'Tis the season: Where to find the best sweets, treats and takeout this Christmas

By Hana Crisp

For foreign residents living abroad, the holidays can be a lonely time.

In Korea, even though Christmas is typically for couples rather than families, it can be hard for expats not to compare their local experience to past celebrations surrounded by loved ones.

But seasonal treats, like a tender sugar cookie, a golden-crusted apple pie or a richly spiced mulled wine, can provide a little familiar comfort and festive cheer.

This winter, forget about tracking down baking ingredients or paying a premium for butter ― for those who miss home (or the taste of home), here's a loving selection of local food and drinks that highlights Seoul's growing international culinary scene. These seasonal offerings make the perfect additions to your holiday table as well as excellent Christmas gifts.

Sugar and spice and a little DIY

For many, Christmas means cookies, but this year, make it eco-conscious and sustainable. Plant Restaurant and Bakery's Christmas Cookie Tin features nine different types, including snowflake sugar cookies, tree-shaped thin mints and chocolate-covered pretzels ― and it's 100-percent vegan. Order via plantcafeseoul.com for delivery or pickup from their Itaewon or Yeonnam locations.

Plant's Christmas Cookie Tin / Courtesy of Plant

If pies are more your thing, Le Chat pie shop in Mangwon-dong makes some of the best in Seoul. After training at Le Cordon Bleu in Korea, owner Jang Mung-jin spent months developing the perfect crust ― crispy but not hard, soft but light and well-textured ― different from the traditional pate sablee and pate brisee she was trained to make. A rotating selection of mini pies is available, but full-size pies including apple, pumpkin, lemon meringue and a seasonal pistachio strawberry pie can be ordered via message to @lechat_mangwon on Instagram.

Le Chat's apple pie / Courtesy of Le Chat

Le Chat is also getting into the holiday spirit with its Gingerbread House Kits, complete with gingerbread cookie panels, multi-colored frosting, sprinkles, candy and chocolates to build your own gingerbread house. There's an adorable story behind the design too. "This year we're going with the theme of the Gingerbread Man, who leaves his family to build his first house in Santa Village and becomes an adult," Jang says. Kits can be purchased for 28,000 won via Le Chat's Naver smartstore.

Le Chat's gingerbread house kit / Courtesy of Le Chat

For British and other Commonwealth citizens, Christmas may not feel like Christmas without mince pies (a sweet mixture of dried fruit and spices encased in shortcrust pastry). Scoff Bakehouse in Buam-dong, opened by English baker Jonathan Townsend in 2014, has risen to the occasion with classic mince pies and a variety of other seasonal goodies, including a traditional English Christmas cake, stollen (a German sweet bread filled with rum-soaked dried fruit, nuts and marzipan), Christmas brownies studded with cranberries on a gingerbread biscuit base and giant gingerbread men.

Scoff Bakehouse mince pies / Courtesy of Scoff Bakehouse

Belgian-trained chocolatier Go Young-joo has created something new for Christmas this year: a Salami Dolce, or Italian-style chocolate "salami," made with dark chocolate, marzipan, butter, rum-soaked cranberries, cashews and organic biscotti. Available from Cacaoboom, Go's elegant chocolaterie-cafe in Yongsan District, it's ideal for both holiday parties or a more solo indulgence, but be warned ― you won't be able to stop at one slice.

Cacaoboom's Salami Dolce / Courtesy of Cacaoboom

In nearby Huam-dong, the Buche de Noel (a yule log-shaped Christmas cake) from artisan French bakery and patisserie Taffin would make a striking piece de resistance for any holiday meal. Made with milk chocolate and vanilla mousse, raspberry jelly, crunchy gianduja and chocolate biscuit, and topped with a whipped pistachio ganache, it serves four to five people and can be reserved here for in-store pickup.

Taffin's Buche de Noel / Courtesy of Taffin

Seasonal Tipples

You may not have fond memories of store-bought eggnog as a child, but wait until you try the one from International Food Specialties Korea, made with milk, cream, pasteurized eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean and bourbon ― the latter is optional, but highly recommended. There's also a vegan version made with a blend of almond milk, oat milk and coconut cream. If you prefer something hot, the company also makes an apple cider with slow-cooked red and green apples, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, orange and nutmeg. Order from tamalesinkorea.com or via fb.com/internationalfoodspecialities for delivery.

IFSK's eggnog / Courtesy of Olivier Lindekugel

For entertaining, there's nothing better ― or easier ― than vin chaud, or mulled wine ― an instant pick-me-up for guests coming in from the cold. Little Better, a sustainable wine boutique in Gongdeok-dong opened last year by former fashion designer Emma Jun, makes things even easier with vin chaud kits, complete with sliced dried fruit, spices, honey and optional wine. Just throw everything into a pot, simmer gently for about 30 minutes and let the aromatic spices fill your home with cozy Christmas vibes. Vin chaud kits are available in store or via Little Better's Naver smartstore.

Little Better's vin chaud kit / Courtesy of Little Better

The Main Event

If you feel like staying in these holidays, Itaewon's beloved Gentleman Chicken has your Christmas dinner sorted. Their Holiday Takeout Set for four, with one bird plus roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli pasta salad, pecan streusel, cranberry relish and bread rolls (phew!), is as comforting and celebration-worthy as any restaurant meal. At 65,000 won for pickup in Itaewon, it's one of the best deals in town. For many foreign residents, owners Chuck Chun and Justin Sasaki are the men who saved Christmas and many a pandemic holiday since opening in 2020. This Christmas, the sets will be available for pickup on Dec. 25 only. Visit Gentleman Chicken on fb.com/gentlemanchickenkr or Instagram @gentlemanchicken to pre-order online by Dec. 20.

Gentleman Chicken's Holiday Roast Chicken Takeout Set / Courtesy of So Kom Grace Kim

Hana Crisp is a writer and singer based in Seoul. She also co-hosts the Adopted Feels podcast.