Buena Vista

Tired of Starbucks?  Fancy some live music with your coffee?  Here's Buena Vista.

A cool, independent coffee shop, in the trendy new area being developed just beside MBCine.  Buena Vista was apparently started up by the gentleman who used to run Little Jacob's, by Gyeongsang back gate.  The location has changed, but the coffee is as good as ever and the decor is arty cool, from the ceiling to the toilets - which have incredible industrial-grade iron doors and locks.  Indie Jinju is sometimes very easily pleased!

So what does Buena Vista offer, except nice coffee,and nice views on a rainy day?  Well, it offers variety, for one thing.  Drip coffee for W4500 comes from a variety of sources.  This drinker plumped for the Buena Vista Blend, but they had Columbian, Kenyan and several others, for around the same price.  It may sound a bit steep, but as it came in a pot, there were almost two cups, and refills are only W1500.  The value gets better on espresso-based drinks, which were slightly cheaper and had W1000 refills, I believe.

They also have alcohoic drinks, which is nice to know.  Domestic bottles were a reasonable W4000, while imported beers run at a crazy W7000 - W8000 each.  Nevertheless, it's nice to have the option.  Maybe when Little Jacob reads this, he'll consider a little discount on his priciest offerings!

And finally... live music.  The jewel in the crown; the icing on the cake - hopefully!  Thursday nights are live music nights.  Kicking off at 8pm, Indie Jinju waits in anticipation.  The full review will only be possible after a Thursday visit. 

Buena Vista is certainly trendy-looking, with prices to match, there's no doubt about that, but despite the too-cool-for-school design, the clientele was distinctly down-to-earth.  This was a plus, and helped get Buena Vista a cool 8 out of 10. 

Meister

Yet another addition to the Indie Triangle outside Gyeongsang University back gate, Meister offers something a little different.

As small as it gets, Meister is certainly a curiosity. Cheap beer, not-so-cheap sausages; a friendly atmosphere, with a poker-faced owner. Meister is a series of contradictions - a microcosm of Korea itself, perhaps.

And the beer? Top notch. A decent variety of domestic and imported bottles, at reasonable prices. Notable among them are big German bottles to pour into big German steins.  W6000 may seem pricey, but the taste and volume more than make up for that.   Just what a man (or woman) needs on a Friday night or Saturday morning - Meister opens 7pm-7am;  literally dusk till dawn.

Update: Meister has now moved to a basement location, next door to The Waining coffee shop. The previous bar Club Evans has been taken over by the Meister it seems. More information will be forthcoming - with a review - when the dust settles on this new location.
 

Indie Jinju Links

Indie Jinju would like to take the time to briefly acknowledge another great independent blog, which may have brought you here.  I'm not talking about Facebook either (although that is one of the most prolific sources).  It's called Fun times in South East Korea.
Here's the full link and description:

http://jinjufuntimes2.blogspot.com/

Thoughts, videos and the occasional conspiracy theory about life, and my life in Jinju South Korea.

Big Jim tells it as it is, as always.


It also may be worth checking out Yo Jinju, which offers detailed information on a variety of topics for English speakers living in Jinju.

http://yojinju.wordpress.com/

Although these are great blogs, please note, Indie Jinju is not directly affiliated with, nor writing for, any other blog at this time, and is therefore not responsible for what content may be found elsewhere on the Internet, even if it is linked to this page.  I will always recommend a good, independent read though.

Do

Looking for an unexpected delight? Tired of independent places constantly going western, in their attempt to be alternative? These were some of the factors delaying the latest Indie Jinju entry.  Luckily, the drought ended at Do.

Initially, this place looks like any of the other extortionate, alternative places down the road at Gyeongsang Uni front gate, with a trendy menu board, punctuated with decimals to make the pricing look cool, modern and (possibly) low. This unfortunate fashion however, does nothing to undermine the genuine quality and value that lies down the stairs of Do.

