From the “Semla Comedown” to Waffle Anticipation In Sweden, the period between late winter and early spring is marked by a specific kind of culinary transition. If you’ve spent any time in a Swedish city in February, you know the Semla—that iconic, cardamom-scented wheat bun filled with almond paste and mountains of whipped cream. It … 더 읽기
If you’re searching for the best dim sum in Kuala Lumpur, two restaurants often come up: Jin Xuan Hong Kong Restaurant and Paradise Dynasty. For the uninitiated, Dim Sum is not merely a meal; it is a storied cultural ritual known as “Yam Cha” (literally “drinking tea”). It’s a time for family gatherings, business negotiations, … 더 읽기
If you’ve ever traveled to Australia from Kuala Lumpur, you’ll know how easy it is to bring back snacks in bulk. A flight to Perth takes about 5.5 hours — close enough to justify a suitcase filled with supermarket finds. I first discovered these snacks during a one-week road trip in Perth. Like many Koreans … 더 읽기
If you’re looking for a Chinese New Year brunch Kuala Lumpur food lovers are currently searching for, this limited collaboration between Urban Daybreak and Malaysian food creator Hungry Sam is worth your attention. Urban Daybreak is a brunch restaurant operating in both Kuala Lumpur (Bangsar) and George Town, Penang. For Chinese New Year 2026, the … 더 읽기
In Kuala Lumpur, Lunar New Year is not subtle. Chinese New Year decorations in Malaysia are impossible to miss during the Lunar New Year season. Shopping malls change their exterior designs, home decor stores fill their shelves with red and gold ornaments, and supermarkets display festive gift sets. This article is based on direct observations … 더 읽기
Kuala Lumpur is a city of contrasts. On one side, you have the chaotic charm of street food stalls in Chinatown; on the other, the futuristic skyline dominated by the newly crowned Merdeka 118—the world’s second-tallest building. If you’re looking for a place where these two worlds collide perfectly, JANN at the Four Points by … 더 읽기
If you’re living in or visiting Kuala Lumpur, you’ll quickly realize that while food options are endless, finding high-quality pork dishes requires knowing exactly where to go. Finding the Best Tonkatsu in Kuala Lumpur can be a challenge, but Tonkatsu by Ma Maison makes it easy. Why Ma Maison is the Best Tonkatsu in Kuala … 더 읽기
Afternoon tea was once reserved for British aristocrats, but today it has become a familiar hotel ritual across many countries, including Malaysia. At first glance, most afternoon tea sets feel interchangeable: small finger sandwiches, a few scones, neatly plated desserts stacked on a three-tier stand. It’s easy to assume that afternoon tea is essentially the … 더 읽기
After spending weeks around Bangsar, I realised I’d been postponing the obvious—actually exploring Kuala Lumpur’s historic centre. So one afternoon, my husband and I headed toward the Merdeka area, where the city’s landmarks cluster around Merdeka Square, Central Market, and Masjid Jamek. Merdeka Square itself was under renovation at the time, wrapped in scaffolding and … 더 읽기
Kuala Lumpur has no shortage of shopping malls. From TRX and Pavilion to Suria KLCC, Mid Valley, and One Utama, the city is dense with polished retail spaces. After a while, though, they begin to blur together—different buildings housing variations of the same stores. When that sameness starts to set in, I find myself looking … 더 읽기
Living in Kuala Lumpur, I’ve come to notice how some Chinese-Malaysian dishes sit unexpectedly close to Korean comfort food—not because they imitate it, but because they rely on similar foundations. Anchovy broth is one of them. For Koreans, anchovy-based stock is the quiet backbone of everyday meals. It’s not flashy or celebratory, just reliable—used for … 더 읽기
When people think of Michelin dining, they often picture white tablecloths and tasting menus.But some of the most memorable meals come from places that are far more ordinary—and far more approachable. In Michelin’s guide, these restaurants are often marked as Bib Gourmand: places that offer good food at reasonable prices, without the formality of fine … 더 읽기
There’s a specific moment that changes how you shop in a place.Not when you arrive—but when you realize you’re about to leave. My time in Malaysia ended up being much shorter than planned. A job opportunity I had been negotiating didn’t work out, and suddenly I had less than a month left. That shift changed … 더 읽기
One of the small but real advantages of living in Malaysia as a Korean is geography. From Kuala Lumpur, traveling to places like Bali or Thailand takes less time and often costs far less than it would from Korea. Buying toothpaste in Australia, in fact, turned out to make even more sense than shopping within … 더 읽기
