[Hongdae] What to Eat in Hongdae - Saemaul Restaurant Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ meat is one of the must-eat when you travel to Korea! Here, we have a recommendation for you if you are searching for Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul.

Saemaul Restaurant is one of the famous Korean BBQ restaurants in Hongdae that is located not too far Hongik University Station (Airport Railroad-AREX, Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 8. If you are taking the Airport Railroad AREX All-Stop Train, you can get off at Hongik University Station and have lunch or dinner at this place before heading to the hotel for check-in.

What is the meaning of the restaurant? "Sae" means "new", "Ma-ul" means "village".

Outside Restaurant

Entrance of the Restaurant

When you enter the restaurant, the staff will approach you and bring you to the available seat. Beware that it may be very crowded during peak hours. Thus, it is recommended that you go slightly earlier to beat the crowd to avoid long waiting line. For dinner, perhaps 6pm or 6.30pm on a weekday? :)

Inside Restaurant 

There are TWO popular and recommended dishes in this restaurant:

1) Thin sliced pork (열탄불고기)

2) 7-minute Kimchi Stew (7분 깁치찌개)

Thin Sliced Pork (Image credit: newmaul.com)

7-minute Kimchi Stew (Image credit: newmaul.com)

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(1) Thin sliced pork (KRW 9,000/150g)

Recommended -> Wrap the meat with vegetables! 

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(2) 7-minute Kimchi Stew (KRW 6,000)

The kimchi stew is cooked for 7 minutes only. It is not too spicy and comes with rice. Seaweed are also given to you. How to eat the kimchi stew?

Recommended -> Add some seaweed on top of your rice, put some meat and kimchi from the kimchi stew on top as well.

<Information about Saemaul Restaurant, Hongdae branch>
Address: 331-18 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Website: newmaul.com (Kor.)
Directions: Take Airport Railroad to Hongik University Station, Exit 8.

[AREX Seoul Station] City Airport Terminal

Many of us are not aware of the City Airport Terminal in B2 floor, Airport Railroad (AREX) Seoul Station. If you have taken the Korea Airport Railroad - AREX Express Train in Seoul Station, you might have seen the City Airport Terminal that is located next to the AREX Express Train Ticket counter. It looks exactly like flight check in / baggage drop counter in the Airport. Have you ever wondered what are the services provided at the City Airport Terminal counter?

City Airport Terminal Service is only available for those who will be taking the Express Train. If you are taking an International flight using the selected airlines (departing from Incheon Int'l Airport) and taking the AREX Express Train to Incheon Int'l Airport, you can use the flight check in service at City Airport Terminal.

Please note that this check in service if for passengers who have bought AREX Express Train ticket to depart to Incheon Airport.

City Airport Terminal in Seoul Station 2018

Services provided at City Airport Terminal:

1. Flight Check-in (Boarding and baggage consignment)

2. Departure procedure of Immigration for International flights departing from Incheon Int'l Airport on the day of departure

Operation Hour:

1. Flight Check in : 05:20 - 19:00

*Deadline for check in - 3 hours before flight departure

(Eg: If your flight time is 17:00 at Incheon Int'l Airport, you can use the check in service from 05:20 - 14:00)

2. Departure Procedure of Immigration: 07:00 - 19:00

What Airlines are available?

1. Korean Air

2. Asiana Airlines

3. Jeju Air

4. Eastar Jet

5. T'way Air

*Note: Some codeshare flights and chartered flight may not be available to check in at the City Airport Terminal. Kindly check the details on AREX official website.

Special benefit:

1. Use designated entrance at the departure hall in Incheon Int'l Airport 

Designated immigration gate at Incheon Airport Terminal 1

Designated immigration gate at Incheon Airport Terminal 2

2. Travel to Incheon Int'l Airport using the fastest way (AREX Express Train - 43 or 51 mins), convenient and without baggage.

How to Use the Service?

1. Arrive at City Airport Terminal of Seoul Station (B2 Floor)

2. Purchase Tickets of Express Train

3. Flight Check In (and Baggage drop)

4. Departure Procedure of Immigration

5. Take Express Train to Incheon Int'l Airport

6. Arrive at Incheon Int'l Airport

7. Use the designated entrance at Departure Hall

8. Take the flight, reclaim your baggage at the destination airport.

City Airport Terminal, B2 Seoul Station

To find out more about City Airport Terminal in AREX Seoul Station, kindly visit our website at https://goo.gl/YrY4Wz.

