A Trip to Mexico at Exsel in Hapjeong — Highly Recommended!

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Today I ventured to Hongdae, which is quite far from home now. Since it was a special outing, I carefully picked restaurants and places to visit. For lunch — a trip to Mexico!

Exsel is a modern Mexican restaurant located 488m from Hapjeong Station Exit 7. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-21:00 (break time 15:00-17:00, closed Mondays). No parking available. All menus are developed and cooked by Michelin two-star Chef Kim Jun-hyung.

The moment you step inside, you feel like you've been transported to another country. The interior is inspired by Cancun, Mexico — vibrant, exotic, and absolutely stunning. A kneeling girl statue at the entrance and lush tropical plants throughout create an incredibly immersive atmosphere.

We ordered Birria Taco (1), Carnitas (1), Salmon Tostada (1), and Zero Cola. The complimentary nachos with house-made salsa were excellent — crispy tortilla chips that are nothing like store-bought snacks.

The Salmon Tostada was a visual masterpiece — two thick salmon pieces on squid ink tortilla with avocado underneath. The contrast of crispy black tortilla with fresh salmon was incredible. The Birria Taco featured braised beef brisket, birria broth, and m...