Saturday, March 24, 2012

Is Yeongtong Becoming the New "It" Place?

So, I haven't been trying many new places in the neighborhood, but hopefully I'll get off my butt and change that soon since the weather is getting nicer. However, I've noticed some new places popping up in the area, and it's made me wonder if they're trying to make Yeongtong THE place to go for shopping in the area (so people don't have to go to Seoul).

There are some new "trendy" coffee shops opening up in the area, like Cafe Droptop and Coffee Tweet (opening soon). I noticed a Calvin Klein store has also opened up across from my beloved A Twosome Place, and the other night I spotted an Abercrombie & Fitch behind Landmark Hotel. AND there's an Apple store called Concierge where Holly's Coffee used to be across from Homeplus.

By the footbridge, there's supposed to be a new building that appears to be slated as having hotel rooms, office tels, shopping, and restaurants; however, I've yet to see any construction actually happening.

I haven't noticed much of a change in restaurants yet except for a new Seafood & More place in Homeplus.

So...whatchy'all think? From what I know of Yeongtong, the area was developed as a "high-end" area for people that didn't want to live in Seoul yet worked in Seoul. I think the subway station in Yeongtong is scheduled to be done early next year maybe? Maybe they're hoping to lure people from Bundang to Yeongtong when the line opens?

10 comments:

  1. I was just noting that myself the other day. Great blog you have here. I have a couple suggestions if you take commissions to check places out. :)

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    1. Heya, thanks for checking out my blog! ^_^
      I noticed ANOTHER Abercrombie & Fitch on the backside of the building with the vet office and Pizza Hut today when I was going to pick up cat food.
      I'm always open to suggestions on new places to check out!

      Cheers!

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    2. There is a "secret" place that's really hard to find called the "OK Cafe" in the area behind homeplus. Its a little hole-in-the-wall that serves the kind of exceptional vegetarian food that non-vegetarians (like myself) can definitely get into. Very much a cook-to-order kind of place, run by a Korean-Irish couple (and it shows). A special find!

      Then... there is an italian place I have been eye-balling in the Top Plaza (on the flip side of Samsung). Have you been there?

      I tried the Rak and Wok in there, but it was not as good as it looked. What's up with most good looking chicken at these places being 75% inedible, nasty, fatty meat?

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  3. Thanks for the tips :) I'll definitely have to check out the "OK Cafe" if I can find it. If the Italian place is on the second floor of the same building that the Samsung Hospital is in, I've been eyeing that one, too. I'm off work today, so I'll make it my mission to try something new today somewhere in Yeongtong! I have to go to Homeplus anyway :)
    As for the chicken...yeah, I dunno. I had the same thought at Ho Lee Chow a few weeks ago in Itaewon. It looked delicious, but the chicken quality was lower than the other meats my friends had :/

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  4. I am going right now to check out the OK Cafe...but I am not sure where the talian place is??? where is the Samsung Hospital located? I need a map

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    1. The Italian place Mr. Moore mentions is by the Suwon Samsung complex in Maetan Dong, which is where I work. We also have one in Yeongtong: it's called Nilli's. I have a blog about it here: http://yeongtongyummies.blogspot.kr/2011/07/nillis-pasta-pizza.html.
      I'll post a map for the Samsung hospital when I get to work in a bit.

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  5. Where exactly is the OK Cafe? because I went yesterday and couldn't find it. A map would help too.

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    1. I haven't been there yet, so I really can't tell you since it doesn't really have any signage. I don't believe the Irish/Korean couple own it anymore - I think I talked to the guy on Twitter yesterday. The best I can tell you is walk towards the Immigration Office from Homeplus. Stop at the intersection before you get to the Immigration Office and go in that building. I think it's on the 2nd floor.

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    2. Okay Thank you!

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