Located in a modest basement, Do makes the best of its location with pleasant arty decor, nicely designed furniture and - importantly - clean, segregated toilets! The ceiling is high, and there's none of the stuffy or smelly unpleasantness that can come with basements. The staff also help. Sharp and attentive, both the owner and waiter do their best to make diners feel welcome. This certainly works for Indie Jinju.

And the food? What a refreshing change - two types of curry! I mean, they had other stuff, but the sight of 'Hot, Spicy Curry Rice' at W4000 was enough for this hungry writer. It didn't disappoint either. An interesting style of curry, which was spicy, but nothing to blow one's socks off. The power was all in the taste and presentation, which was just so different from standard-fare Korean or Japanese curry. This was served with fresh (I mean really fresh and crunchy) salad, white radish kimchi, with a cup of tea or coffee for dessert. The other dishes on the menu will have to wait for another day, or night - the place opens till 3am, which brings us nicely to the next, intriguing point...

Do is a budget, student-orientated restaurant,but it's also a pub. This dimension has just been explored, but you can count on Indie Jinju to do it again, before the week - and the month of April - are out.

Marks out of ten? A solid nine, for a good value and alternative eating experience. With the benefit of a night time visit, Do remains worth 8 out of 10. This is after experiencing the mood after dark, which, with the benefit of the very reasonably-priced and varied selection of booze on the menu, was okay. It did however, lack the bright, cheery atmosphere of lunch time, due to a sparsity of drinkers.  Let's hope things pick up from here on!

Mihyang Dang

So here's a question: Where do you find good Japanese food and drink cheap and authentic? Mihyang Dang is the simple answer.

The authentic part may be disputable, but I certainly haven't found a Korean restaurant owner so thoroughly down with Japanese culture as the boss of Mihyang Dang is. In fact, it would be quite easy to take him for Japanese, with his unique dress sense and personality. This in itself is indie enough for me.

And the nosebag? Great Japanese meals at lunch and dinner time for between W5000 and W7000 for various rice dishes. After 8pm it really becomes more of a bar and drinking becomes the focus. Japanese beer W4000; Korean beer and soju W2000. They did have self-service draught beer for W2500, but this seems to have disappeared. Side dishes such as okonomiyaki are available in the late evening to absorb the alcohol. Domestic bottles (beer and soju) are cheaper during university holidays and exams - ridiculously cheap!

The nice thing about the service in Mihyang Dang is that there isn't any. It's self service, which includes paying! They trust you to pay, and if you can't or make a mistake they'll wait till your next visit.

Marks out of 10? I'll give it 8.5. Japanese pub-style seating up at the bar and a return of draught beer would bump this up another point.

Toast Myeongga

An independent establishment of a different kind altogether, Toast Myeongga is yet another Gajwa original that shouldn't be left off any Jinju guide.

Not a restaurant, nor a cafe, certainly not a bar, Myeongga is the place to stumble to en route to - or back home from - the pub. In terms of sheer affection, this place holds a special place in the heart of Indie Jinju and numerous Jinju legends past and present.

Myeongga is the original toast stall at Gyeongsang University back gate and occupies prime position under the railway bridge. Its appearance is 100% Korean pojangmacha, and anyone who is turned off by this may as well book a ticket home right now. The stalls at the back gate - led by Myeongga - are just a small reminder that Korea is more fun than Japan, and indeed the sterile, anti-fun countries most of us hail from.

So what's the toast like? Bloody lovely, I'd say. For W1700, you can have a ham cheese toast or a bulgogi toast, rising to W2000 for a tuna or special, with a whopping 3 dan (level) weighing in at W2700. The real specialty here though is the cup pizza at a bargain W1800. This is a delicacy I have not seen anywhere outside the Gaj. Sure, it's not as cheap as it used to be, but nothing is, and this is as cheap as it gets in this part of town.

