December's things to do

The trendy neighbourhood of Seongsu is home to a plethora of cafes, but if you’d ask us to choose, we’d have to pick 5to7 as one of our favourites in the area. The dessert cafe is a lovely spot to head to after a walk around Seoul Forest with plenty of drink options to quench your thirst. Be sure to grab a serving of their boba souffle pancake while you’re at it too.

Salmon sashimi lovers, here’s one for you. Mibbeudong is famed for its tomato salmon noodles – a refreshing, cold tomato broth packed with vegetables and long strands of salmon sashimi cut lengthways to resemble noodles. If you’re a little less excited over this, another popular item on the menu here is the Mibbeudong itself, a rice moat topped with a tower of mixed sashimi, uni and ikura.

Located in Dongja-dong near Seoul Station, Ilmi Jang-eo offers a single option. Crunchy, deep fried eel bone is served as an appetizer before the salt-broiled, thick pieces of eel grilled over charcoal come out as the main dish. People often think that eel is greasy, but at this restaurant, this is far from the truth as the food is light in flavor. Freshwater shrimp and smelt soup, served as side dishes, complement the eel. Add some well-cooked rice mixed with seasoned chives and some sauce, and it’s an unbeatable pairing. Make sure to call in advance and check if they are open, as their schedule constantly changes.   PHOTOGRAPH: PARK JUNG-WOO