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Angela Burlilef
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I¡¯ve been living in Ulsan since August 2009 in Mugeo-dong, a great location right near the University. From the day I arrived, I¡¯ve really tried to go out and find those places that would make living in this new, foreign city more comfortable. In my mind, the more familiar I became with Ulsan, the more it would begin to feel like home. It¡¯s been fourteen months since I arrived and in that time, I¡¯ve really come to enjoy a special few shops and restaurants that I feel are worth mentioning for anyone trying to find something new to try out.
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1. 2nd Factory (Coffee Shop)
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The second I stepped into 2nd Factory I knew I had found ¡®my coffee shop¡¯. Located in Mugeo-dong, right across the street from the University, 2nd Factory offers up a great atmosphere for anyone looking to get through a good book, catch up with friends over drinks, or study up on their Hangul. The coffee shop itself is set back off the main street, you¡¯ll see the green and black sign on the main walkway. There is a great wooden patio out front that is great in the summer as 2nd factory also sells beer on tap. They offer the generic coffee options that you would find at most shops around town and have a decent sized eating menu. The real reason I come to 2nd Factory is for the È«Â÷¶óÅ or Hong-cha Latte. A delicious drink of coffee and black tea, 2nd Factory makes one of the best I¡¯ve found in town. The atmosphere and friendly wait staff make every experience their enjoyable, a great place for anyone whose looking to just relax on their weekend.
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2. Namsakar (Indian Restaurant)
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Ethnic food can be hard to come by here in Ulsan, which is why restaurant¡¯s like Namsakar are so appreciated. I absolutely love Indian food and Namsakar has a menu full of options to please anyone who enjoys such food. I¡¯ve brought people to Namsakar that have never tried Indian food before and they left 100% satisfied. Their garlic naan bread is to die for and they have an extensive list of different curries, sure to please any palette. There are now two locations to choose from, the first being in Seongnam-dong and the newest location in Samsan-dong. I prefer the Seongnam-dong location, mostly because the people who work there are incredibly friendly and have come to know me and my friends from our frequent visits. Most speak English so they have no problem answering any questions you may have about the dishes.
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3. Haru (Sushi)
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I¡¯ve tried several different sushi restaurants around town and always end up leaving dissatisfied, mostly due to the fact that I don¡¯t enjoy having my sushi drowning in a layer of sweet mustard sauce. However, this all changed after finding Haru, a sushi restaurant located next to the parking garage of Hyundai Department store in Samsan-dong. They¡¯ve got an enormous selection of sashimi to select from and their Philadelphia roll (cream cheese & salmon) always brings me back for more. I love that you get a small green salad and crab miso soup before your sushi arrives and a small dish of fruit once you finish. The Asahi on tap is a little pricey but a price worth paying after a busy week of regular and seodang classes.
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4. McKenzies (Bar)
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I was brought to McKenzies by a friend who happened to stumble across this hidden bar on a side street in Seongnam-dong. Finding the entrance ban prove a big tricky as it¡¯s set back down a small, tight ally way off a side street, right past the fire station. The sign is literally 12¡±x12¡±, easy to miss unless you¡¯re specifically looking for it. Upon stepping inside McKenzies, you may forget you¡¯re in Korea. The interior of the bar looks like a cabin you would stumble across in the wilderness of Alaska, not the old downtown of Ulsan. It is decorated in what seems to be authentic vintage memorabilia from the states-old rifles and licenses plates, cross country skis, and rustic outdoor gear. They have a great selection of drinks and beer for a decent price and the owner is quite friendly. There is a dart table with real darts to play but my favorite part of McKenzies is the music playlists the owner lets you create as a soundtrack for the bar. Every time I go to McKenzies, the owner never fails to either own or find any song that I can think of. He¡¯s got a computer full of songs from back home that I¡¯ve even forgot about. If you¡¯re looking for a nice, quiet, laid back bar to grab a few drinks with your friends, I definitely recommend stopping by McKenzies in Seongnam-dong.
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