Local ARMY Eats Her Way Through BTS Festa Pilgrimage—Again

 

Editor’s Note: Last summer, a friend’s joking suggestion inspired May Hoshida to head to Seoul to indulge her love of all things BTS. It didn’t matter that she didn’t even glimpse any of the Bangtan boys—May was just happy to be surrounded by fellow ARMY, eating some of BTS members’ favorite foods. This year, she did it again. Here’s her foodie recap.

 

It’s June, and BTS Festa 2024 and Jin’s discharge from the military are here! As ARMY, there are no better reasons to visit South Korea, especially while the other six members of K-pop’s superstar boy band are still serving their country. Joining fandom from around the world, I stand in line for hours to buy coveted ARMY Zone items and immerse myself in events celebrating the anniversary of BTS’ debut in 2013. Overjoyed to even be outside Jamsil Arena, a Japanese ARMY and I watch Jin’s welcome back performance on my phone. We tear up at finally seeing our Astronaut live (sort of). Her friend is inside—she is one of the lucky ones who won a golden ticket to watch the performance in “3D.”

 

Part 2 of my solo BTS food-centric journey, a continuation of Part 1 in 2023, is off to an exciting start.

 

 

---

 

HUSTLÉ 허슬네

In the basement of an Yeouido office building is a quaint restaurant filled with glossy portraits and memorabilia of Jimin and Jungkook. The chef-owner, who is ARMY, set up the space as a living shrine to them. Unfortunately, a sign on the door translates to, “We are sorry. The ingredients are exhausted. Please come back tomorrow.” Resigned, I head back to street level, but a security guard who helped me with directions earlier leads me back downstairs and talks with the owner. To my surprise, she asks if I can wait 20 minutes because she’s busy cooking for another table. “Yes!” I reply gleefully.

 

 

The menu of home-style dishes has about 10 reasonably priced items, including spicy stir-fried chicken (dukgalbi), stir-fried squid (ojingeo bukkeum) and spicy beef soup (yukgaejang). I order the stir-fried spicy pork set, which comes with refillable banchan, soup and rice for 11,000 won ($8). The pork is tender and bursting with gochujang flavor, a nice pairing with the tofu soup and banchan. I am stuffed to the brim.

 

There is something amusing about scarfing down my dinner under the gaze of Jikook. I really can’t get “Closer Than This.”

 

 

I thank the owner and her mom again for welcoming me despite being done for the day. They are beyond lovely and make me feel like a VIP, gifting me with a lime Pepsi to go with my dinner and photos of Jimin, Jungkook and OT7 after settling my bill. I hope all the members get to eat here—everything about this place is heartwarming and memorable. This is a must-visit for ARMY!

 

25 Uisadang-daero 1-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Korean address for Kakao Map: 서울 영등포구 의사당대로1길 25）

 

---

SEE ALSO: Meet BTS Choreographer and Dancing Queen from Waipahu, Sienna Lalau

---

 

OTSU SEIROMUSHI 오쓰 세이로무시

Without a winning ticket for Jin’s fan hug or in-person performance, I console myself by dining at his brother’s restaurant. After an unsuccessful attempt at making an online reservation, I head to the restaurant on my first day in Seoul and secure a lunch spot for the following week. I highly recommend making reservations.

 

When I return for my highly anticipated reservation, I learn that photos are not allowed inside out of respect for the patrons, which is understandable, but pictures of the food are acceptable.

 

 

The speciality here is seiromushi, a Japanese method of steam cooking. I submit my order on the tablet—a lunch set of Jeju black pork, four types of sashimi, rice, soy bean paste soup and banchan (pickled cucumbers, gobo and marinated garlic). The set requires a minimum order for two people, but there are a la carte options as well.

