Khaosan

The general rule of thumb for eating out in Korea is that it’s quite cheap if you eat Korean, but if you eat foreign imports it could cost you more than it would back home; which is exactly the reason why the restaurant Khaosan stands out. Khaosan serves mostly authentic Thai food with some Koreanisms attached. At W6,500 for a main meal it’s thoroughly good value.

The restaurant is divided into two halves which I will affectionately call the Café (1 st floor) and the Lovers Mount (2 nd Floor).

The 1 st floor café distinctly resembles that of outdated Thailand . A grim yellowish glow to the paintwork, tacky pictures of Thailand , bamboo on the walls, and various imitation Thai souvenirs. This may not sound appealing to most, but for those nostalgic of travels in Thailand , this is somewhat familiar, and there is also a refreshing appeal in something that has more character than the ‘copied off a fast food joint’ design of so many places. In this section it is common to see people order, eat, and leave within 20 minutes.

Opposite the cash register you will notice a bamboo lined spiral staircase (not for those with large hips). Edging up this staircase you are taken into a delight of an upper section (considering this is a budget restaurant) with a decent view of the street scene out of the window and pleasant décor to boot. This section has enough atmosphere to take your date at the beginning of the night without seeming too ostentatious and over-the-top.

The restaurant is not overly busy even on a Saturday evening, but the service is instant. What’s more, within 5 minutes of ordering the food is at your table piping hot with wafting aromas of distant lands.

Despite the cheap price, the quality is not compromised. The food tastes fresh, authentic, and healthy. The curries are spicey enough to make your eyes water, but not spicey enough to kill all the other flavours, and the other dishes also hit the right balance of flavour.

The spring rolls are triangular pockets of colour and quite unlike any other I’ve tried before, however much like everything else at Khaosan they tasted sumptuous.

All the menus are in both Korean and English which is added relief for mono-linguals like myself, and as a nice touch they even have printed guidelines on how to use the accompaniments placed on each table (as opposed to most restaurants where they let you figure it out for yourself).

This restaurant is one of my favourite gems for a cheap eat in Hongdae. It’s great for either a healthy alternative to regular fast food, or for an affordable start to a romantic date.

Average Meal Price: W6,500

Nearest Subway Station : Hongik University

How to find it: Take Exit 6 and follow the road until you reach VIPS. Turn left and walk up on the right hand side until you reach the top of the hill. Then turn right at Buy The Way. Take the first right and walk to the far side of the park (on the same road). Khaosan is on the corner opposite the park.

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