One of the first things we did, when we decided to head over to Korea during our recent company trip was to search for beautiful cafes, and if you did your research right, Irin Iljan definitely pops up in one of the most insta-worthy lists. Lady M and I headed there and it's not hard to see why.
Located at the suburbs of Seoul - Eunpyeong Hanok Village, it's like having a meal in ancient Korea with all the beautiful, rustic houses and rooftops. We went during autumn so our eyes had a feast on trees don in withering brown leaves with mountains and the clear blue skies as its backdrop.
The first thing that hits your senses when you enter is the strong aroma of freshly grounded coffee beans. I need to emphasise - quality beans. You can simply their the difference from the robust notes of the beans. The display of dessert selection would make you want to gobble them up if you had the stomach space.
How to go to Irin Iljan:
Method 1:
1. Take Bus No. 7723 at Exit 4 of Gupabal Station (구파발역) on Line 3.
2. Alight at “Hanago Samcheonsa Jinwansa Temple Entrance” Bus Stop No. 12437.
3. The cafe is just a few minutes walk from the bus stop.
Method 2:
1. Just order a private hire through Kakao T/Uber like we did. It's not that expensive and would save you a lot of time (just make sure you skip the traffic peak hours). For us, we took the train to Gupabal and take a cab.
How to order at Irin Iljan:
1. If you're just having drinks and desserts, you can simply order via the counter at level one, but since it's crowded, and if you're intending to dine in, please secure your seats first!
2. If you're having meals, head up to the upper levels (don't worry there's a lift if you want to skip your leg exercise), the staff will lead you inside the cafe. You can order and pay directly with the staff.
Here's their dine-in meal menu as of November 2024:
Just a heads up that the queue might be long! We queued for almost 30-min, but thank God we got the best seats in the cafe.
With floor to ceiling windows - an unblocked view of the village just for us for the next hour or so. Even walking in the restaurant exudes a different vibe.
For mains, I had the Charcoal Grilled Sirloin Steak (KRW 46K), which I ordered medium but came closer to medium-well instead. Other than that, it's pretty juicy and the sides especially the purees were great. But again, honestly, who came here because the food is good?
Lady M had the Chicken Leg Steak (KRW 34K), which is surprising good with the siracha mayo. If you like Indian cuisine, you would love this. The side salad and bread is good complimentaries, paired with a cup of quality brew, to wash down your palate.
Endnotes:
Food is secondary when you have one of the best views. Mains are average for the slighty hefty price tag, if you are not looking for full meals, go for their desserts instead. Coffee lovers would love this place.
Since you're already there, grab your cameras, and spend half a day exploring the area, do a few pose in front of the rustic buildings, throw some autumn leaves. I mean, you don't get to see these a lot in the city area. Thank God that the weather was lovely that day!
