Korea DAY 8: (Pt. 1) The Laundry, 곁에 Coffee + Kyochon Chicken

​When researching accommodations, I had advocated for The Link, noting its newness and sleek design. Despite being the priciest of our four stays, it definitely satisfied - and even exceeded - our expectations.

I slept past 7 AM for the first time since the start of the trip, barely waking in the middle of the night. The comforter was plush and comfortable, while the room was well-ventilated, unlike how treacherously stuffy Four Points had been.

​The drawer above the mini fridge was well stocked with ceramic mugs, wine glasses, and even instant mix packets of illy coffee. I brewed one for myself, but rapidly switched back to Kanu in sampling the wateriness of the renowned Italian brand. Breakfast would be Post corn flakes plus a few bites of a bread roll we acquired last minute before departing Lotte Mall. ​As the hotel room did not supply utensils, I was glad to have included my travel-sized set - complete with can opener! - in tow.

​I couldn't resist taking to the O-Sulloc spread for morning snacking either. The package of Matcha Pretzels were ripped open without hesitation, revealing bite-sized snacks embodying bitterness, crunch, and moderate sweetness mixed with savoury undertones. The combination was undoubtedly unique, though not one I'd be eager to repurchase for 5400 KRW.

​Laundry would assume my first order of business. The detour was utterly unplanned, but critical for the remainder of our stay. After experiencing lower temperatures than expected in Jeju, I had quickly ran out of clothes due to the need for layering. The night before, I had shortlisted a number of laundromats, eventually settling on the closest location about 10-15 minutes on foot. Though my browsing partner did not have laundry needs, I was joined for the trip anyways.

​Normally, I would have proposed heading solo. In hindsight, I was grateful for the extra pair of hands since I hadn't realized the sheer amount of clothing I'd need to carry. Transporting clothes beyond the place of stay was a new foray for me, but The Link's alternative of 6000 KRW per one pair of socks was just ludicrous.

​We weaved through a cluster of residential complexes, most seemingly occupied by the elderly. Between the interlock walkways were ramps that had evidently been added following construction. My browsing partner reckoned that these buildings were government housing offering rent control, as they adopted an identical layout. I couldn't be sure of such a claim in a foreign country, though I did find the neighbourhood to have humble origins.

​Our destination of the Laundry was a twenty-four hour, self-serve laundromat. It resided on a collector, but was nestled in a predominantly residential area bordered by schools, churches, and convenience stores.

​A push of a button opened the sliding door. Within, we were faced with the second biggest language barrier since driving in Jeju. Again, I encountered vocabulary with which I was not familiar. Besides being able to decipher the headers of "Basic Washing Course" (기본 세탁코스), "Special Washing Course" (특수 세탁코스), and "Drying Course" (건조기 코스) and weight labels of 20 kg or 30 kg, the specifics of the pricing list were beyond me. Even more so were the printed and handwritten signs affixed about the facility with packing tape.

Thankfully, with the assistance of Google Lens and context extrapolation, we reasoned that the load was unlikely to exceed 20 kg and was perfectly fine with cold water. Outerwear and blankets, presumably bulky comforters, were priced differently. Our load comprised of standard laundry items, thus could likely be accommodated by the most budget-friendly washing and drying options.

The washer and dryer units operated using 500 KRW coins. As my browsing partner stood with crossed arms beside me, I fed my 10,000 KRW and 1,000 KRW bills into the machine for conversion. While both of our clothes would make their way into the wash, the fees were not divided equally, since the idea was apparently mine and mine alone.

​Next to the coin converter was a dispenser for dryer sheets and carrying totes, including an XL IKEA tote for 2000 KRW. According to the translated signage, detergent was apparently automatically dispensed with washer operation; only additional items such as dryer lint would be extra charge. My browsing partner revealed a scrunched nose at my suggestion of a dryer sheet. I preferred my clothes to adopt a clean scent after washing, though didn't mind avoiding the extra charge either. We settled on the basic settings and navigated over to the duo labelled "A Unit".

​It wasn't until after unloading our clothes into the washer that we found the coin receiver taped over. Grudgingly, we retrieved the clothes and shifted to "B Unit". A wire basket trolley was especially helpful in this case. Normally, I would have refrained from using public equipment wherever possible, but the apparatus was found satisfactory following a quick hygiene inspection. Generally speaking, the facility was quite clean - shockingly so.
Along the perimeter of the laundromat were tables and chairs, likely for use by customers while waiting for their load to finish. Each station as equipped with corded headphones, enabling customers to watch videos during their stay without disturbing others. At our time of visit, a bespectacled lady was positioned near the duo reading "D Unit". She seemed unbothered by our entrance, spending her time scrolling her phone or transferring thick blankets between the washer and dryer.

