How to get a Tax Refund

1.  Tell the check-in agent that you have items for tax refund.
2.  Take your baggage back after tagging.
3.  For Check-in luggage, receive stamp from customs desk located near counter D or J.
     When boarding flight with goods, it is required to receive customs stamp from custom declaration
     desk located inside gate 2 and gate 3.
4.  Get the stamp of confirmation on your invoice after the officer's check.
5.  Put the baggage on the oversized baggage belt.
6.  Clearing customs, go to the tax refund desk next to the gate 28.

JUNGSIK

Shop Info:

☺☺☺
서울시 강남구 신사동 649-7 아크로스 빌딩3층
3F Acros, 649-7 Sinsadong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
(Apgujeong station: subway Line 3, exit 3)
☎ 02-517 4654
Opens daily
(Lunch)  12:00-16:00 (LO 14:00)
(Dinner) 18:00-till late (LO 20:30)
Company website

Features:
Molecular Gastronomy / Korean fusion
Private rooms available

Recommend:
The Tasting Menu KRW66,000

Comments:
From the information I've researched online about this place, this is apparently to be the first Korean molecular gastronomy restaurant introduced to Seoul.  So being a fan of molecular dining, this has to be on my itinerary.

We didn't end up getting the table in the dining area that I had expected (i.e. what is shown on their website) which had kinda changed the my feel about the place a bit (I didn't realise it till a bit later into the meal).  The area we were seated in seemed to be slightly more casual than their website gallery pic.  My guess is that the nicer area is for dinner or for when lunch time gets crowded...

We ordered the tasting menu which had a total of 6 courses plus an amuse bouche to start the meal off.  The tastes were pleasant overall although if I had to compare it to the molecular gastronomy that I've experienced in Tokyo, I would think this Korean version is still trailing a little behind that of its Japanese counterparts when it comes to the creativity of flavours, combination and presentation.  Nevertheless, I think this is still worth a try and I'm sure there will be more to come from Korea in this new Korean fine dining space.

we took a taxi here as it seemed a bit hard to find if you were to walk and a bit far if you
were to walk from the Apgujeong subway station

the restaurant is on the 3F

we went for the 6 course tasting menu

amuse bouche

1st course

'Jungsik Salad'

2nd course

'Mushroom Quatorze'

3rd course

'Sea Urchin'

4th course

'Thai Lobster'

5th course

'Grilled Kalbi'

6th course (dessert)

'Jang Dok' - in the shape of the traditional Kimchi terra cotta pots

herbal tea & petits fours

if you are trying to walk to the restaurant and you happen to reach the 'Ippudo Seoul' restaurant, walk straight (along the pink arrow shown) until you reach another restaurant on the corner called 'Zen Hideaway'

once you reach the 'Zen Hideaway' restaurant, turn right, go straight to the end of the street, turn left and you should see the Acros building on your right hand side

Budae Chigae (Korean 'Army Stew')

One of my favourite local Korean foods to have (only if it is served with Korean instant noodles), the Budae Jjigae is a kimchi based stew with some of the main ingredients being Korean instant noodles, spam, sausages, meat, tofu, and vegetables.

MARIO Outlet

Outlet Info:
서울특별시 금천구 디지털로9길 23 (가산동)

23, Digital-ro 9-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul

(Gasan Digital Complex station: subway Line 1, exit 1; or Line 7, exit 4; approx. 30 mins from City Hall)

☎ 02-2109-7000 (Travel Info [Korea, English, Japanese, Chinese]: +82-2-1330)

Opens Mon-Thu 10:30-21:00

           Fri-Sun    10:30-21:30

Closed on Seollal (Lunar New Year), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Outlet website Visit Korea website

Features:

Mario 1, 2 & 3 wings

fashion & sports apparel

fast food & restaurants

international luxury brands

mid-range brands

OSULLOC Tea House

Shop Info:
☺☺☺☺
서울특별시 중구 명동7길 12 (명동1가)
12, Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

☎ 02-774-5460

Opens Sun-Thu 9:00-22:30

           Fri-Sat    9:00-23:00

Company website Visit Korea website

Features:

tea from Jeju Province (green tea, black tea, herbal tea, oolong)

tea room & shop

Recommend:

Master's green tea 'Sejak'

Tea leaf infusion pockets

Comments:

When I thought only the Korean cosmetic shops like to give out freebies and samples upon purchases, this tea room/boutique offered this wonderful custom as well.  I didn't buy a lot from the shop - 1 box of 'Sejak' green tea tea bags, 1 box of the special blend 'JEJU Island Dream Green Tea' leaves, and 2 packs of 10 loose leaf tea infusion pockets - but they gave me a free 'Welcome Pack' which was a nicely boxed sample pack of 4 empty tea pockets and 2 packs of different loose leaf teas inside ('Jeju Orchid Green Tea' & 'Samdayeon Jeju Tangerine').  Love these freebies!

wide variety of tea beverages available

brunch & tea sets available

Osulloc green tea

nifty tea bag design - these tea pockets (without the tea) are sold at the boutique

Green Sweet Rice Waffle + Osulloc Tea set KRW9,700

Korean Rice Cake Sandwich + Green Tea Latte set KRW10,700

green tea latte

tea flavoured roll cake

tea boutique

stationery available as well - I liked the tea bag pockets (bottom right) which you can put your choice of tea leaf inside for infusion

my freebie 'Welcome Pack' upon making some purchases from their tea boutique

4 x tea leaf pockets plus 2 packs of different flavoured tea (1 green tea 'Jeju Orchid Green Tea' & 1 oolong 'Samdayeon Jeju Tangerine')

鳳雛찜닭 (BONGCHU JJIMDAK)

Shop Info:

☺☺☺

서울시 중구 명동2가 33-9

33-9, Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

(Myeongdong station: subway Line 4, exit 6, turn left onto Myeongdong, 8-gip Road; go straight for about 300m, turn right in front of Woori Bank, then walk 50m and turn right onto the small alleyway.

The restaurant is 50m ahead on the right.)

☎ 02-318-6981

Company website Visit Korea website

Features:

Andong Jjimdak (安東燉雞) (seasoned and simmered chicken) 

Jjimdak 2 person serving KRW22,000

GAROSUGIL, Sinsa-dong

Street Info:
☺☺☺☺
Dosan-daero 13 gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
(Sinsa station: subway Line 3, exit 8, walk for 2 blocks and turn left at the Missha store on Garosugil)
Visit Korea website


Features:
Hip boutique shops & cafés

Simone Handbag Museum (museum)
around the corner (concept store / fashion boutique)
CLAN BENI (accessories)
coco bruni (chocolatier / café)
BREAD & BURGER Look at Me (burger café)
Mug for Rabbit (café)
A-LAND (fashion boutique)
coffeesmith (café)
the Face Shop (cosmetics)
too cool for school (cosmetics)

Recommend:
Simone Handbag Museum (museum)
around the corner (concept store / fashion boutique)
CLAN BENI (accessories)
BREAD & BURGER Look at Me (burger café)

Comments:
Garosugil literally translates as "tree-lined street" and the one in Sinsadong is a popular one known for its hip boutique shops and cafés.

This has become one of my must-visits each time I come to Seoul.  Not that I really buy anything around here but I just like the feel of this area and enjoy relaxing at the cafés there.