Seoul Street Eats: The Bitesize Guide

By Sandra Vo, Editing Manager

In a city as rich in culture as Seoul, the capital of South Korea, good food might be right outside your door (literally). Seoul’s streets are bustling with a variety of street food vendors, whipping up everything from toasted marshmallow ice cream to spicy chicken feet. While you might need a big gulp of Pepto Bismol the next day, it’s definitely worth the risk. This is a bitesize guide to some of the best street foods that Seoul has to offer.

1. Sotteok Sotteok (소떡 쏘떡)

Photo by Sandra Vo.

Like most modernized foods in Korea, sotteok is a combination between two words: sausage (소시지) and rice cake (떡). Its full name sotteok sotteok doubles as a visual description of the food, which is alternating sausage and rice cake. The entire skewer is covered in a Korean sweet chili sauce, consisting of gochujang (a spicy paste used in Korean cooking, made from red chili, peppers, fermented soybeans, rice, and salt), sugar, and other spices according to the vendor’s fancy. Both the chewy rice cake and the firm sausage makes for a textured meal with the benefit of being tasty.

2. Beef Skewers

Photo by Sandra Vo.

Beef is notoriously pricey in South Korea, but the vendors selling these beef skewers are still able to deliver delicious skewers to satisfy any carnivorous cravings. Although pricier than some street food (sitting at 10,000 won which is about 7.50 USD), this is worth the expense. This particular beef skewer was grilled and then roasted using a butane torch, creating a mouth-water caramelization on the surface of the beef. Be careful eating this one while sitting down, the beef is so juicy that it tends to drip down the skewer and onto unsuspecting laps.

3. Egg Bread (계란빵)

Photo by Sandra Vo.

Korean egg bread (romanized as gyeran-ppang), is nothing less than as advertised. Quite literally a miniature loaf of bed with an egg embedded in the middle, egg bread is popular among street vendors as a quick, warm bite. The subtly sweet taste of the bread paired with the ever-so-slightly gooey egg in the center makes for a popular, cheap snack.

4. Tanghulu (탕후루)

Photo by Sandra Vo.

Although tanghulu, a candied fruit snack, is a traditionally Chinese dessert, it’s taken off in Korea as an extremely trendy and popular snack. Even just around Hongdae, there’s a tanghulu store almost every single block. Street vendors also have their stake in the business, serving up tanghulu in almost every market you can find. Tanghulu is a line of fruit covered in a sugary shell, which makes for a sweet yet tangy mouthful. It’s perfect for those craving dessert that you can eat on the go.

5. Hotteok (호떡)

Photo by Sandra Vo.

People with nut allergens, beware! People without nut allergens, prepare! A pancake with a nut and brown sugar filling, hotteok is just the right amount of sweet and chewy. Hotteok is also a classic Korean street food, especially in the winter time since the warm pancake can also serve as a hand warmer. Some vendors also offer nutella or more savory fillings.

6. Cheesy Lobster Tails

Photo by Sandra Vo.

While almost exclusively available in the Myeongdong (a neighborhood in the Jung District of Seoul, South Korea) night market, these vendors always have a crowd and for good reason. It’s definitely a show to watch how these lobster tails are roasted on the grill and topped with a golden brown layer of cheese. For 20,000 won or 14.80 USD, you can get an entire lobster tail that’s both moist and flavorful.

Boba Stores with Parking Lots

By Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Let’s picture this. The car windows are down and the speakers are turned up as you drive into downtown Denver. You’re elated because you found a five dollar bill in your desk after cleaning up earlier and, combined with the pile of change that’s been piling up in your car’s cup holder, you have seven dollars to spend on a cup of boba. Your friend told you about the cutest new boba place that just opened up, and you’ve decided that you absolutely must go. 

But there’s no parking lot. 

You circle around the block, eyes peeled for any open spot next to the curb, trying not to think about the impending humiliation of attempting to parallel park. You could try heading into a parking garage, but with only seven dollars in your pocket, you wouldn’t even be able to afford being in there for an hour, much less buy boba on top of that.

To remedy that, here’s a list of the top places around Denver that spare you from that parking pain.

1. Kuluka Boba

Located in Westminster, Colorado, Kuluka Boba has all the beauty of your downtown Denver boba stores, but with a parking lot that has spots you can pull through. They also serve a variety of different flavored mochi donuts and Little Man ice cream. For anybody looking for a nice place to spend the day, Kuluka offers booth, table, and swing seating. 

2. Mango Mango

Although mainly a dessert place, Mango Mango still functions as a great place to find boba. Mango Mango offers a variety of drinks, cute seating, and plenty of mango-themed desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. Their mango-shaped chair in front of the restaurant is the perfect mango on top. 

3. Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt

Find a parking spot at something a little more unconventional than your average boba place. Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt specializes in sweet rice and yogurt that’s creamy enough to easily go through a straw, which you can add different toppings to as well. 

4. Kutea

Kutea is the perfect spot to find good drinks inside of a store with a cute atmosphere. They have unique flavors such as the cream cheese smoothie collection, classic Vietnamese juices, and even a place to get a Vietnamese green waffle. 

5. Spill the Tea

Although further up north, Spill the Tea has a parking lot big enough to practice for your driver’s license exam and to find boba. Spill the Tea has a fairly extensive menu, and if you’re craving something to eat as well, you can find a bite of one of their bubble waffles or various cake slices. 

6. Ding Tea

Don’t be fooled by the location inside of Denver, Ding Tea still has plenty of spots for you to fulfill your parking responsibilities. Ding Tea is also a fairly famous chain that has many different options, including their specialty signature milk tea which is a must-have. 

Pretty in Pink: A Review of the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe

By Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Photos by Sandra Vo

Located in the middle of California’s Irvine Spectrum Center, past the swarm of joyfully hollering children and carnival music emitting from the Ferris Wheel Speakers, lies a quiet sanctuary for Hello Kitty lovers everywhere. The Hello Kitty Grand Cafe proudly boasts a pink and white canopy, sleek pink windows, and a logo with Hello Kitty herself sitting in front of a coffee cup. 

Inside, the cafe is decorated just as sweetly as its exterior. Upon entering, guests are met with clean, white walls and several spots for a photo opportunity, such as the Hello Kitty sprinkle wallpaper or the statue of Hello Kitty in the corner. There are two sections of the cafe, one of which is the regular coffee storefront and another room in the back, which is reserved for the special afternoon tea set. 

Since the afternoon tea set was about $60 a person, I decided to stay within the main coffee area. There’s a window that shows the donut making process of the cafe, likely to entice customers with its smell and appearance. The service is friendly and eager, dressed in a pink Hello Kitty apron appropriate with the theme. 

On the day of my visit, I was disappointed to hear that they had already run out of one of the cafe’s specials, the strawberry dream smoothie, even though it was less than an hour since they had opened. However, I was able to get a cappuccino and the strawberry cake. The cappuccino had the classic “Hello Kitty” face drawn on the top with cocoa powder. 

As for the strawberry cake, it was decorated in a white frosting that was so thick and hard that it resembled a candy coating. Unfortunately, it was nearly unbearably sweet, although the portion was a decent size for ten dollars. There was an artificial taste to the jelly inside of the cake, but perhaps its appearance can excuse the poor flavor. 

Overall, the Hello Kitty cafe is a pleasant visual experience if not dining, but should still remain on the bucket list for any Hello Kitty fans or people looking to visit themed cafes.

Le MacDo: How French McDonald’s Compares to the Original American Chain

By Madelynn Loring, Staff Photographer

Picture this. You’re an American abroad in Europe. After eating plate after plate of delicious, wholesome food, you’re missing that all-American artificial dining experience. And then you see it, those gorgeous golden arches: McDonald’s.

This isn’t actually how I ended up at French McDonald’s (or MacDo). The real story is that I didn't realize that literally everything would be closed on Armistice (Veteran’s) Day and good old McDonald’s was my only option if I wanted to eat dinner. However, I had been wondering how the French version of this American classic fast food joint would compare and I’d finally gotten my opportunity.

Photo by Madelynn Loring

The first thing I noticed was that the ambiance of MacDo is much different in France than in America. The restaurants are kept cleaner, the staff is dressed more formally, and there is often a second story for additional seating space. France is also generally more environmentally conscious than the U.S., and French McDonald’s is no exception. If you dine in, you are not given a lid or a straw for your drink unless you specifically request it. Then, once you drop off your tray, there are 4 separate bins to dispose of different kinds of waste (from left to right: liquid/ice cubes, food waste/paper napkins, non-recyclable trash, tray covers). You are expected to clear your own tray like in the U.S., but you will receive some dirty looks if you neglect to sort your trash.

Photo by Madelynn Loring

The food is also a different story in France. Their menu seems to have all of the US classics, including the Big Mac, McChicken, Fillet-O-Fish, and McNuggets, but there are also plenty of French additions, including various salads, wraps, and the McBaguette, a baguette sandwich with cheese, lettuce, hamburger patties, and various sauces. I found the quality of this sandwich to be superior to the sandwich options in the U.S. The patty was similar, but the lettuce appeared more fresh, and the bread is actually baked on site. The quality of the fries was similar to that in the U.S., but that's nothing to complain about in my opinion. 

