December's things to do

Doesn’t matter if you’re still full from your earlier meal; you just have to go here early and grab a seat first. Once the clock hits 5:30, Yukjeon Sikdang is crammed with all hungry people and waiting for 30 minutes to 1 hour is nothing. Must admit, this is the best pork restaurant in Seoul. Thick-cut pork belly (samgyeopsal) is Yukjoen Sikdang’s signature menu, notably for its extremely tender and juicy meat. Though Samgeyopsal is one of the most beloved foods of Koreans, after a few servings, you feel the urge of stop eating from its greasiness, but put your worry aside for Yukjeon Sikdang. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop eating – you’ll know what “pigging out” truly means.

Sitting right in front of Sangsu Station, Mère Picon has already captured the hearts of many foodies. Having worked at a renowned French restaurant in Korea, the owner/chef Aly (Jiyeon Jeong) prepares easy bites that wonderfully go with wine and beer.  Mère Picon’s fish & chips was simply... perfect. The meat was particularly thick and juicy, the fried batter light, soft and crispy, while the potato sticks and wedges served on the side really complimented the whole dish. I give this a big thumbs up.  The Gorgonzola Mère Pizza with apple slices on top was a great light dish too. It uses citron honey instead of regular honey, so you get that little sweet and sour kick with it. We also ordered Squid Ink Paella in Mom’s Stone Pot and Mulle à la Bellgium as well, and they both were delicious. The best part of it was that the prices are reasonable compared to other bistro pubs in the area.  Mère means mom in French, and Mère Picon “Picon’s mom.” Just like its name, the ambiance here is is warm and comforting. The chef welcomes guests with a bright smile. Though it was a random Tuesday night, the bistro pub seemed pretty busy with more than 10 people chatting and sipping wine. As I was leaving, I looked around the pub and without hesitation I knew Mère Picon will be my pick for my end-of-the-year gathering.

Mija Seoul has been making waves since it first opened in May. The restaurant focuses on creating a dinner menu inspired by hearty Korean fare made with local and seasonal ingredients. Apart from using produce from the restaurant's rooftop garden, they also take time to source from local farms. Here, you’ll find Danish chef Kevin Kroløkke, who brings with him 10 years of restaurant experience from the now defunct, Michelin-starred, Restaurant Relæ. He helms the restaurant with his partner Tina Choi (also known as Doobydobap on TikTok and Instagram).