After I decided to start a podcast where I share the songs I love, I uploaded my very first episode. (You can read Episode 1: Songs for Loneliness While Living Abroad here.) That night, I was too excited to sleep. I opened my music streaming apps and started scrolling through the songs I had liked … 더 읽기
🎧 This essay is based on Episode 1 of the podcast Unshared Yet.Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KQrnSZdcMmE5xeQAjqpNm?si=rs75Ae5bTauKo8sGSZSgcA There’s a saying in Korea: music is the only drug the state allows.Because, you know—music makes us high. Living abroad, there were moments when I wasn’t understood by my family, or even by my friends. During those times, music was … 더 읽기
Have you ever made plans with friends in advance, only to feel—somewhere between the agreed date and time—that you would rather cancel? Until the very moment I leave the house, I sometimes catch myself hoping the other person will cancel first. To be clear, it’s not that I don’t want to see my friends. I … 더 읽기
Living alone in Sweden, I didn’t expect cooking to become one of the most exhausting parts of studying abroad.If I were to list the hardships of pursuing a master’s degree overseas, there would be many. But the first thing that comes to mind is surprisingly simple: feeding myself. Having grown up in Seoul, I lived … 더 읽기
Introduction If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen the viral Dubai Chocolate bar filled with crunchy pistachio kunafa. But what if I told you that you could experience that exact same magic in the form of a thick, gooey New York-style cookie right here in Kuala Lumpur? During a recent … 더 읽기
A Winter Cravings Met in the Heart of Malaysia If you are looking for the best Korean sashimi in Kuala Lumpur, your search might end in a very nostalgic place. For many Koreans, December is synonymous with Bangeo (Yellowtail) sashimi. While living in Malaysia, I often found myself dreaming of that melt-in-your-mouth texture. You might … 더 읽기
When living in Kuala Lumpur, you quickly realize that inflation—or rather, currency reality—has changed how you think about everyday spending.Coffee is one of the first things people say they’ll cut back on. I didn’t. Instead, I started looking for cheaper coffee that still tastes good, not watered down, not aggressively sour, and not pretending to … 더 읽기
Intro Kuala Lumpur is often described as an affordable city, but daily expenses—especially lunch around office districts—don’t always feel cheap anymore. That doesn’t mean budget-friendly meals are gone. If you know where locals actually eat, it’s still possible to get a proper lunch in Bangsar for under RM15. One of the most reliable places is … 더 읽기
Looking for the best brunch in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur? From fluffy soufflé pancakes to vegetarian laksa and hip cafes, here are 3 must-visit spots locals love.
1. Introduction: Finding Seoul in Petaling Street When I first visited Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, my impression was defined by Petaling Street Market—a bustling maze filled with “knock-off” luxury brands and crowded stalls. Among the rows of imitation watches and sneakers, I found something unexpected. Hidden on the third floor of a luggage shop building … 더 읽기
Note to Readers: In my previous post, “Finally Securing Student Housing in Sweden: A Stroke of Luck Against 140-to-1 Odds,” I shared the story of my miraculous success. But before that victory, there was a dark chapter I haven’t revealed until now. This is the prequel—the raw story of how I fell victim to a … 더 읽기
A Song from the Past There’s a song that starts with the narration, “Oppa, smile a little.”It’s Day of Peace by Epik High, a track from their 2004 album High Society. I’m no “oppa,” but this song used to be my go-to whenever anger bubbled up inside me. I hadn’t thought about it in years … 더 읽기
A Tragic Tale? Not Quite A master’s student rummaging through Sweden’s trash bins — it sounds like a sob story, right? Far from it. If I had to name the genre of this episode, it would be less tragedy and more adventure. It was early spring 2016 in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city, where warmth doesn’t … 더 읽기
A childhood spark Every time I read a dazzling article in a magazine as a middle schooler, two words always caught my eye next to the author’s name: Freelance Writer.Those words twinkled like stars in my teenage heart. So I did what a dreamy twelve-year-old would do. I declared my dream to my mom. “Mom, … 더 읽기