Written By Sesam Rana Magar, Terafty Manager
The irresistible visuals of delectable Korean dishes served in generous portions and accompanied by the ASMR sounds of food eating, captivate all. This particular form of entertainment goes by the name ‘Mukbang,’ and its popularity is huge, especially when presented by Korean idols.
Korean reality-variety shows often showcase the mukbang of Korean idols. There are many such instances where the idols have suggested or featured their favorite cafes in such shows. Moreover, since cafe culture is a significant part of modern Korean culture, Korean idols are often seen hanging out in their favorite cafes and discussing their experiences, foods and services.
Here, we explore some of the Korean cafes cherished by idols.
1. Yoojung Sikdang
Yoojung Sikdang is a cafe located in Seoul, popularized by the globally popular boyband, BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan). The cafe was extensively featured in “BTS Rookie King: Channel Bangtan”, a variety television series by BTS. It used to be the go-to eatery place for BTS during their rookie years since it was close to their old company building. The members were also close to the cafe owners.
The cafe is a must-visit place for the fans of the boyband and is included in most of the BTS tour packages in Korea. It is entirely decorated with photos and merchandise of the group members. It is large and is often crowded with people, especially during lunch and dinner hours. Some of their popular dishes on the menu include Yoojung Ssambap, Bibimbap and Budaejjige. The cafe is also featured in the popular Korean drama “Itaewon Class.”
2. Daehan Gopchang
Daehan Gopchang went viral when Hwasa from Mamamoo ate gopchang from the restaurant on MBC’s reality show “I Live Alone.” The small catering business rose to new heights of success after getting featured in the show and diversified the restaurant business by expanding its chain throughout Seoul and Korea and now, in the United States. The restaurant trended across various social media platforms as well.
Later, Mamamoo became an official brand ambassador of the restaurant, leading to the increased popularity of Gopchang in Korea. Gopchang is usually grilled beef intestines, sometimes pork. At the restaurant, the staff shows exciting performance while serving the dish.
Daehan Gopchang is the epitome of how powerful the influence of celebrities in businesses is. Once a struggling business is now thriving and gaining success, all because of Hwasa and Mamamoo followed by the hard work and service quality of the restaurant.
3. Dore Dore Cafe
Dore Dore Cafe is a pastry hub in Korea popular among Korean idol groups such as Jessica Jung, IU, Twice, Blackpink, etc. They serve sweet treats and coffee which is 100% roasted on their own. The cafe also became popular because of its trendy rainbow cakes.
A thing that largely differentiates Dore Dore from other similar sweet eateries is along with the taste, they have highly Instagrammable cakes. Thus, many Korean idols have featured Dore Dore’s cakes on their Instagram and other social networking sites. Their cakes are not only fulfilling to the tummy but fulfilling to the eyes as well. The cafe has well-utilized the famous phrase in the food industry, i.e. “One eats with his eyes first before mouth” and has benefitted from it.
4. Comfort Seoul
Many people discovered Comfort Seoul through the Instagram posts of Blackpink’s Jennie. When Jennie posted a series of photos of herself from the cafe on her Instagram, her fans tracked down the location and visited the cafe. After Jennie’s visit, people queued for as long as two hours to visit the cafe.
Many content creators too explored the cafe and claimed that Jennie’s visit certainly skyrocketed the popularity of the cafe, but, even without any celebrity association, the cafe would have become an iconic spot sooner or later. The cafe has many things to offer. It is not just a cafe, but also a cultural space in Huam-dong. The cafe is located on the 4th and 5th floors and from the 5th floor which is a rooftop, the visitors can see the view of Seoul.
Numerous news outlets apparently reported that Comfort Seoul was on the brink of bankruptcy and would have gone bankrupt if Jennie’s influence had not increased the number of cafe visitors. Hence, Jennie yet again demonstrated the power of her influence and it shifted the trajectory of the cafe.
5. Solbin Superdog
Solbin Superdog is a cafe recommended by Kim Hee Chul of the 2nd Generation boy band, Super Junior. The cafe is located in the Apgujeong Rodeo Street. The foods on the menu of Solbin Superdog are tacos, hot dogs, rice bowls and many more and out of all of them, Heechul’s favorite is the spicy hot dog. He is often spotted in the cafe grabbing his favorite dish. He mentioned this cafe in a show called Olive TV “Tasty Road.”
6. Chosun Hwaro
Chosun Hwaro is a popular dining place among Korean celebrities, especially BIGBANG. The restaurant is located near YG Entertainment. So, celebrities of the company are regular customers at the restaurant. The cafe is decorated with autographs and photographs of BIGBANG and other popular celebrities. The eatery is famous for its grilled ribs.
7. Cofioca
EXO Sehun’s fondness for bubble tea is known to many K-pop fans. His favorite bubble tea place is a small cafe called “Cofioca,” a place he has been frequently visiting since his pre-debut days. He made Cofioca famous among his other EXO members, people at SM Entertainment and his fans.
Unfortunately, after 20 years of service, the cafe closed down on May 30, 2022. Although the cafe has closed down, the fans often talk about the cafe and remember the memories of the events organized there. The loyal fans and customers are sad to see it go. Nevertheless, the memories made at Cofioca will last forever.
Conclusion
Korean idols have a great influence over the preferences of their fans. They have often shared their favorites which have positively impacted businesses. Their recommendations seldom disappoint, making them reliable for K-pop enthusiasts to explore Korean cafes during their visit to Korea. For those who share a passion for K-pop or simply enjoy exploring Korean cuisines, the aforementioned cafes are recommended for your next visit.
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