The coarse would span about twenty minutes or so. During this time, I suggested trekking over to explore the west side of the collector road.

​The coarse would span about twenty minutes or so. During this time, I suggested trekking over to explore the west side of the collector road. On the east side, we passed a community centre, library, and impressive-looking church. The scene transformed into a network of industrial facilities once we crossed over.

​Before long, a wooden sign reading "Coffee Roasters" caught my attention. Excitedly leading the way up to the second floor, I lay eyes on colourful posters with clean edges - they exuded a vibe entirely unlike its adjacent vendors.

Surely enough, I found the advertised roaster of 곁에 Coffee.

​We were greeted immediately upon entry. The space was formidably cozy, fitted with potted plants and warm-toned lighting to yield a leisurely, soothing atmosphere. Half of the coffee shop was dedicated to roastery equipment and coffee preparation; the other half included a seating area. At the very back of the establishment were speakers and a small selection of local artwork. BOL4 played on the screen in the distance. 곁에 Coffee had indeed lived up to its described reputation of a hub of coffee, culture, and music.

​After a quick glance around the café, we decided on staying momentarily for a late morning java boost.

The hat-donning, long-haired staff member behind the cashier reminded me of baristas in Toronto - the laidback kind that would find oneself enjoying the aura of West Queen West and the Ossington strip. I attempted to order in Korean first, but the cashier transitioned to English in hearing the discussion between my browsing partner and I.

​We took to a Cold Brew to go, House Filter, and two individually packaged Drip Bags. The total came to 29,000 KRW, which was admittedly high for the handful of items. I paid anyway, not thinking too deeply about the amount.

It was only when being presented with our order that all parties realized the mistake: the cashier had mistaken two drip bag pouches as two boxes. He apologized immediately, repeating that it had been his mistake for misunderstanding. I assured him that it was no problem at all, but asked if I could swap one of the two drip bag boxes for a bag of beans instead. I wasn't entirely sure if he understood my request, but, regardless, the swap wouldn't have been possible due to the price difference.
The man apologized again and requested my attention at the kiosk for a refund. Payment was settled once more in the following order:

• Drip Bag (x2): 2,200 KRW
• House Filter: Legato; 5,000  KRW
• Cold Brew - Black; 3,500 KRW
• Package in can; 500 KRW

In the meantime, my browsing partner remained stationary, enjoying the Legato House Filter in a beautifully decorated wide-brimmed cup. After settling the ordeal, I quickly snuck a sip. My eyes widened at the palette: robust, aromatic, and neither too dark nor too sparkling, I immediately took a liking to the brew. Naturally, I also began eyeing the Legato beans used to craft the concoction.

​Requesting my Cold Brew in a can entailed a 500 KRW surcharge. This was a small fee to pay for the convenience of preservation. I was looking forward to chilling the beverage for consumption the next morning, as opposed to on the spot.

Although the establishment was compact, I decided to inquire of the presence of a bathroom anyway. The cashier gladly presented me with the key and informed that facilities were available a half-floor down. Descending down one flight of stairs led me to a locked door.
The bathroom was revealed to be an extraordinarily compact platform rivalling the size of a mechanical room. Housed within were all the essential components of a unisex bathroom: a toilet, urinal, toilet paper dispenser, and garbage bin.
Considering the industrial neighbourhood, I hadn't expected the facilities to be so pristine! The toilet was white and practically gleaming. It appeared that I was the first user of the day.

But there was one element of concern: Where was the sink? How would I wash my hands?
And then it struck me. The knob on which I had hung the washroom key featured a blue tube that led to the drain. "Could it be...?" I wondered.
It was! Turning the knob allowed water to pass through the tube and facilitate handwashing. I was equally perplexed as I was amazed.
Soap was not present on the premises, so I settled to spray my hands with sanitizer before rinsing once more to prevent skin irritation. The floor was now wet, so I made sure that all my belongings were securely zipped within my pockets before moving. If uncareful, one could be the victim to damp pant legs or a sludge-covered phone. The space was outstandingly small, after all. The average North American woman would likely have struggled to rotate one's body once inside.

Climbing down the platform, I carefully closed the door and headed back up the stairs, eager to recap my findings with my browsing partner.
"That stall is definitely not up to code." came the matter-of-fact response.
I paused for a moment before answering. "Probably not. It's also not accessible either with the step."

​Another party had entered and promptly taken over the communal table during our short-lived stay. I presumed the group of middle-aged men to originate from one of the many industrial businesses nearby, for they surely did not seem to be the types to analyze various types of coffee beans and their brewing potential.

