Photos by Chihon Kim ()
The Boxquare, just across from Sinchon Station, is a restaurant complex housed inside of three stacked shipping containers. It opened in last year and has become a hot spot for young people looking for inexpensive and delicious food.
Each of the 34 eateries in Boxquare offer a variety of unique foods and drinks by young entrepreneurs trying their hands at the restaurant industry. You can choose anything from Japanese cuisine to French wine at cheaper price than any restaurant in Seoul. The best part of this space is that you can enjoy the spectacular views of Sinchon while enjoying your meal from the balconies on the rooftop.
One of the popular spots is Food of Lock on the second floor, where you can fill your belly with a “waburger,” a waffle burger, for just 4,000 won ($3.39). The waburger is made with a mix of ground beef and pork topped with island sauce and pickles on soft waffle buns. They also serve up a healthy raspberry vinegar drink that costs just 1,500 won to wash your tasty waburger down. The burger, though a bit small, can be ordered in a set that includes the drink and a side of onion rings for 6,500 won.
At France Gourmet, a wine café next door, try French wine and finger foods at a reasonable price. I sampled the hot-red colored Vin chaud, mulled wine served hot or cold. It was not that strong and had a subtle flavor. I especially enjoyed its scent and appreciated that it tasted more like tea than wine. Thibault Verlhac, is from France and manages the café. Verlhac is knowledgeable on the wine the café stocks and will recommend great food pairings as well.
On the first floor, check out some cheap snacks like the addictively-spicy Topokki, a spicy stir-fried rice cake dish, and Cupbap, a rice bowl mixed with fresh veggies, meat and more. No food item here costs more than 4,000 won.
On Thursdays, street musicians hold live concerts at Boxsquare, making it a lively place for good food and good music.
Address: 22-5 Sinchonnyeok-ro, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Online: http://www.boxquare.kr/, https://www.facebook.com/SINCHONBOXQUARE, https://www.instagram.com/sinchon_boxquare/
