Waffles

From top to bottom: strawberry waffle with gelato; blueberry waffle with cream

Waffles

$38 (waffle with gelato); $28 (waffle with cream)

Pappa Gallo, Langham Place, Mong Kok

On a whim, I stepped into the Pappa Gallo dessert shop in the Langham Place basement and was pleasantly surprised by its diverse menu.  The shop specializes in waffles, crepes and other desserts that would more likely be found in a shop in Korea or in the States than in a Hong Kong restaurant.  I ordered a $28 blueberry waffle while my friend ordered, for $10 more, a strawberry waffle with his choice of gelato.  The presentation of both were exquisitely presented, and no sooner had I taken the above photos than I scarfed down my waffle by the fork-load.  Sweet, filling and inexpensive, that is an unbeatable combination!

In fact, I was more interested in trying out their Lavazza coffee, which can be purchased for only $15 (regular price, $20) with the purchase of any meal.  Unfortunately, I had already had two cups of coffee earlier in the day so that seductive Lavazza will have to wait until I return!

Cafe Coreano

Cafe Coreano, with Combination Waffle
WON 4,500 (coffee)
Beansbins Coffee, Myeongdong, Seoul

I spent a blustery, snowy afternoon inside the Beansbins coffee shop, just off the main thoroughfare in Myeongdong. The lighting was warm, the decor homely and the prices just right for my budget. I tried a cafe coreano and was blown away by its flavor: neither too sweet nor too bitter: in fact, that foamy cup had just the right hints of both! Instantly, I had found my new favorite cup of coffee, in the world.

The next day, I brought my friends to the same shop where this time I ordered a combination waffle to accompany my delicious Coreano. By the time my friends and I had plowed through our food and drinks, we were not only stuffed, but surely satisfied. Beansbins provides the total Korean coffee shop experience, more so than Angel'N'us or the Coffee Bean, what with the Beansbins's ample, commodious seating area and its scrumptious victuals; and, of course, who can forget its affordable, best-in-the-world coffee.