‘www.youtube.com/embed/KJfTXTtckzA’

A Hectic Day, Hunger, and a Hotto Motto Bento at Seoul Station

Hello, this is Mat Sangmu. Today was a whirlwind! Despite a typhoon warning, I was in Seoul for a critical presentation. I was incredibly late, practically sprinting to make it on time. The presentation was tense, and I almost ended it with my usual YouTube sign-off instead of “Thank you”! By the time it was over, I was physically and mentally drained, and utterly starving.

Seoul Station’s Hotto Motto: A Desperate Lunch Stop

Having skipped breakfast and lunch, my stomach demanded attention. My first thought: grab something quick at Seoul Station. That’s when I decided to try Hotto Motto (호토모토), a well-known Japanese bento chain with thousands of locations globally. I’d heard whispers of people specifically visiting Seoul Station for their bentos, so I figured it was worth a shot.

I opted for the Salmon Makunouchi bento, priced at 12,000 KRW. The next challenge was finding a place to eat. With 40 minutes until my train, eating onboard felt like a nuisance to fellow passengers. So, in a moment of desperation (and intense hunger), I decided to eat my bento right there on the waiting area stairs!

What’s Inside the 12,000 KRW Salmon Makunouchi Bento?

The Hotto Motto Salmon Makunouchi bento offered a selection of classic Japanese bento items:

• A single piece of salmon
• Assorted fried items (튀김)
• Mini dumplings (mandu)
• Karaage (Japanese fried chicken)
• A small quail egg
• A side of seaweed and sauce
• Pickled radish (단무지)

As I laid out my meal on the stairs, preparing to film, I couldn’t shake the feeling that 12,000 KRW was quite steep for this spread. But the immediate need for food was overpowering.

Hotto Motto’s Value: A Critical Review

After tasting, my initial skepticism about the price only grew. At 12,000 KRW, the Hotto Motto Salmon Makunouchi bento felt considerably overpriced for its contents. While it’s undeniably a Japanese-style bento, the quality and quantity didn’t align with the premium cost.

The fried items, a key component, were rather underwhelming; I’d even suggest that local Korean chains like Hansot Dosirak offer superior fried options. The bento also seemed to contain a fair share of frozen ingredients, which further detracted from the experience. My general rating for Hotto Motto at Seoul Station, based on this particular Salmon Makunouchi bento, is **poor value for its premium price**. While Hotto Motto is a global chain located conveniently at Seoul Station, its execution here felt short of expectations.

A Costly Mishap on the Stairs

Eating on the stairs was already unusual, but the day had one more surprise. After filming my bento review, I tried to retrieve my camera, which was precariously propped between the stair railing and an escalator. Suddenly, it slipped! It tumbled an agonizing 7 to 10 meters, crashing onto the ground below. When I rushed down, the battery was gone, likely fallen onto the train tracks – too dangerous to recover. My heart sank, adding another layer of despair to an already tough day.

The cruel irony? As I walked away with my shattered camera, I saw other passengers happily enjoying their meals inside the train, undisturbed. All my efforts to be considerate about eating space had backfired spectacularly.

Reflections on a Challenging Day

Today truly tested my limits. From the frantic rush and stressful presentation to the overpriced bento and the devastating camera drop – it was a day of relentless challenges. My body and mind are completely exhausted. With a typhoon also on its way, I’m opting to rest tonight instead of heading to the gym. Stay safe everyone, and have a good night!