[FOOD COURT] The best places to eat near Ewha Womans University

The streets in front of Ewha Womans University are home to many clothing stores and cafes, but the area is also known for its tasty restaurants.

Cheese tonkatsu sold at Youyake Tokyo [LEE TAE-HEE]

The streets in front of Ewha Womans University are home to many clothing stores and cafes, but the area is also known for its tasty restaurants. Its one of the first places various food brands go to open their first branch, with Korea’s first Starbucks, Mr. Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery stores opening in the area. Franchise brands aren’t the only restaurants, with small and tasty but affordable options also available.

The most interesting restaurants tend to be hidden in small alleyways near Ewha Womans University. Here are some of the best places to head for dinner tonight, as recommended by Ewha Womans University students.

Youyake Tokyo

Youyake Tokyo is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant located near the university, but with a Korean twist to the classic dish that everyone has tried before.

The cheese tonkatsu, priced at 11,000 won ($8.70), has thick cheese layered both inside the meat and also placed on top of it. For those who might find too much cheese heavy and overwhelming, diced mukeunji, or aged kimchi with a punchier taste, is also enveloped in the meat. The kimchi is watered down to take out the spice, so people who have a hard time tolerating spice are also covered.

People who want a classic tonkatsu can always go for the no-cheese option, with the sirloin tonkatsu priced at 9,500 won and the tenderloin tonkatsu priced at 11,000 won.

The restaurant makes the pork cutlets seem like a three course meal, serving a small cup of red wine vinegar diluted in water to start off the meal. Chocolate with sliced almonds and dried fruit, made by the chef himself, is served as dessert.

Youyake Tokyo is a popular place for students to visit and the restaurant tends to run out of what they prepared for the day around at 6 or 7 p.m., so you may want to go early if you want to try the tonkatsu.

28, Ewhayeodae 3-gil, Seodaemun District, western SeoulBusiness hours: 11 a.m. - until they are out of ingredients Phone number: 02-6401-7991

Bistro Gai

Chicken rice sold at Bistro Gai [LEE TAE-HEE]

For those looking for Singaporean-style chicken rice, Bistro Gai is the place to go.

Chicken rice is the only dish on the menu, with customers allowed to choose either a regular-sized bowl, which costs 9,000 won, or a bigger bowl for 13,000 won.

Although the dish may sound simple, the restaurant cooks rice with savory chicken broth instead of water to give it more flavor. The rice is topped with chopped up chicken that is sous vided to give it a very tender texture. Fried garlic chips are sprinkled on top of the dish to add a bit of crunchiness and flavor.

Classic chicken rice is served with spicy chili sauce, but Bistro Gai puts its own twist on the sauce. It mixes doenjang (soy bean paste), fish sauce, garlic and ginger.

A small bowl of chicken broth, used to make the chicken rice, is also served with the dish so customers can enjoy the flavorful broth. Those who like coriander can ask the owner to top their broth with some, as the restaurant doesn’t provide it as standard.

The restaurant only seats eight people and tends to have a few people waiting in line during busy lunch or dinner hours.

@bistrogai24, Ewhayeodae 2 ga-gil, Seodaemun District, western SeoulBusiness hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on weekdays (break time 3 p.m - 5 p.m.)Phone number: 070-7779-8899

Greek Day

Greek yogurt sold at Greek Day [GREEK DAY]

For anyone wanting a light and healthy meal, Greek Day is a popular option.

Visitors can order a scoop of yogurt and choose the toppings of their choice, from fruit such as apples, bananas and shine muscat grapes to granola and jams such as kaya jam and blueberry compote.

For people struggling to choose the perfect custom yogurt, Greek Day offers also offers various combinations. One of the most popular combinations is its London Blue, topped with strawberries, blueberries dried figs and granola, priced at 5,700 won. For people wanting a sweeter flavor, the Mimosa combination is also a good choice. The yogurt is also priced at 5,700 won and comes with oreo, pineapple, mango jam, dried coconuts, banana and granola.

Greek Day also has a wide range of flavored yogurt, such as mint chocolate, green tea and black sesame. Its important to check on their Instagram if your desired flavor is available that day, as some, such as the sweetcorn and vin chaud flavors, are seasonal otpions that are only available in winter, with other new flavors added when the season changes.

Apart from yogurt, Greek Day also sells cookies and scones that are vegan.

Greek Day used to be a small place without seating back in 2016, but has moved to a larger premises near Sinchon Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. There are plenty of seats for people who come alone, as well as tables for two and comfy couch seats.

Vegan scones sold at Greek Day [LEE TAE-HEE]

@greekday.store22-8 Sinchonnyeok-ro, Seodaemun District, western SeoulBusiness hours: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Phone number: 02-363-9222

Doncheondong Sikdang

Doncheondong Sikdang's kimchi nabe [LEE TAE-HEE]

This restaurant is located in a small alleyway right next to the main gate of Ewha Womans University, perfect for students who are looking for a quick meal.

It serves various Japanese-style dishes such as nabe (hot pot), katsudon (pork cutlet with egg over rice) and katsu curry don (Japanese curry with pork cutlet on top).

Although there are many items on the menu, the most popular one loved by students is the kimchi nabe, which is essentially a mix of Korea’s kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and tonkatsu. The stew comes with glass noddles, kimchi, fried tofu and tonkatsu placed on top.

Dishes are priced on the affordable side, with the kimchi nabe and katsudon priced at 7,800 won and the curry bowl and stir-fried udon at 8,300 won. For those feeling hungry, you can add an additional side of pork cutlet for 4,300 won.

The restaurant also has plenty of bar seats for people eating alone, as well as tables for two and four.

52-35 Ewhayeodaegil, Seodaemun District, western SeoulBusiness hours: 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. on weekdays (break time 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.) Phone number: 010-7734-8321