 

The sashimi arrives quickly, followed by artfully arranged pork slices in a square bamboo steamer. The server instructs me to wait seven minutes (yes, 7) to allow it to cook atop a metal tray with simmering water. The meat is similar in consistency to shabu shabu and I savor it, lightly dipping it alternately in sesame and ponzu-like sauces. Fresh and firm, the tuna and amaebi sashimi are the highlight of my meal. “Super Tuna,” indeed!

 

 

For dessert, the shiso sherbet adorned with fresh mango piques my interest. I gasp in amazement at the fruity and herbal flavor combination—it is light and refreshing, and I could easily eat two more. This is the perfect ending to my meal. My bill for today’s lunch is 64,000 won ($46).

 

 

Upon leaving, I ask permission to take a picture of the BTS whale painting hanging in the walkway. A reference to their song “Whalien 52,” it is a powerful symbol of their artistry.

 

International Financial Road 2nd Street 36, Basement 1st Floor, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

 

---

SEE ALSO: Thank You, BTS, for Giving Me Permission to Dance

---

 

CAFÉ LUCKY DUCKY

Nestled in a side street near one end of Myeongdong’s night market lies a café that celebrates BTS and K-pop. Café Lucky Ducky is a hidden gem I stumbled upon last year and vowed to return to. This year’s BTS anniversary theme is Love Landing Passport, and the café is decorated in airport-themed pastels. Customers are a mix of local business people and ARMY.

 

 

From the Pop Up BTS celebration menu, I order a blueberry ice tea and a black sesame cake. It comes with a themed drink cup, a passport, a boarding pass, four photo cards and a mini poster. I can’t believe I am receiving all this for only 13,500 won ($9.50).

 

The layer of black sesame mousse in the cake is airy and light, while in perfect contrast, the bottom half is dense and moist. My lightly sweetened blueberry ice tea is a refreshing accompaniment. Lucky Ducky is the ideal location for me to fangirl while indulging my sweet tooth.

 

 

Upstairs, I try my hand at the 2,000-won lucky draw table and score a Jimin keychain! Although its BTS anniversary celebration runs only two weeks, the café holds pop-ups for BTS birthdays and other K-pop groups year-round. You can also create a personalized T-Money card of your favorite idol in the hotel lobby next door.

 

16, Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (4 minutes from Euljiro 1-ga station entrance), @lucky_ducky_cafe

 

---

 

K-FOOD FESTIVAL WITH GIANT BT21 FOODIE RJ

 

 

In Gwanghwamun Square at Sejong-ro Park, a K-Food Festival began in May and is ongoing. A collaboration between the Knock Knock Festival and BT21, it runs every Wednesday to Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. A vivid map of the grounds at the entrance shows a dozen food stalls, plenty of seating options and a giant inflatable Foodie RJ that will be there through the end of June.

 

 

I take a snapshot with Jin’s adorable Welcome Back alpaca and walk around perusing the food offerings. Everything is designed for handheld eating. I begin with a salt-and-pepper chicken skewer for 5,000 won (about $3.50), continue with a chocolate-stuffed churro for 3,500 won (about $2.50) and finish with a sotteok seottoek (sausage and rice cake skewer) for 4,000 won (about $3). I contemplate getting seconds of the generously portioned chicken skewer and warm, crispy churro, but the rice cakes have expanded in my stomach. I would return in a heartbeat for the two tasty items alone. Meanwhile, I watch longingly as many Korean fried chicken plates pass by. It’s something I’ll have to remember for next time. This event gets a thumbs-up from both me and Cutie Foodie RJ!

 

 

As a side note, all the booths have tablet menus in English that let you bypass the need for a Korean phone number; you receive an order number instead.

 

Gwanghwamun Square at Sejong-ro Park (near Gwanghwamun & Gyeongbok Palace), @knockknock_festival, @bt21_official

 

---

 

All in all, Part 2 was a full, filling and fulfilling trip. I may not make it to Festa 2025, when six of the seven BTS members will be back to reunite with ARMY. But I know there will be a Part 3. Maybe I’ll see you in Seoul!