Haru & Oneday - A Cafe Owned by Super Junior's Donghae

Food May 30, 2024

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Cafe Aslan 626: Quiet and Aesthetically Pleasing Cafe in Busan

Food February 07, 2024

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Mabuhay Restaurant: A Filipino Restaurant and Sari-Sari Store in Busan

Food September 28, 2023

Mabuhay Restaurant in Busan

It's been a month since I moved to South Korea to study. For the whole month, I have been eating only Korean food. And because of this, I miss eating Filipino food. While I was searching, I saw that there is a Filipino restaurant here in Busan which is named Mabuhay Restaurant.

How to Go to Mabuhay Restaurant

Address: 13, Jungang-daero 195 beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan (부산 동구 중앙대로195번길 13)

Mabuhay Restaurant is near Busan Station. You can either take the bus or the subway and then just drop off at Busan Station. If you rode the subway, take exit 5 and then turn left. Just walk for a few meters and you'll immediately see this sign.

The restaurant is at the 2nd floor.

What to Expect at the Mabuhay Restaurant

The place is a bit small

Aidana and I eating at the Mabuhay Restaurant

There were only few tables and chairs at this restaurant. And the sari-sari store is already located there too. Even if it was small, you can feel the Philippine carenderia vibe there. The staff there was very kind and yes, thankfully, she is a Filipino and can speak the language.

Just some side note, it's really hard to switch languages from English, Korean, and Filipino.

It offers different Filipino food

From silog to our favorite Sinigang, they definitely offer a lot of Filipino food that I personally miss. The prices ranges from 6,000 KRW to 12,000KRW. To be honest, the foods are a bit pricey for an everyday meal. That's why I said, I'll probably just go here once a month.

But the taste did not disappoint.

We ordered Sisig and Adobo. For it's price, I can say that it's worth it. Even my Kazakhstan friend, Aidana, said that the food was good. I'm so happy that there is sisig because this is one of my favorite meals in the Philippines.

The sisig is 12,000krw (rice not yet included - 2,000krw), the adobo set is 10,000krw. I also ordered C2 since I miss it.

Sari-Sari store

It's not only a restaurant, but a Sari-Sari store too. It offers from the canned goods, to condiments, and snacks. I was really so happy seeing this. If I can hoard them, then I have done it lol. But seriously, I'll be coming back here to buy some canned goods so that if I'm lazy to go out of the dorm, I will just eat canned goods.

Mini Vlog at Mabuhay Restaurant

I am so happy I visited this restaurant. So, if you are also craving Filipino food in Busan, visit Mabuhay Restaurant.

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MAGNATE: The Café Owned by BTS Jimin's Dad

Food September 14, 2023

I got to shake hands with BTS Jimin's Dad!

Just in case you haven't seen my previous blog, I moved to South Korea to study as a GKS Scholar. Before the classes started, my friends and I decided to visit around Busan. And that's how we got into Magnate - the café owned by BTS Jimin's Dad.

Honestly, our true agenda was to visit Vintage One, a thrift shop here in Busan. It happened to be beside the café. So, after going to the thrift shop, we decided to go and eat at that café.

How to go to Magnate Café:

Address: 135, Jinnam-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea

You can either take the subway or take the bus.

Subway: Line 2 (Green Line), get off at Motgol station (못골/214), Exit 4 > Walk to Cafe Magnate (around 13 minutes of walk).

Bus: Take No. 10, 101, or 138, and get off at Yeonpo Elementary School bus stop (연포초등학교)

* Download Naver Maps to help you navigate to this place.

Magnate Café

It was definitely a long walk from the subway station. And to be honest, when we entered the parking lot, I didn't know at first that it was the Magnate Café already. Good thing, I saw the BTS poster in the corner and realized that it was the café already.

On the outside, there wasn't anything special. But once you enter the Magnate Café, you'll immediately see a table full of BTS/Jimin merch and fan letters.

Although Magnate Café is owned by BTS Jimin's Dad, it's not a cafe that's really inspired by a K-Pop group like the Caratreats Cafe in the Philippines. It's a normal cafe that both fans and non-fans can enjoy.

I actually love how cozy the place is and at the same time my K-pop fangirl spirit is getting hyped up.

There are a lot of options that you can choose there. In my case, I ordered the Corn-Cheese Bake and Strawberry Latte.

It was really good. As a person who is not into café much, I really enjoyed the food and the place. The food tastes good and the surrounding is aesthetically pleasing. If given the chance, I would love to visit it again and stay there for a bit longer.

Anyway, we were so lucky when we went there because Jimin's dad happened to be the one who took our orders. When my friend asked him, he immediately smiled at us and initiated a hand shake. He is really thankful for the fans who dropped by his café.

I didn't took any photo of him because first, I was shy. Second, I didn't ask for permission. So, it will just remain in my memory.

.Before leaving Magnate Café, I saw Jimin's solo album, FACE, with his sign on it.

Magnate Café Mini Vlog

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K-Drama Food Alert: Egg Drop Sandwich and Corn Dog

Food October 02, 2021

Whenever I watch K-Dramas, I always crave for the foods that the characters eat. Whether it’s just ramen or a pizza or a full set meal. I don’t know but they make their food really appetizing and satisfying to watch.

