As I have written about before, U.S.-style brunch is a little difficult to find in Seoul. It is not impossible to get, but many of the so-called “brunch” options include food that is not traditionally included in a classic U.S. brunch, such as strip steak or carbonara pasta. On June 18, I returned to one of my favorite brunch spots with my significant other: Travel Maker in Hongdae.

While most people think of Hongdae for its tourist sites, shopping, and nightlife, this is mostly around Hongdae Station Exits 7, 8, and 9. If you walk from Exits 6 or 3, then you head into the quiet respites of the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park (경의선숲길). This stretches from the Hyochang Park Station in Yongmun-dong, Yongsan-gu to Gajwa Station in Namgajwa-dong, Seodaemun-gu. The entire trail follows an old restored train track and goes for around 6 kilometers.

Around Hongdae Station Exit 3 along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park, there are many unique restaurants, bars, and cafés. There are usually far fewer people here than in other areas of Hongdae, which can be easily congested. Travel Maker is well-known to expats in the area for its breakfast foods.

My significant other, Ms. R, ordered a set which included a buttered waffle, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and two sausage links. As I am a U.S. citizen, I ordered the Obama Breakfast set, which was scrambled eggs, two sausage links, and two slices of toast. I am not sure why this is named after President Barack Obama.

To be frank, the service was not good. We waited near the door for at least 5 minutes while watching servers walk back and forth. We went on a Sunday when times are busiest; however, no one paused for even a moment to address us. When we were eventually seated, the food took longer than expected to arrive.

The food itself was just what we wanted: U.S.-style diner breakfast food. This was not gourmet eating, but we did not come to eat high cuisine. Hot sauce, ketchup, and maple syrup were available on all of the tables. We left satisfied.

Travel Maker is in a good location, serves good food, but has sub-par service. U.S.-style flavored snacks, such as Cheetos, Doritos, and Fritos as well as other U.S. foodstuffs are available for purchase at the counter. There is also a dinner menu that specializes in what it calls Texas BBQ, but we did not have any. If you have a hankering for a classic U.S.-style brunch, give Travel Maker a try.

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Rating: 

Tasteless  |  Bad  |  >> Okay <<  |  Good  |  Tasty

Name (Korean): 트래블메이커
Name (Official English): Travel Maker
Name (Romanized): Travel Maker
Name (Translated): Travel Maker
Website https://www.facebook.com/CafeTravelMaker/
Phone 02-338-1545

Credit Cards? Yes
Apple Pay ^[?]? No
Bathroom? Yes
Reservations? ???
Take out? Yes
Delivery? No
Wifi? Yes
Outside seating? Yes
Wheelchair friendly? No
Alcohol? Yes
Dogs allowed? No
Bike parking? Yes
Car parking? Yes

Date night? No
English-speaking staff? Yes
English menus? Yes
LGBTQ friendly ^[?]? Yes
Information updated on: October ??, 2017
Prices ^[?]: ₩₩₩₩

Hours:
Monday: 08:00 – 23:45
Tuesday: 08:00 – 23:45
Wednesday: 08:00 – 23:45
Thursday: 08:00 – 23:45
Friday: 08:00 – 01:00
Saturday: 07:00 – 01:00
Sunday: 07:00 – 23:00

Address (Korean) 서울특별시 마포구 양화로21길 37
Address (English) 37 Yanghwa-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul