Good Eats in Sinchon on A Budget

Going abroad can mean exploring new parts of the city and trying different restaurants, but doing so on a budget can be challenging. Here are two of my favorite affordable restaurants near Yonsei that every international student should try. 

Ttalgi Gol

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Ttalgi Gol is a classic Korean homestyle cooking restaurant where each dish comes to around 6,000 won or less. If you are missing mom’s Korean meals then this is the place to go. It sits right down the street from SK Global House, which makes it very convenient for international students. When you walk down the stairs into the restaurant you will see the same friendly employees greet you and invite you to sit in one of the many seats available. The walls are lined with photos and names of the dishes on the menu. Once you know what you want they will take your order right away. I always get kimchi soondubu and steamed mandu. The meal is always served in less than 7-10 minutes no matter how busy they get. Along with the meal you get a variety of banchan that goes along perfectly with the dish. If you go often, like me, you will always see other international students along with locals who live or work near Yonsei, which makes you see how beloved this restaurant is. The only downside is they are closed every Sunday and close around 9 pm, so plan accordingly before trying this delicious restaurant. 

Kkosyong Pork Cutlet

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If you are looking for the perfect tonkatsu then look no further. This restaurant specializes in their pork cutlets. It being the only dish on the menu makes you see how much trust they have in their recipe for a juicy, crisp pork cutlet. For one piece the dish is priced at only 3,000 won, for three you can get it at the cheap price of 7,000 won. Imagine! A meal for only $2! The restaurant can get pretty busy during meal times, especially since the spot is a little hole in the wall with limited seating. You might find yourself sitting across a random stranger if you eat solo as they try to fit in as many customers as they can during their working hours. Once you order it is cash only, and the food comes out right away. It is paired with a miso soup, a side of rice, and a small bowl with sesame seeds ready to be ground up. The tonkatsu sauce is available at the table and once you pour it into the bowl with your sesame seeds you are ready to eat! Open from 11:00 to 20:00 with a break from 16:00 to 17:00.