Recently, Egg Drop Sandwich and Corn Dog were trending here in the Philippines because of the K-Dramas “Hospital Playlist” and “Start-Up”. So, during my short stay in Manila, I decided to buy these foods and satisfy my craving.

Egg Drop Sandwich

Egg Drop Sandwich is a popular food in South Korea that has eggs (of course! lol), your choice of fillings - like bacon, ham, cheese, and sauce, sandwiched between thick slices of bread. It is also served in a small paper box with a minimalistic design.

Egg Drop Sandwich was seen in the K-Dramas “Hospital Playlist” and “18 Again” and Jirisan.

Corn Dog

Corn Dog is not really new to me, or maybe to everyone too. In fact, I have been eating corn dogs when I was a child. But recently, because of the K-Drama “Start-Up”, corn dogs have been trending. The fun thing is that it’s not the typical corn dog that I used to eat.

Corn Dogs nowadays are more than just hot dogs covered with batter, and served on a stick. It has evolved. Corn Dogs now have potatoes, cheese, or even fries! It’s definitely a full-packed snack.

Where did I buy these?

My workmates and I actually bought these Egg Drop sandwiches and Corn Dogs on Oh K-Dog - Mayon Street through Foodpanda. Yes, they have both.

I bought their Ham & Cheese Special and Potato K-Dog. The Egg Drop sandwiches usually cost P175 but because of a discount from Foodpanda, we got it for only P113.75. The Corn Dogs vary from the size, fillings, and sauces. But it’s usually from P140 - P180.

The store also offers drinks. That's why I bought their Mango Basic.

ALSO READ: I tried doing the Dalgona Milo

Is it worth it?

Egg Drop sandwiches and Corn Dogs are usually pricey here in the Philippines. But, I can say that it’s worth it, especially the Egg Drop Sandwich. It satisfied my cravings. Both foods taste good. It’s also kinda heavy on the stomach, that's why one serving can make you full already.

The packaging was just a normal box. They could have improved the packaging to make it more pleasing. But yeah, I’m here for the food.

I can’t wait to eat more food that are seen on K-Dramas.

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Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi - Hongdae

Food July 09, 2020

Dakgalbi is probably one of my favorite Korean dishes. If you're not that familiar with the dish, it is also known as the Korean spicy chicken stir fry. It is placed in a large pan mixed with rice cake, cabbage, onion, and cheese.

During our stay in Hongdae, we always pass by this restaurant, Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi. What actually caught our attention is Mamamoo Hwasa's poster in front of the restaurant. Other Mamamoo members are also models of this restaurant.

When we entered the restaurant, the staff were very accommodating. They immediately assisted us on our table and gave us the menu to choose. They also explained a little bit of what the dish is all about. We ordered their Best Menu "Spicy Cheese Dakgalbi" with additional rice and also fried chicken. You can also have some additional toppings like ramyeon, udon, dumplings, etc. But since we ordered rice, we didn't add anymore.

This was the wall design of the store. The restaurant actually has a second floor but we seated at the first floor so that we won't need to use the stairs. Besides, there were only few people there when we arrived.

After waiting for a few minutes, our orders arrived. We were just shocked with how large our orders were. Even the fried chicken were plenty. Since we cannot consume the fried chicken, we just had it for take-out.

Impressions on Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi - Hongdae Branch

1. The staff were accommodating. Even though we had different languages, they try their best to explain to us our orders.

2. The place is clean so we can be sure that our food is clean too.

3. Their food offers a larger amount compared to other restaurant so one order can serve two people.

4. The price of their food is actually reasonable.

5. Their food is delicious! If given the chance to go back to Korea, I would definitely want to go back and eat here.

Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi Hongdae Branch Info:

Address: 32 Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu,Seoul

Opening Hours: 11AM to 11PM (may vary)

Nearest Landmark: Hongik University Station

If you're staying in Hongdae, make sure to visit this restaurant!

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I made Kimbap (Korean Sushi Rolls) at home during quarantine

Food June 13, 2020

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I Tried Doing the Dalgona Milo

Dalgona Milo April 05, 2020

Dalgona Coffee has actually been a trend lately. A lot of KPOP artists have been doing it like Mina, Seungyoun, and Sungmin to mention some. I have been seeing a lot of it in my timeline too so I got curious about it and tried to do one.

Story Behind the Dalgona Coffee

I did a bit of a research (since I am also curious) on where this dalgona coffee originated and why it has trended lately. According to the internet, this drink has originated from India, Pakistan, and Macau which is better known as the whipped coffee.

Jung Il Woo, the famous South Korean actor, was the one who named the drink Dalgona Coffee because it reminds him of the Korean candy, Dalgona. A lot of people started to get interested with it, made their own and posted it on their SNS accounts.

Since there are a lot of people who do not like coffee that much, they also made an alternative by using Milo for it. Because I am one of those people, I decided to do the Dalgona Milo instead of the Dalgona Coffee.

Ingredients for the Dalgona Milo

This is for 1 drink only. You may add more if you want to share with other people.

