Azito Hall

Ewha Womans Univ. <Mr. Seo Wang Mandu>. A dumpling specialist with no noodles or rice. I chose fried mandu because that just-fried sensation exists only in the shop. Generously filled, flavorful without becoming tiring even in quantity. The wrapper is crisp but not hard, fried exactly right. Kitchen mastery begins with fundamentals.

Ewha Womans Univ. <Menya Soba>. A new shop centered on maze soba and tantanmen. There were actually no ramen shops near Ajito Live Hall before this opened. The food is not bad, and the noodles are close to medium thickness. A solid bowl without sharp edges, good for a meal before a show. Everyone sometimes craves a familiar flavor.

Ewha Womans Univ. <One and Only Coffee>. It has an unusual number of tucked-away corners, and the subdued space is dotted with soft lighting, making it ideal for getting work done. The coffee is above average, and nearly every seat has an outlet, so it is easy to stay awhile. The financiers are good too, and the cakes would be worth trying with company. Cafes like this are rare around here. It feels like a hideout.

Hongik Univ. Station <Chouchou>. Chouchou Tanmen. The main dish is tanmen, a Japanese-Chinese ramen loaded with vegetables. The chicken-stock base contains plenty of carrot, cabbage, squash, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts. I wish it were a little clearer, but the sharp salinity and refreshing soup are good. Rare in Korea, and therefore well worth a visit.

Ewha Womans Univ. <Coffee Doga Heritage>. Classic Cream Latte. Delicious. Oolong arrives as welcome tea, with a clean feeling free of roughness. It is fundamentally close to a vegan café, but that does not leave the flavors feeling empty. The design accounts for that too, keeping the final sip pleasant. The owner is kind.

Ewha Womans Univ. <Baan Thai Soi 54>. Pad kra pao nuea, basil beef over rice. Reviews often say it is too salty, but places like this are actually difficult to get wrong. The seasoning is strong, though that impression also comes from the concentrated flavor and aroma of the sauce and spices throughout. Still, it was genuinely delicious. I will likely return to try other dishes.

Sinchon <Flick On Coffee>. The shop is small, but its coffee and desserts are unusually good for the area. The signature Crème Citron, topped with lemon oil over cream, and the Earl Grey cream banana tart were excellent. I drank another cup of drip coffee; tell them the feeling and price range you want, and they recommend one with a detailed explanation.

Ewha Womans Univ. <Kkai Sikdang>. Chicken rice, and nothing else. A tiny restaurant that is always full. Tender sous-vide chicken and rice cooked in chicken stock are an excellent match. Eat about half plain, then add the sauce for the rest. There is a reason a place with a single dish is this popular.

Sinchon <Underdog Coffee>. Rather than mainstream Latin American beans, it specializes in coffee from less represented third countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. There are signature drinks, but the atmosphere encourages ordering filter coffee. Spacious, clean, with delicious coffee and decent music. It is difficult to imagine a better place nearby for getting work done.

Sinchon <Han Changhee Cheonhailmyeon>. Spicy abura soba. Its grammar is clearly ramen, but I have never seen Korean adaptation done this well in both sauce and chashu. Perhaps for that reason, the restaurant reportedly does not describe its own identity as ramen. It is original enough to build a serious following. I plan to return for the meat noodles.