Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

I have a Korean friend interested to see Haebangchon, after hearing it was a "foreigner area". I am also always interested to explore, so we are talking about going to see Haebangchon together. In the past, I have walked down from the road starting near the Hyatt hotel, down the main street, to the corner with an underpass to the Army base (sorry if that is not clear). I assume this is like the "main road" of Haebangchon? Are there other interesting areas with coffee shops, foreign food markets, and other things tied with the foreigner population there? Is there a "center" of HBC? Where would you say is the most interesting part of HBC?
Thanks,

[JustinC]

There's this wonderful thing called Google which has quite a lot of information on different topics. You might be able to find specific information on what interests you and ask other people their opinions on those specifics.

[John Stamos jr.]

You'll get better information here about HBC than google. Think Justin's a country boy. Great foreign food marts there, pinoy mart and the one next to al Mattos is good. And, al Mattos is also pretty good. It's not a large area though, basically just that one strip as far as 'stuff' is concerned. Pretty decent restaurants, hungry dog, indigo, and Casablanca to name a few.

[JustinC]

I'd be interested to know why you think I'm a country boy a just exactly what a country boy is? I'm genuinely curious.

[edwardcatflap]

[John Stamos jr.]

I assumed you were one of the heathens who lives outside of Seoul and is unfamiliar with the general Itaewon/hbc area.

[fosterman]

[JustinC]

[Drew345]

Hmmm, It seems I am mistaken about where HBC actually is... It's not the road down from Hyatt to the main road with the underpass to the army base? (Man, wish roads had names here).
I googled all of the places mentioned so far.
- Pinoy mart
- al Mattos
- hungry dog,
- indigo
- Casablanca

I got hits on hungry dog and casablanca, but neither had maps.

OK, let me ask about exactly where HBC is...
If I come out of Noksapyong subway station, then there is a road going north that enters a tunnel in Nansan mountain. If I leave Noksapyong station and walk north toward Namsan on that road, is HBC the neighborhood on the right (east), or left (west)? I always thought it was that neighborhood to the right (up the road towards Hyatt), but it seems I am way off.

Thanks,

[Drew345]

OK, nevermind, I think I got it now. I found a youtube video showing how to walk up HBC using Daum Maps Street view. I see the Piney mart, hungry dog, and I am sure the other stuff is all there on the same main road. I even see the kimche pots mentioned above at the start of the road.
Thanks all!

Can you recommend a nice place there with vegetarian food (non-salad)?

[John Stamos jr.]

Not sure. Indigo has a pretty varied menu.

[Bloopity Bloop]

Hackney is by far the best spot on the road. Fantastic cakes made in-house and properly done, epic proportioned sandwiches (which I think they may actually have stopped selling sometime last week well, it was good while it lasted).

[Drew345]

I did my HBC visit yesterday. It was interesting. I had a $17 burger and fries! For a place with cheap apartments, the food sure was expensive. I got the best haircut I ever got in Korea. Someone knew how to cut western hair (without shaving it up the sides and back). I'll probably be going back for haircuts once a month, but not sure about eating there again.

It was a good vegetarian burger though.

[John Stamos jr.]

[Drew345]

Yeah, I should have known, it definitely had a different crowd in there than the other places on the road. The sandwich shop down the road a bit had a line out the door; next time I'll try there.