#4: Pizza Sandwich, KRW3,500. Latte, KRW3,000.
Next, was to Carin Hongdae Lounge, opened by Korean contact lens company, Olens, who got Blackpink to advertise their lens. It is a lens store-cum-cafe kind of concept, and the cafe was so beautifully designed, in the concept of pink, gold and marble, that it has now become one of the must-go cafes in Seoul! Wanted to just try their Lego-shaped cake, but their macarons look so good too! Popcorn flavour, how cool is that? The Lego cake was a chocolate mousse cake with pistachio paste, and a rich raspberry custard-like core. Couldn’t really taste the pistachio and the mousse taste way too milky, and when you bite into the raspberry, it covers all the other tastes of the cake. I felt this cafe was good to pop by once to take photos, but for its price range versus the standard of their desserts, not really that worth it to keep coming back.
接着，到了 Blackpink 代言的韩国隐形眼镜品牌，Olens，所开的咖啡厅叫 Carin Hongdae Lounge。他是个眼镜店和咖啡厅一起的概念，设计非常的漂亮，已是在首尔必去的咖啡厅之一！以粉红，金，和大理石纹为设计概念。原本只想试他们的乐高形状蛋糕，不过看到了马卡龙，看起来也好漂亮！爆米花口味的马卡龙，吃过吗？乐高蛋糕是巧克力慕斯和开心果酱，中心有个覆盆子酱球。没有吃出开心果的味道，慕斯奶味很重，没什么巧克力味。一咬到覆盆子时，就瞬间盖过所有其他的味道。觉得这家咖啡厅，来一次拍拍照就够了。甜点的价格比一般的贵了一点，但品质没有比较好，不值得一直关顾。
Carin Hongdae Lounge 카린 홍대 라운지
7 Hongik-ro 3-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1030-2230hrs (daily)
Hongik University Station Exit 9
#5: Carin Hongdae Lounge.
#6: Inside the store.
#7: The interior looks pretty on photos but the actual place is really dim with warm lights.
#8: Their pretty desserts!
#9: Lego Cake, KRW9,500. Popcorn Macaron (yellow), KRW2,500. Caramel Macaron, KRW2,500.
#10: Cross section of the Lego Cake.
Then to Museum Kimchikan, which is another destination that I quite look forward to! Kimchi plays a huge part in Korean cuisine. Almost every meal in Korea is served up with kimchi, and if not, yellow pickled radish. Kimchi making classes are also one of the most popular activity for tourists, but a proper kimchi making class cost around S$20-S$60! At Museum Kimchikan, they launched a new programme called ‘1-day Kimchi’, which means it will be fermented and be ready to eat within a day. There is staff around to help you out and it was so fun! It is for KRW6,000 (about S$7), and you will be given some salted napa cabbage, the kimchi paste mix, scallions, red pepper flakes and garlic powder. You can choose to add scallions or not, and to add garlic powder or red pepper flakes (to make it spicy). Mix everything up well then spread in between the leaves of the cabbage. Place the cabbage into the given plastic cup, seal it up and let ferment for at least 8hrs, and the kimchi is ready! Upon arrival, there were some Korean kids in the class as well, which was a great activity for them to learn about kimchi making.
然后到了泡菜博物馆，另一个个人非常期待去！泡菜在韩式料理扮演巨大的角色。几乎在韩国的每一餐里，都会见到泡菜。要不然，也一定会有黄色的腌萝卜。自制泡茶料理课非常受旅客的欢迎，不过一堂课大概是新币20之60！在泡菜博物馆，他们推出了新活动，叫 ”1天泡菜“，就是发酵1天后就能吃的泡菜。虽然是自学课，不过，还是有工作人员在旁协助。收费是韩币6,000，会提供一小份泡过盐水的白菜，泡菜酱，青葱，辣椒片和大蒜粉。可以选择加不加青葱，和加大蒜粉或辣椒片（要辣加这个）。把调味料均匀搅拌后，涂在白菜上。完成后，放进提供的塑料杯里，放上保鲜膜，再盖上。发酵至少8小时后，就能吃了！抵达时，也有一些韩国小孩在学做泡菜！
Museum Kimchikan 뮤지엄김치간
4/F – 6/F, 35-4 Insadong-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1000-1800hrs (Tue-Sun), Closed on Mondays
Admission: KRW5,000
DIY Kimchi Making: Haru Kimchi (1 Day Kimchi) KRW6,000 (400g)
Only on Weekends, available between 1400-1500hrs (kimchi making takes about 10-20mins)
1 Day Kimchi - kimchi ready to be consumed within a day
Jonggak Station Exit 3-1, Anguk Station Exit 6
#11: Museum Kimchikan.