(Updated on 9 August 2018)

[Information about AREX Station] Yeongjong Station

Airport Railroad Yeongjong Station is located in between Unseo Station and Geomam Station. Let's check out this quiet and peaceful station!

1) Station Building

Yeongjong Station is considered a small station. If you are taking the Airport Railroad train to Incheon International Airport, you will definitely pass by this station. Whether you are heading towards the Incheon Int'l Airport direction or downtown Seoul direction, you will be using the same platform.

When you take the staircase or escalator to go up, you will arrive at the ticket gate. For the commutation ticket holders, there is a special card tagging machine.

If you get off at Yeongjong Station Exit 1, you will come to the station building. Basically, all the facilities of this station are gathered at Exit 1.

You will be able to see the Customer Information Center right in front of you whereas Ticket Vending Machine and Nursery is located beside it.

In front of the Nursery, there are benches where you can sit and rest while waiting for the train. Also, the toilets are located near the entrance/exit of the station building.

2) Interior and Exterior of the Station Building

At the entrance/exit of the station, there is electronic message board located above the door.

You may take the staircase, escalator or elevator to get out from the station.

There is a mural art that explains the historical facts about the region where Yeongjong Station is. It is located just right outside the station. This will be useful to you when you feel bored while waiting for the bus or taxi. 

Also, the bus stop and taxi stand is located right outside the station. First, you will come to one bus stop. Cross over to the opposite to get to the taxi stand. From the taxi stand, cross over to the opposite again and there is another bus stop.

On the first floor of the station, there is a parking space for bicycle, motorcycle/bike and car (with fee).

<Airport Railroad Yeongjong Station Car Park - Parking Fee>

Basic - 10 minutes: KRW 300

One Day: KRW 7,000

One Month: KRW 70,000

3) Facilities

There is GS25 convenient store in Yeongjong Station. You will be able to see the store when you enter the station.

There are signs showing the Customer Information Center, Nursery and Ticket Vending Machine. Even if you are not familiar with Korean words, you can recognize those signs easily.

If there is no one at the Customer Information Center, you may press the bell to ask for help.

Starting from 1st July, Yeongjong Station Exit 2 will be available. This will be more convenient for many passengers. (Information as of 02.07.2017)

[Seoul Station] Cafe near Seoul Station - Cafe IMT

There are many nice cafes around Seoul Station. If you have a few hours in Seoul Station before boarding the KTX or Airport Railroad (AREX) Train, you can visit Cafe IMT which is located near Seoul Station Exit 11. 

Cafe IMT is known as Cafe In My Time. They have many branches in Seoul and each branch has different interior design. The Cafe IMT Seoul Station branch is a 4-storey building with spacious interior.

The 4-storey Cafe IMT building is located just 5 minutes walk from Seoul Station Exit 11. When you get out from Seoul Station Exit 11, turn right and walk uphill. On the first junction, turn right and you will see Cafe IMT across the road. The cafe is really easy to find.

You have to place your order and pick it up on the first floor. There are not many tables on first floor. If you like bigger space, you can proceed to second or third floor.

They are open from 7am until 11pm. If you are waiting for early train in Seoul Station, you can head over to Cafe IMT to have your breakfast and coffee. Likewise, if you have a night train, you can also grab some fruit juice or yogurt from this cafe.

Cafe IMT menu:

Americano - KRW 2,800

Cafe Latte - KRW 3,200

Hazelnut Latte - KRW 3,500

Yogurt - from KRW 4,300 

They serve many types of beverages such as coffee, juice, yogurt smoothie, etc. Besides that, they also serve sandwiches and bread. 

Seats on first floor

Hazelnut Latte - KRW 3,500

Second floor

Third floor

Third floor is very spacious and quiet. If you need some personal space to do your work or read some books, this place is perfect for you.

The cafe has very nice interior which makes it a good place for Instagram photos.

Not only Cafe IMT has very pretty interior which makes it a nice place for photos, it is also a quiet cafe with nice environment. If you need some quiet time to read some books or relax your mind, we recommend you to go to this cafe.


Taking the AREX Express Train to Incheon Int'l Airport? Why not stop by this cafe and grab a cup of coffee before boarding the train? You can takeout the drinks and enjoy it in the train too. :)

[Information about Cafe IMT, Seoul Station]

Address: 11-14 Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Directions: Seoul Station (Airport Railroad Line, Seoul Subway Line 1, 4) Exit 11. Walk about 5 mins.

Contact number: +82-2-753-8898
Operating Hours: 07:00 - 23:00

Website: www.cafeimt.com (Kor)