Restaurant: Didi’s Gaufres
Cuisine: Belgian/Desserts
Last visited: April 9, 2010
Location: Seoul, Korea
Address: 436 -19 1f (In University district. The address is on website, it’s in Korean though)
Phone: 02 322 6061 / 010 2703 8838
Price Range: $10CAD or less
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!
Food: n/a
Service: n/a
Ambiance: n/a
Overall: n/a
Additional comments:
- 100% Authentic Belgian Waffles
- Chef Didier Balistaire
- The original waffle shop
- Home made
- Traditional recipe
- Great for gifts
- Made fresh upon order
- Baked daily
**Recommendations: Brussels Mikado, The Basic, pack of their to-go waffles
I’m going to be a bit biased because the owner Didi is actually a friend of my cousins and that is how I got the recommendation to come here.
Didi is born in Belgium and lived in Vancouver for a while before moving to Korea and starting his own waffle shop. Didi’s Gaufres was the first waffle shop in this area. He actually created a waffle craze and since then many waffle shops have opened after him in the same area.
My friend and I with Didier – the owner and chef of Didi’s Gaufres. The packages we’re holding are their take away waffles which make great gifts. They are soft and cakey waffles that aren’t too sweet.
It’s difficult to find this place because there are so many waffle shops. I suggest calling the number and finding the exact location because it took us a while to find and I was with a local. The website has the location, but I don’t think it has the exact address. It was definitely worth our search though because the waffles here are 100% authentic, fresh, and delicious!
I’ve had Belgian waffles in Belgium before and these were the real deal. The handful I tried in Belgium just had more whipped cream and more bananas (or whatever fruit you chose) on top… but that showcases style more so than “authenticity”.
On the table:
**The Basic – 5.5/6
- Powdered sugar, fresh cream, syrup (your choice of caramel/chocolate) $3.50 CAD
- I loved the plating. It reminds me of the plating from Twisted Fork in Vancouver.
- The waffle is home made and made upon order so it’s served nice and warm.
- I’m not just saying this because I know Didi, but this is possibly one of the best waffles I’ve had.
- Don’t you just want to bite your computer screen right now?!
- It’s very cakey and moist with a crispy outer edge and the fresh cream just melts into the waffle.
- I’m used to having this type of waffle with more sugar crystals like the ones from Patisserie Lebeau in Vancouver though.
**Brussels Mikado
- Bananas, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup $6.50 CAD
- This is their most popular item and the local favourite.
- This is a square type of waffle and reminded me of the ones I had in Brussels.
- It’s hot, fresh and made upon order with a traditional recipe.
- It’s a super moist batter and it wasn’t too sweet.
- This type of waffle is more bread like than the basic waffle which is more cake like.
- It’s actually quite fluffy but the bananas and toppings weighed it down a bit.
Belgian Hot Chocolate
- $3.50CAD
- I couldn’t leave without ordering one of these.
- It’s definitely rich, good quality chocolate, and super chocolaty without being too sweet.
- It was nice and frothy and they make it upon order.
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OMG….great pics. I have a craving now…..
BTW, it’s Didi’s bday today!
Hi!!!! Lol I wouldn’t have found this place without you! Thank you!! Didi was so nice! I want him to open one in Vancouver! What a coincidence that I posted this on his birthday!!
When we were in South Korea we had waffles too, but from Cafe Ima in downtown Seoul near City Hall. Definitely not authentic Belgian ones, but these ones were pretty good because they came with two massive scoops of Haagen Daaz ice cream!
http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/2007/09/incredible-waffles-in-korea-cafe-ima.html
Hi Gary! Great blog!! How exciting being there for a year!
Yeah put ice cream on anything and I’m there…except salad…they put ice cream on my salad in Korea..not cool.
Thanks! Both my wife and I taught there for a year…so all these Korean food posts you have blogged about have brought back some of my favourite foodie memories. Some of my highlights include the BBQ and ice noodles in the summer. Those were my two favourites.
BTW…I happen to know your cousin Karen. Not sure if she told you or not but my brother is best friends with her husband!
aww… those look so delicious… I wish I knew about it for my Korea trip, would have definitely been on my to eat list. Now I guess I will just have to go again in the future 🙂
Hi Gary! No way! I had no idea you knew Karen! Hmm so then do you know Vancouver food blogger Sherman as well? He’s an old friend of Andrew’s too. Did I steal one of his readers?! I hope so lol…j/k
Oh I wish I knew before because I would have asked you for some restaurant recommendations! Although I did have a local take me around which was awesome!
Jenny – yes!! Too bad Korea is so far! 🙁
Haha, I haven’t met Sherman–yet. But yeah I think Andrew mentioned he knows Sherman. Such a small world! As for stealing one of his readers, yes. 😉 Yeah you were lucky to have a local take you around. Bonus!
Hello Mijune, I hope that you had a wonderful trip and that you enjoyed your stay in Korea. It felt nice welcoming you and your friend at my store. I would like to thank you for a job well done because your food site looks pro. In addition, the pictures are perfect and the waffles look yummy! It was nice meeting you. Keep your good energy and your friendly attitude those will take you far.
Bisou
Didier
I met Didier when I lived in Vancouver.
He was running a bar/restaurant AND teaching at the same time – AND still had so much energy and enthusiasm.
One day he came to my office and said: “thanks, goodbye my friend. I’m off to Korea to pursue my dream.”
It was always his plan to run his own restaurant and he would tell me about it over and over and over. Haha!
I’m not surprised Didier is a success, he is dedicated and a hard working and imaginative chef, always thinking how to make things better.
Congratulations and way to go Monsieur Balistaire!
@Allen – wow! how cool! Super nice guy! Glad you found my blog!
You are welcome Mijune. Maybe if I visit your website too many times, I will become fat! The pictures of delicious food and treats make me hungry….. 🙂