Before departing, I swiftly grabbed two bags of the Legato Pour Over beans from the shelf. One would be for me, while the other my coffee-loving coworker. The cashier-barista apologized again for the mistake, and thanked me for my business. He asked of our origins as well, but appeared shy in taking compliments about his caffeinated handiwork.

Exiting the coffee shop in high spirits, I ecstatically announced my joy towards finding the hidden gem. 곁에 Coffee had overruled the previous conclusion that all Korean coffee was bland and expensive.

​We exited the industrial area on a different path from which we came. By this point, we were overdue to retrieve our laundry.

​The lady who had previously been tending to her blankets was now gone. The wire basket trolley was summoned once again for transferring damp clothes into our mesh tote and to the dryer.

​We returned to the hotel to drop off my 곁에 finds and hang dry laundry, taking full advantage of the spacious clothing rack in the room. Needless to say, my foldable hangers and clothes drying contraption came into handy once again.

​When we emerged at street level, it occurred to me that we had already entered the early hours of the afternoon. Kyochon Chicken, which was conveniently located across the street, was proposed as the late lunch destination.

​The Sindorim outpost was compact, featuring just a handful of tables for dine-in. The entire shop was manned by a single employee, who somehow managed takeout orders and calls all on her own. Before settling on dining in, I reviewed the menu in detail. Concerns regarding peanuts were related to the staff member, who gestured towards the allergen list pasted in front of the counter. Only one variety of Kyochon Chicken was listed to have peanuts. Nevertheless, I asked about the potential of cross-contamination - in my broken Korean. While the staff member did not have any issues comprehending my attempts at the Korean language, she appeared visibly confused at the concept of cross-contamination, as it was assumed that varieties that did not list the ingredient would be automatically free of the allergen in question.

Taking her word with regards to peanut-free varieties, we decided on the Kyochon Corn Original Chicken for 20,000 KRW. I had also requested a side salad to pair with the unavoidably greasy main, but was told "떨어졌어". In my head, the phrase translated to "fell down". Given the server's apologetic expression and context though, I presumed the phase to mean "ran out/become unavailable". We requested Potato Wedges for 7000 KRW instead, plus a bottle of Cass for yours truly.

During the preparation time, I scrambled to retrieve the dried laundry, place them back in the hotel room, and rush back to eat.

Despite taking a wrong turn initially, I somehow managed the trip in just twenty-two minutes when navigating solo.

​By the time I returned to the restaurant, perspiration had begun to form along my forehead.

​Coincidentally making my entrance seconds after the spread had been delivered, my browsing partner acknowledged my speediness, noting that a notification message was still in the midst of being drafted.

​Kyochon Chicken truly lived up to its name. Phenomenal was Korean Fried Chicken in its country of origin. The Kyochon Corn Original not only flavourful, but unthinkably crunchy. Often are subsequent bites of the same flavour profile deemed boring, but Kyochon's rendition was addicting, retaining depth with each bite. The breading also possessed magnificent magnitudes of texture, while the interior persisted supple, tender, and juicy. North American wannabes could hardly come close to this masterpiece! Moreover, the portions were incredibly generous at its given price.

We also found the packaged pickled radish to be tastier than back home. The lingering aftertaste of preservatives is not uncommon in Canada, but the Korean edition tasted oddly fresh. Before we realized, the container was rapidly depleted. The mu (무) was perfectly crunchy and acidic without veering onto the sweet side of the spectrum. It succeeded in alleviating heavy, grease-induced sensations without distracting from the crispiness of either the chicken or equally crispy and delectable Potato Wedges.

​The 500 ml bottle of Cass took me by surprise. I had anticipated a 330 ml can at best, but was surprised to come back and find two glasses plus the substantial bottle. My browsing partner would not be consuming any part of the alcoholic beverage, thus the undertaking strictly fell on my shoulders.
It was quite the simple feat though, dare I say, for Cass offered a refreshing, delightful outlook unlike those previously sampled. Not even Kelly could compare to its invigorating qualities.

​By the fifth or sixth piece, my stomach had reached capacity. I was beyond full, with mild soreness developing on the insides of the mouth due to the deep-friend nature of the meal.

​My browsing partner continued to tackle the assortment slowly, leading us well past the 3 PM mark.

One final hotel stop would precede the rest of the day's adventures. We checked out the gym briefly, obtaining water bottles for later hydration.

​The serene, greenhouse-like visuals of the pub and pool was admittedly bewitching. Unfortunately, guests were not permitted within under the reasoning of ongoing construction.

Read Part 2 HERE !