Gwanghwamun Square Seoul Korea

This place has always been one of the places I want to visit in Seoul, due to the numerous variety shows and korean drama that constantly feature this iconic landmark representing of Seoul and even Korea. My first impression of this place is "New York City's Times Square minus the skyscrapers and buzzing crowd", because the plaza is situated in the middle of the avenue. It is really a beautiful scene, perfect for photos. 

The gate itself is magnificent, and inside it is a big open area where the change of guard ceremony is held. 

The gate and walls of this millennial temple are of rare beauty, but what is most striking are the mountains rising in the background, this image is like a postcard. 

The square itself is immense, all surrounded by important buildings and 2 prominent statutes, King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sunshin. The latter has a multi water fountain with kids splashing about. Great place for photo op.

Sunday Brunch @ The Empire Room

Every Sunday the spacious Empire Ballroom of the new sanno hotel becomes the site of the finest brunch in town. Delicacies abound at this all-you-can-eat buffet. Fresh baked breads, rolls and croissants complement an array of traditional and international favorites like Belgian waffles, omelets made-to-order and carved beef.

Salad bar, fresh sushi bar, great seafood station, multiple entrées, cooking and carving, petit-fours, cakes and pastries top off the exciting assortment of delicious dishes available.

This hotel is open only to holders of specific United States Military Identification cards and can accompany friends for the sunday brunch. Luckily my aunt who was in town for vacation has one and invited us for her daughter's bday.

All in all a great spot if you have military credentials to make a reservation.

The Empire Room

New Sanno Hotel

Yogane Chicken Galbi - Seoul Korea

We passed by here during our first night in seoul and saw a lot of people inside. We were attracted to the huge plates of chicken, rice and vegetables bing cooked right before your eyes an decide to give it a try. 

Basically, it's diced chicken with Korean chilli pepper paste sauce and vegetables fried together in a huge pan in front of you. The service staff will occasionally come over to help stir-fry the ingredients but it looks fun that you'd probably want to do it yourself. there's an option to add noodle or rice to it too. There's a salad bar which allows you to refill without limit but the selection isn't too great.

But please be reminded that you'll end up smelling like the dish itself so it's probably best to have it for dinner or towards the end of the day. We smelled of chicken and the place after that but it was worth it.

Yogane Myeongdong

Seoul, korea

 

Eggs Benedict @ Bubby's

This place is my comfort food central when i want to take a break from my diet.

"If you live or work near ark hills roppongi  and haven't been here, or never had tried their eggs benedict......slap yourself!!! Do it now, I command thee!"

Their eggs benedict is one of the best..and if only for that ... this place is epic.

And Im always left satisfied in a food coma when dining here..

Bubby's

Ark hills roppongi Tokyo

 

MODERN KOREAN FOOD RESTAURANT @ AEON LAKETOWN

This Korean bistro is not 100% of what  I used to eat while in Korea but goes a good trade-off between being authentic and modern fusion.

Mama's first experience of Korean food , I was a bit wary, but after dining here shes now  dying to try more. 

 

 Serving sizes are big (maybe that's why orders are quite pricey). So if the menu says the item is good for 2 people, most likely, it can actually satisfy 3 or 4 :)

MODERN KOREAN RESTAURANT
1st floor Aeon Lake Town
Koshigaya Tokyo 

 

TOKYO STATION HOTEL

The old but recently refurbished Tokyo Station Hotel is a fantastic hotel in central Tokyo Chiyoda Ward. JR-trains and the Tokyo subway are found just beneath the hotel building and the Imperial Palace with it's beautiful Hibiya garden is just a few blocks away. On the other side of the tracks is Ginza located within a walking distance. Even though this is in central Tokyo the atmoshere is very calm an quiet.

 There are so many shopping malls within walking distance through underground paths. The Tokyo First Avenue is in walking distance where  characters street, ramen street gransta can be found.

 
 Despite the hotel being in the busy location of Tokyo, you can find it as very pleasant and quiet escape from the daily grind of busy Tokyo.

TOKYO STATION HOTEL 
1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, 
Tokyo Prefecture 100-0005, Japan

 

BARBACOA CLASSICO MARUNOUCHI

Wow, what a place, what a food!!! 

Have you ever gone into a restaurant in Japan and ordered a steak, thinking that you're going to get an actual steak, to only be incredibly shocked and disappointed when your plate arrives with a wafer-thin resemblance of something that is pretending to be a steak? BUT nah nah let me stop here!!!! this churrasco restaurant which originated from Brazil is  as close as I've gotten to the real thing. 

 Churrasco Lunch set for 3600 yen per person, which included the all-you-can-eat salad bar, dessert bar, refill coffee, and meat, meat and more meat. 

 After our initial polite helping at the salad bar, we hunkered down in our seats and eagerly prepared ourselves for what was to come. We were quickly met with our first swords of sausage and chicken. Wow! The sausage had a honey glaze on it which made it absolutely melt in your mouth and the chicken had just the right amount of crispy char on the outside but somehow remained moist and soft on the inside. It just fell apart as soon as my fork and knife touched it.

This place is one hell of a porky and beefy paradise....

BARBACOA CLASSICO 
6F Shin Marunouchi Building Tokyo

SINGAPORE SEAFOOD REPUBLIC GINZA

We have been here many times and entertain friends at this restaurant quite often.. Whats good about this restaurant is that there were plenty of dishes with a "chili/spice rating" and the 3 chili dishes actually had a nice bite. Beyond the heat, all dishes we ordered were very good. I once dined here with a Japan based Singaporean, who was also very happy with all our dishes and branded it as "close to authentic" 

The chilli crab is as good as it can get and reminds you of Singapore. The sauce was not too spicy and went well with rice. Note: we ordered a medium size crab and although it says that comes with rice, it was only one serving. 

 How good was it? We went back there the following week and have penciled it in as the only place that offers the best singaporean dishes when in Ginza or  Shinagawa. 

SINGAPORE SEAFOOD REPUBLIC
11th Floor Maronnier Gate 
Ginza, Tokyo