An important thing to note here is the craic. As  a family business, everyone lends a hand and you quickly get to know what nice folks they are. Genuine and down to earth, if you make the slightest effort to communicate, they will never forget you. This, together with fast service and delicious, good value toasted sandwiches, makes Myeongga really special.

The verdict? 9 out of 10. It is what it is; no bells or whistles. That quality alone is a rare pleasure in this world of pretentiousness and Starbucks loyalty cards.

Bandal (now Dal Oasis)

Indie Jinju likes to keep abreast of new developments, and at risk of being too Gajwacentric, it is once again the back gate of Gyeongsang University that has spawned the newest kid on the block: Bandal chicken.

As most people who've lived in Korea a while will know, Korean fried chicken is great, even to those who never touch the stuff back home. Well, Bandal takes it up a level. This tiny, independent chicken hut is run by three women, one of whom was apparently a chef at Outback Steakhouse in Seoul for several years. The training obviously paid off, as the stuff she dishes up here is way better than anything from any chain I've visited.

Okay, so it's fast food, time to calm down. What do they make exactly? Well there are lovely tortillas at W3500, chicken tenders  for the same price and fries for W2500. The tenders and fries come with a very tasty, and well-presented selection of dips, which help set this place apart.  Bandal also serves coffee and a few other extras, that help complete the dining experience.  It's priced slightly above McDonalds, but the golden arches doesn't even come close. All this with a cool, minimalist interior, and equally well-designed, tasteful packaging to take away, makes this the Gaj's top fast food joint.

And the final verdict? 9 out of 10. Full marks could only have been achieved through expanded seating and menu options, including beer, though this would arguably be to the detriment of the overall ambience and ethos of the place. Happy dining - I'm sure it will be.

Bandal has since closed and reappeared as Dal Oasis in Pyeonggeo Dong. A full write up is on the way.Dal Oasishttp://indiejinju.blogspot.kr/2013/06/dal-oasis.html

Soundgarden

So, the only place to start anything Indie in Jinju is the Indie original: Soundgarden. Once the coolest, most genuinely laid-back hangout in Gyeongnam (at the very least). A recent series of price hikes, followed by a renovation had threatened this billing, but what is the verdict on the new So,g?

The exterior is certainly different. A low key sign board is a definite improvement on the jolly yellow giant - a big mistake after the original, iconic red S,og, that we all came to love. Anyone returning from Seoul on an express bus would remember looking out for this, a homing beacon for a well-earned pint. This is all window dressing though, as the proof of the pudding - as far as bars go - is always in the drinking. So what's it like inside? And more to the point, what's behind the bar?

So, it's an Ikea showroom? Well, not quite, but it isn't the hippyish, alternative living room that it once was. Reassuringly, Che Guevara still surveys the scene from his perch. The windows are superb for looking out over the railway, though they no longer provide the excuse to talk to the friendly barmaids working in front of them (the chatty staff were done away with some years ago). The bar is now along the back wall, and looks okay, if somewhat Urban Drinkesque. The staff are fine; helpful, if uninspiring.

And the bevvies? No change: W5000 for a bottled Bud, Stout or Cafri to W9000 for a Long Island, with imported bottles at an extortionate W7000 a pop. Steep, but judging by the clientele, it's the cocktail-sipping couples that will be the mainstay from here on. They do have decent range of spirits too, to be fair.

And the verdict? 7.5 out of 10. It's still the best independent bar in Jinju, with the best music, but that isn't saying much these days. Give it a try. If you are loaded, or don't drink much, this may well be the place for you.

Soundgarden is a special place, and don't get me wrong, it is good, or it wouldn't be on here, but its rating will only improve with a return of good live music and a pricing review. Indie Jinju is fair, but not rich.

Draught beer and live music has returned -  Soundgarden now gets 8 out of 10!

Indie Jinju Launch

Indie Jinju is a blog with a simple aim:

To share information on independent cafes, bars, restaurants and the like with the wider community.

It's great to have you reading.