#12: Museum Kimchikan.
#13: Museum Kimchikan.
#14: 1-day Kimchi information.
#15: 1-day Kimchi information.
#16: Sample of the product.
#17: The activity room.
#18: Instructions on how to make the Kimchi.
#19: Salted napa cabbage, Kimchi paste mix.
#20: Red pepper flakes, garlic powder, scallions, and stickers to decorate the cup.
#21: The finish product!
#22: Place kimchi in the provided cup and decorate as you wish!
Next, went to try Egg Drop, another popular sandwich store in Korea. Instead of the usual way of making a sandwich, Egg Drop’s version makes a slit at the top of a thick toast, and stuff ingredients into the slit. As compared with Isaac Toast, Egg Drop’s version has less sauce to it, so it was a lot easier and less messy to consume. However, because all the ingredients are piled at the top half of the toast, you are typically just eating plain bread with sauce for the bottom half of the toast. I had the Double Bacon Cheese Sandwich, which consists of gochujang (chilli paste) sauce, cheddar, bacon, scrambled eggs, then topped with mayonnaise and chopped parsley.
接着，到了 Egg Drop 试试，另一间著名的韩式吐司店。这里的做法不像一般的三文治，而是在片厚吐司的上方割了个洞，然后再把配料塞进。和 Isaac Toast 的版本相比，Egg Drop 的吐司酱比较少，所以吃起来不会乱七八糟。不过，因为配料都堆在上方，吃到后面另一半时，几乎只是在吃面包与酱而已。我点了培根乳酪三文治，包括韩式辣椒酱，切达乳酪，培根，炒滑蛋，美乃滋和荷兰芹碎。
Egg Drop 에그드랍
28 Bukchon-ro 5ga-gil, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1000-2130hrs (daily)
Anguk Station Exit 3
#23: Egg Drop.
#24: Double Bacon Cheese Sandwich, KRW3,900.
On my way to the next location, passed by a souvenir shop and got some postcards, a kimchi magnet (suddenly so into kimchi after visiting the Kimchi museum!) and a DIY wooden Korean traditional house. Next destination is to famous barista, Lee Kang Bin’s cafe, C.Through Cafe! He became really popular after creating master art pieces of latte art using food colourings. Check out his instagram to view his amazing works! He is so creative that don’t expect his cafe to offer the usual range of coffee and cafe drinks. He came up with a range of drinks that looks and taste so unique! I went for the drink called “Scotchno”, which has a description that says “coffee with a butter scotch taste“, but the drink doesn’t really taste like coffee though, more like a alcoholic drink? It is a pretty small cup, and the taste was really strong. Definitely a drink that is supposed to be sipped on, instead of drinking it.
在前往另一个地点中，经过了间纪念品店。买了些明星片，泡菜磁铁（去一趟泡菜博物馆后，突然好爱泡菜！），和一个 DIY 的木质传统韩屋。下一个地点是著名咖啡师，李康斌开的咖啡厅，叫 C.Through Cafe！因在咖啡上用食用色素作画而成名，可以到他的 IG 看看他的作品！充满创意细胞的他，他的咖啡厅里除了普通的咖啡饮品外，也有许多创意，特别的饮料。看起来非常的漂亮，独特。喝起来味道也与众不同！我点了杯叫 “Scotchno” 的咖啡特制饮料。饮料说明是 ”有奶油糖味的咖啡“，不过我觉得喝起来，不这么像咖啡，反而比较像是酒精饮料，味道很浓郁！
C.Through Cafe 씨스루 카페
Google Maps: 403-3 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 37 Noksapyeong-daero 40na-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
1200-2200hrs (daily)
Noksapyeong Station Exit 3
#25: C.Through Cafe.