4-5 tbsp of Milo

2 tbsp of sugar

3-4 tbsp of Nestle Cream (much better if it's chilled)

Ice

Milk

1. Mix the Milo, sugar, and Nestle Cream. You can mix it on your own or you can use an electric mixer.

Since I am a bit lazy, I used our electric mixer which I bought from Shopee last 2019.

2. Continue mixing it until it becomes fluffy.

3. Pour the milk and the ice on a glass. Then put the mixed Milo on top of it. You can also add some powdered Milo on top just for design.

4. And that's it! You're done! Just find a place with good lighting and take a photo of your Dalgona Milo.

My Comments

I am a person who never cooks or bake or do anything related with food. I just eat or drink it. But making this Dalgona Milo is pretty simple that a person like me can even do it. After tasting it, well, it's not really a special thing. It tastes Milo with milk, that's it. But I'll give it a thumbs up for the presentation. At least, there's a simple drink that can look like an expensive one.

Although I won't be doing this in the future again, I really enjoyed trying it on my own. Next time I'll be doing the original Dalgona.

How about you? Have you also tried doing this trending drink?

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Seoul Good! Korean Grill in SM Mall of Asia Food Hall

Food February 16, 2020

Last February 12, 2020, SM Mall of Asia finally opened their Food Hall which is located at the 3rd floor of the Main Mall just across the skating rink. It is big that's why it can occupy a lot of different restaurant tenants.

Since I'm currently on my internship at SM Hotels, which is just around MOA, we were able to visit the food hall and got to check out what it offers. What caught my attention was this Korean restaurant - Seoul Good! Korean Grill. Of course, I'm a K-enthusiast so what are you gonna expect?

What does Seoul Good offer?

For their Ala Carte (which means they have no rice), they offer Breaded Fish Katsu, Ebi Shrimp Fry, Beef Bulgogi, Korean Chicken BBq, Korean Crispy Chicken, Pork Kalbi, Beef Stew Kalbichim, and Kimchi Rice. It costs around P65 - P255.

If you want your meal to have rice, you can also try their K-Bowls. It costs around P199 - P200.

It's not complete without our favorite side dishes. Seoul Good offers a variety of side dishes - egg, corn, fish cake, japchae, mandu (K-dumpling), Kimchi Cabbage, Cucumber Kimchi, Macaroni Salad, Pajeon (K-Pancake), and Salad with Korean dressing. Price ranges from P20 - P90.

But the cool thing, they also offered a bento meal which includes your chosen meat, three side dishes, and rice. I tried their Bento Meal with Pork Kalbi as my meat and Fish Cake, Japchae, and Kimchi as my side dishes.

If you're also looking for a group meal, they also have a set for it. Their group meal has three meats, three side dishes, and a platter of kimchi rice for P835. It is good for 3-4 persons.

My Review

We actually lined for about 30 minutes since we went there lunch time. There were a lot of people lining up so it really took a while before we got our orders. I haven't seen the restaurant during normal hours so I don't know if it is also the same. Another reason why we had a long waiting time was because the lines were a bit messy. There was a staff getting orders at a certain place but another staff said that we can also line up inside.

For a person who usually eats meal with prices around P50 - P100, Seoul Good is definitely a bit expensive, but compared to other Korean restaurants, their prices were cheaper. Although it's a bit pricey, their meals can really satisfy your hunger and cravings. It has an authentic Korean taste which made me remember the food I ate when I visited Korea before. So when I am craving for Korean food like fish cakes, kalbi, etc., I can go to MOA and eat here. The servings were also big that's why I was really satisfied.

The thing that lacks from this restaurant is their drinks. The only drink that I noticed there was soju (which has never satisfied my thirst). It would have been better if they offered drinks, Iced Tea or Colas, that can be included in the meal.

For my overall experience, I really enjoyed Seoul Good's food and I am looking forward to taste other meats and side dishes they offer. Although I won't eat here everyday (maybe once a week) because I'll end up poor, I can still recommend this place. If you're just around MOA and is looking for a Korean restaurant, you can check out Seoul Good!

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Pages

A Cafe You Must Visit Especially if You're an ELF

Haru & Oneday

Location

Menu

Cafe Vibe

Visit Café Aslan 626 when you travel to Busan

Café Aslan 626

Mabuhay Restaurant in Busan

How to Go to Mabuhay Restaurant

What to Expect at the Mabuhay Restaurant

The place is a bit small

It offers different Filipino food

Sari-Sari store

Mini Vlog at Mabuhay Restaurant

I got to shake hands with BTS Jimin's Dad!

How to go to Magnate Café:

Magnate Café

Magnate Café Mini Vlog

Egg Drop Sandwich

Corn Dog

Where did I buy these?

Is it worth it?

Impressions on Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi - Hongdae Branch

Hong Chun Cheon Cheese Dakgalbi Hongdae Branch Info:

Ingredients:

How to do it:

For the sauce:

Final Product

Story Behind the Dalgona Coffee

Ingredients for the Dalgona Milo

My Comments

What does Seoul Good offer?

My Review

About me

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