Chongwon Restaurant (Uiseong)
Review by Jonathan Balmer, ETA ’15-’16 City: Uiseong Restaurant Name: Chongwon Restaurant Foods Served: Vintage Korean diner food Restaurant Address: 29 Dongseo 2-gil, Uiseong-eup, Euiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do View Map Directions: The restaurant is on a fairly large street (relative to Uiseong). If you are at the bus station, turn right. There will be a fork in the road leading to Munso 3-gil and Guncheong-gil. Take the end which leads to Guncheong-gil. You will pass the 7-11 (with its very bright lights) as you do this. Continue down the street. You will pass Mr. Breeze Coffee and then Uiseong Elementary school (on your right) as well as the county government offices (on your left). Keep going until you reach an intersection which is after you pass Tous Les Jours (on your left) and before you get to Parris Baguette (on your right). You will go down Dongseo 2-gil. Not long after you turn, on your left (and on the SECOND–2nd– floor) is Chong won restaurant. Here are the directions from the bus station. Cost: 8,000-16,000 W for an entree and sides. [slideshow_deploy id=’3645′] I arrived on a Monday night with my English conversation group. There was no wait, but the place was not a ghost town either. The first thing you notice is the 80’s decor and the tacky toys and knickknacks ranging from a baby doll with sunglasses, to Pokemon toys (and very recent ones at that), to advertisements of American beer. There are rooms with curtains which house booths or chairs with tables if you want a more private area. Or there are the more public tables by windows overlooking Uiseong. We chose the plush green chairs in the middle of the restaurant around large round tables. While there was a smaller TV in the side of the restaurant, the owner projected a television up front as well. There was what appeared to be a full bar. I did not drink, so I am not sure. The atmosphere was a bizarre mix of sports bar (large TV), vintage restaurant (decor) and diner (the food style). And I absolutely loved it! With Uiseong offering mostly traditional Korean barbecues and fried chicken selections, this was a welcome change of pace. Chong Won oozed small town spunk– no reservation needed. The restaurant was clean. Someone I was with went to the restroom and came back without complaints, but I cannot vouch personally for their cleanliness. I can vouch for the quality of the food. Your food comes with a generous entree, sides such as apples, the ubiquitous white rice, and a few other “leafy bits” (a term I’ve picked up for sides) that make it a nice mix of diner food. No chopsticks were given here. Beef soup was for our appetizer and then forks, knives, and plates came out for the main course. Unfortunately, I was so busy eating my 돈까스 (of which there several varieties from cheese to garlic pork cutlet), that I forgot to take a picture. My particular entree cost 8 or 9,000 won. It is fairly priced for a good sit down experience in a one-of-a-kind restaurant. Since it is on the 2nd floor off the main drag, you even get the “only the locals know” feel about the place. The wait staff did not speak English, but they were patient and understood my horribly accented Korean. Anyone with a phrasebook or a smartphone could easily eat here. After the meal I ordered coffee and the owner gave us not after dinner mints but a full basket of different candies. It was delightful. I will definitely be back. If anyone ever visits me in Uiseong, I’ve found my go-to place to treat them!
Raracost
Review by Kristen O’Brien, ETA ’14-’16 City: Gumi Restaurant Name: Raracost Foods Served: Italian Restaurant Address: 경상북도 구미시 신시로7길 21 View Map Directions: If you get off/start at the bus stop 대동아파트 you walk straight along the main road (금오대로). It’s along the left side. Cost: 7,000~16,000 won [slideshow_deploy id=’3607′] Raracost is a chain family restaurant, but it’s particularly popular in Gumi, and in the 경북 region of Korea. The food is “Italian” and serves pizza, pasta, steak, pilaf, salad, and pork cutlets. They also offer a lot of appetizers and side dishes which include garlic croissants and french fries. I love Raracoste because the food is delicious, but it’s also super inexpensive. The most expensive items are the pizza. The restaurant is always rather large with plenty of seating, and the best part is that fountain drinks are free. They have orange soda, coke, and mountain dew. After you finish, you can also enjoy free coffee or tea. My favorite dishes are the blueberry pork steak and steak pizza. The steak is only pork steak, but it tastes really good!
Cafe Mayb
Review by Rebekah Morton, ETA ’15-’16 City: Seogwipo Restaurant Name: Cafe Mayb Foods Served: Coffee, Cocktails, Snacks Restaurant Address: 416-2 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do View Map Directions: The cafe is in Seogwipo, in the trendy downtown area called “Art Street.” If you walk there from the Dongmun Rotary, one of the major bus stops in Seogwipo, you should take a right at the 7/11, then take a left when you hit the daily market (marked clearly, a big covered market area). From there, it’s a straight shot at the bottom of the hill. Cost: Espresso drink ~ 5,000, Won, Cocktail ~ 6,000 Won [slideshow_deploy id=’3602′] Cafe Mayb has a very laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. There are tables in and outside of the cafe, which is fairly small–one room, with an open wall facing Art Street. The bathrooms and cafe in general are clean and well-kept, with lots of cute/quirky decor. The drinks (all of your standard espresso drinks, tea, wine/beer, cocktails) are excellent, especially given the moderate prices. The staff, and especially the owner of the cafe, are very friendly and attentive. Most of them speak English, including the owner, who often spends time chatting with customers. You’re likely to run into lots of non-staff English speakers hanging out there, as it is a popular spot for foreign teachers. There is also a sleepy cat and a friendly dog that are known to hang around looking for cuddles. TL;DR: Bohemian, English-friendly, moderate prices, good coffee and cocktails. 10/10 will come again~