#26: Scotchno description on the menu.
#27: Scotchno, KRW6,000.
#28: Menu.
#29: Menu.
#30: Menu.
#31: Free stickers for grab!
#32: Got the Scotchno sticker, so pretty!
Lastly, went to Lotte Mart for more Korean snacks shopping! Supermarkets are one of the best places to shop at, really! Another thing that I love about Lotte Mart is its huge range of hot food! I was there at about 9:30pm, and they close at midnight, so all hot food were at 25% off! Got lots of sushi and some fried chicken. The other food all look so good too! Lotte Mart is also a great place to get banchan (side dishes) and all kinds of kimchi.
最后，到了乐超市场买些韩国零食！超市真的是很好逛的地方之一！爱逛乐天超市的另外一个原因是他们有很多很多好吃的熟食！我到的时候是大概晚上9:30，因为超市12点就关，所以所有熟食打75折！买了些寿司和炸鸡，其它食品都看起来好好吃！乐天超市也是个很好买韩式小菜和各类泡菜的地方。
Lotte Mart 롯데마트
Google Maps: 405 Hangang-daero, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 426 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
1000-0000hrs (daily), Closed on 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month
Seoul Station
#33: 550g of jam for just KRW4,000? Regretted that I didn't get it! Plus it's not in a jar, so it's a lot more convenient!
#34: Kakao Talk designed drinks, so cute!
#35: Popcorn for just KRW1,000!
#36: If you love Korean ginseng chicken soup, you can buy this pre-pack herbs home and boil it yourself! Just add water and chicken!
#37: One of the most demanded Korean snacks!
#38: If you love Shin ramen, you must try this Shin BLACK ramen! It taste a lot better, the soup is more concentrated and flavourful!
#39: If you are tired of eating Choco Pie, try this new version! It taste similar to Choco Pie, but has cream as the filling instead of marshmallow. It's bite-sized so it's very convenient to eat!
#40: All their cooked food looks so so good!
#41: 10pcs sushi for just KRW5,000!
#42: This fried chicken was so good! I felt it was even a lot better than some of the fried chicken stores, and all these for just KRW6,500! It's at least KRW16,000 if you get it from fried chicken stores.
#43: Mushrooms and other dried goods gift package, check out the price >> KRW120,000 = S$140! Didn't know mushrooms can cost this much!
#44: If you get some sliced mushrooms instead, the price gets reduced by half!
Exchange Rate: S$1 = KRW825
Expenses for Day 8
Isaac Toast:
- Pizza Toast KRW3,500
- Latte KRW3,000
Carin:
- Caramel Macaron KRW2,500
- Popcorn Macaron KRW2,500
- Lego Cake KRW9,500
Museum Kimchikan: KRW5,000
Kimchi Making: KRW6,000
Egg Drop: Double Bacon Cheese Sandwich 베이컨 더블 치즈 KRW3,900
Souvenir Shop:
- Postcard KRW2,000 x3
- Kimchi Clay Magnet KRW4,000
- DIY wooden Korean traditional house KRW17,000
C.Through Cafe: Scotchno KRW6,000
Lotte Mart:
- Petite Choco Pie (12pkts) KRW2,980
- Caramel Macchiato (2btls) KRW1,900
- Black Shin Ramen (4pkts) KRW3,980
- Samgyetang Herbs KRW3,780 x2
- Beef Ribs Soup (500ml) KRW1,380
- Crabstick (3pkts) KRW2,480
- Rice Cake (1kg) KRW2,000
- Seaweed (10pkts) KRW2,980
- Mixed Sushi (10pcs) KRW5,175
- Mixed Sushi (24pcs) KRW12,675
- Fried Chicken KRW6,750
Total Expenses for Day 8: KRW118,760 = S$143.95
Previous Expenses: S$2,167.38
Current Total Expenses: S$2,311.33