광장시장 일호상회 (ILHO Market) — Restaurant in Seoul

For espresso lovers chasing funk – Ilho has potential, but not quite there yet (for me)

Those who know me know I enjoy a funky, complex espresso – think Glitch in Tokyo or Kaffa in Taipei (check out my other reviews if you’re curious!). Naturally, I had to try Ilho Coffee while strolling through Gwangjang Market – especially knowing it’s run by Korean barista champion.

I went for their signature Gwangjang blend. The setup was promising, but the espresso itself fell a bit short of expectations. It wasn’t as hot as I would’ve liked – possibly sat for a minute before reaching me – and while the flavor was decent, it didn’t quite hit the unique or layered notes I look for in a standout espresso.

Still, it’s a cool little stop for coffee lovers exploring the market, and I respect the concept and craft behind the bar. Perhaps go for their signature latte or other...

I have been looking for awesome Korean coffee since coming to Seoul. Seeing a couple of Korea coffee roaster awards out the front put me at ease. First started by buying 2 bags of coffee to take back with me, and a quick espresso.

I was super impressed that the espresso was served with room temp water (slightly warm) even though there was light snow falling outside. The espresso, on their blend, was bright up front, smooth body and a clean finish. Best I've had here so far.

So... I went and bought a bag of the blend to take home...

And... then I decided to grab a filter coffee to take away... 😅 So I tried the filter blend of 2 Ethiopians. Strange to have such a thing, but the bright acidity and smooth sweetness was an awesome balance.

If you are looking for coffee that you'd expect to find from a Sydney #SpecialtyCoffee cafe, come here....

Let's say you like coffee. You don't even have to love it. Let's further say you're visiting Seoul and you see someone, anyone, with a ILHO cup in their hand. Your next course of action would be to stop them, ask them where they got it (use your device to translate if you have to) and go there directly. I am by no means a coffee expert, but I've been around the block and I can tell you this is the best cup of coffee I've ever had in my life, and I saw Star Wars when it was released...