Photo by Madelynn Loring

The other large difference I noticed in the food was the offerings of the McCafe. The French McCafe offers a large array of viennoiserie (the pasty class to which the croissant belongs) that are not available in the U.S. They also do not tend to offer savory breakfast items, as breakfast in France is almost exclusively sweet. They do, however, offer several types of donuts, which are not available in the U.S. chain, but are stereotypically an American food. My best guess as to why MacDo might offer donuts is because it is viewed as the prime location to get American food. As far as the quality of the MacDo donuts goes, I have definitely eaten worse donuts, but I have also had better, especially in France where all baked goods tend to have remarkable quality. 

Photo by Madelynn Loring

The only way that MacDo falls short of American McDonald’s is the price. For my meal I paid €13.45 (around $13.80 with the current exchange rate). For the French equivalent of a Big Mac meal (burger, medium fry, and drink), you’d find yourself paying €12 ($12.45), instead of the typical $8 price in Colorado. However, given the increased quality of the food, and the fact that MacDo employees are paid a living wage unlike McDonald’s workers in the U.S., I’m not complaining about the bill. 

Though I’m not dying to head back to MacDo, as there are generally better options available for the same price (when it’s not a public holiday), I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and would not count it as a loss if I ended up there again.

SOMOS "GOZA" Community Event

Photography by James Ortiz, Staff Writer

Written by Morgan Jacobus, Editor in Chief

On October 25, the Regis LatinX affinity group, SOMOS, hosted a community event called GOZA, which means “enjoy” in Spanish, which encompasses the main purpose of the event. The goal of GOZA was to foster community and invite non-SOMOS members to enjoy elements of Latin culture they may not have tried before. Various departments came together to help execute the event, including RUSGA, the Spanish Department, and ODEIE. Regis students from all walks of life came to participate and enjoy the festivities. Not only did SOMOS provide music and room to dance, but also an array of Latin food including empanadas, tamales, pupusas, as well as aquas frescas. There was also a spirited round of musical chairs and a pinata! Overall, the event boasted a large turnout and succeeded in bringing together the Regis community to experience LatinX culture.

Empanada Express Grill Review

By Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

Ground beef and potato empanada with Tequenos (Venezuelan cheese sticks).

Photo by Madelynn Loring

I discovered Empanada Express Grill in the same way I have discovered a number of restaurants: I was planning on going somewhere else (Himalayan Spice to be exact), but something came up. In this case, the Himalayan Spice kitchen was closed for maintenance. So, I turned to my best in a decision-making crisis, Google Maps, and just five minutes north was a quaint-looking Venezuelan restaurant. We decided to give it a shot, and, as is often the case on Tennyson Street, Empanada Express Grill did not disappoint.

In my experience, you can tell how good the food at any restaurant will be by the decor, and the traditional clothing and artwork lining the walls prepares you for exactly how delicious the food will be. The plates are huge, and loaded with beans, rice, and a Venezuelan entree of your choice. Regardless of whether you go for an arepa or an empanada, you will not be disappointed. The filling is beautifully seasoned, and the dish is cooked to perfection. 

Shredded beef arepa with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Additionally, they have a large vegetarian selection, so most anyone will be able to find an absolutely remarkable meal that fits their dietary needs. The only exception to this is if you are a lactose intolerant person who actually respects their lactose intolerance. Each dish is filled or topped with cheese, which is delightful if you are a dairy lover like myself. However, if a spoonful of ice cream sends your stomach into fits, you might want to skip out on this grill in favor of something less dairy heavy. But who am I to tell you what to avoid? For a more relevant opinion, I consulted my lactose intolerant friend who says that Empanada Express Grill is worth the stomachache. 

Chicken empanada with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Should you choose to embark on an empanada expedition, here are some tips to make your Express Grill experience go smoothly. As it is “where the locals eat'', the staff primarily speaks Spanish. Thus, it is a good idea to brush up on your restaurant vocab before you go, or go with a Spanish-speaking friend, as I did (though neither of us knew she was going to be translating for us). Secondly, the cost of a good empanada is often oil stains, something I learned the hard way through the marring of my favorite cream-colored sweatshirt. Dark clothes are likely the better choice for your meal. Finally, the restaurant prefers you pay in cash, so it is worth stopping by an ATM on your way to avoid the hassle, especially if you do not have a card that you can tap to pay. 

Overall, my experience at Empanada Express Grill left nothing to be desired, except for perhaps that Regis’s global section could compare to this absolutely delightful restaurant. Though it may be unassuming at first glance, Empanada Express Grill is sure to impress regardless of whether you planned to end up there or not.