Photos by: 성범경 Instagram: bigk_art
Warning: The follow article may have an unnecessary amount of British jargon which I have heard sparingly over the course of my time in South Korea.
Bulldogs is one of 50 restaurants profiled in Itaewon Eats 2015! Click here to download!
First of all, thanks to my friend 성범경 for the awesome photos. They were all taken by Seong minus the second mash and gravy hotdog and the Bulmers (I drank it too quick). He is truly an excellent photographer and all around talented designer. Check out his Instagram, and while you are at it, why not check out my Instagram: derekvslp where all my pictures are posted before they hit the blog! Anyway, after a long, long month of English camp plus my regular job, we decided to head to Itaewon for a night of good food and cheer! I’ve seen some amazing photos of Bulldog’s hot dogs, particularly the mashed potatoes and gravy, and since I need something in my stomach before a long night of spirits, we decided to hit it up before hand.
How to get there: Easy as pie. Take the subway to Itaewon Station and depart from Exit 3. Make a 180 and start to head down the street away from the Hamilton Hotel. You will see a Taco Bell on your left. About 250 meters ahead will be Bulldogs on the second floor across from Left Coast Artisan Burgers
Service and Atmosphere: As you walk up the stairs to Bulldogs, Hermione and Harry stare at you from the bathroom door. We walked in pretty early by pub standards, so naturally it was vacant. The atmosphere was peaceful, but I can imagine it gets pretty wild later on when you are craving some of their fries. British faces hang on the wall, staring at you with their cool, sophisticated English eyes. Fun game we played: challenge non-Brits to name the pictures on the wall. I got 7 out of 8 (missed Kate Moss).
A sleek, modern interior with grey brick walls, Bulldogs has a touch of class. It’s not a soccer (sorry football) bar where the lads will smash a chair over your head for cheering against a rival socc.. football club. In fact, it would be completely acceptable to take a date here. Service was good. There was nothing that really stood out about it, but nothing that was detrimental to my visit. Food and drinks were served promptly and the server was polite. Nothing more, nothing less.
Food and Drink: We definitely needed a drink after class. We ordered two Balmers, one Butter Beer, Bulldog Fries, a Full English Breakfast, three Mash and Gravy Hotdogs, and three Say Cheese Hotdogs.
Bulldog Fries (12,000KRW): This could very well be up there with some of the best fries I’ve ever eaten. The four of us devored the plate, so much so, that we contemplated ordering another plate immediately after. The fries were perfectly cooked and seasoned. They topped with a generous portion of bacon, garlic mayo and steak bits. I mean, how can you not love those flavours right there? A little sautéed kimchi and cole slaw on the side gives the Bulldog Fries a nice illusion of health. Cheers mate!
Say Cheese!! Hotdogs X3 (11,500KRW): So much cheese you might be constipated for a week. The sausage was a medium-sized breakfast sausage. For some reason, I envisioned a German braut, but with that said, it was still filling. Cheddar cheese, topped with some nacho cheese and jalapeños makes this hotdog very flavourful and dare it say it.. cheesy? Lame. I don’t know if I would get it on my next visit, as there were other options that looked appealing, but if you are a fan of cheesy hotdogs with a little spice, this would be the choice for you.
Mash and Gravy Hotdogs X3 (14,00KRW): These were the hotdogs I had my eyes on all night. The idea of my favourite foods (mashed potatoes and gravy meeting hotdogs) sparked my intrigue. They did not disappoint. In fact, they kicked the ball right in the back of the net. The mashed potatoes were topped with crispy onions, which gave the hot dogs a nice crunch to go along with the flavor. I really liked how the onions complimented the flavours of the potatoes and gravy. The sausage was cooked perfectly. The best part? They are generous with the gravy, even drizzling it on the bun. Perfect.
Full English Breakfast (14,000KRW): Well, this is what PK had and he wasn’t disappointed and in fact, in his charming Irish accent he called it “lovely”. It sounds better than it reads. A very generous portion of food including sausage, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, a fried tomato, hash browns, English muffin, scrambled eggs and toast. There is something comforting about having breakfast in the evening, especially in the winter. The only thing missing, which will be shocking to Brits, was HP Sauce… whatever the hell that is. PK was cheesed off.
Bulmer’s Cider (11,000KRW): Bulmers is good when the mood strikes, but in this case, I don’t think it was the wisest of decisions. Bulmers has that refreshing fruity taste didn’t blend well with the sausages. Anyway, it’s a good cider in the summer, but I was looking for something a little fuller. Why I didn’t order it was beyond me.
Butter Beer (5,000KRW): A secret recipe? That sounds like the dog’s bollocks! PK had it and said it was difficult to describe, but he said it tasted like a combination of ice cream and honey. So, take that for what you will. It looked interesting and for 5,000KRW, I’ll be sure to give it a try. Also it has a picture of that wizard that seems to be the rage with all the wee lads.
Value: Four mains, an appetizer and drinks came to approximately 90,000KRW. For four people, I think this is fair value. Bulldog’s was a solid place for British fare without the rowdiness of football hooligans. It will definitely be worth the trip, especially for the gravy and mashed hotdogs.
Who Should Visit Bulldogs: Looking for a traditional breakfast that is served all day? How about some delicious hotdogs with gravy, mashed potatoes and various other toppings? Look no further.
Who Should Avoid Bulldogs: Zero vegan options. Check out Plant in Itaewon for all your vegan needs!
Menu:
Derek Versus Lonely Planet 
oh my gosh… my eyes are like rolling up and down non-stop. all these look SO GOOD derek!! btw what is harry doing on your mug..?
I would like to thank Seong for making these photos look amazing! I have no idea what Harry was doing on my mug. I would have preferred Emma Watson 🙂
100% going here in the summer (as someone who is British I feel this is absolutely necessary). thanks so much for the review!!
No problem! Thanks for reading! I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!
will definitely have to stop by here at some point too ~ dang!