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I agree, especially with the authenticity part. I've had amazing Korean and American and Italian and other cuisines in Japan, simply because they master the true taste.
Whereas in Korea, they Koreanize everything with added kimchi, pickles, spices and whatever else the locals think would make it better.
I will say the koreanization sometimes comes off in pretty interesting ways though. Like what the Koreans did with jiajiang noodles (originally from China) is fantastic to me.
Japan also went through some of that and the sort of Japan-ified western food (Yoshoku) is some of my favorite--Hayashi Rice, curry rice, cream stew, hamburg steak, and all sorts of katsu. I wonder when and if that sort of mainstreamed hybridization is happening in South Korea and would later find its way to sort of reverse export (such as has happened with some of yoshoku). I wonder if there's already a name for the general category.
I know Shanghai once had something like that as well, but the tradition was sort of dealt a blow with the communist revolution and the cultural revolution. There are still a few old time-y restaurants and bakeries left, but I don't reckon large enough to really become a "thing" the way it had in Japan (and Hong Kong).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OyCrumbler
I would say that Tokyo has really good international food, though a bit pricey compared to the very good native Japanese food there. There seems to be a pretty strong demand for authenticity in Tokyo and I found foreign international food there to be quite good (though, as I said earlier, a bit pricey). I would maybe put it on par with Hong Kong in that regard. I've never spent much time in Singapore, but I can believe that it's even more more international but its smaller size makes me think there will be a smaller variety in absolute numbers.
I think that if we're doing large cities in developed countries in East/Southeast Asia, Taipei probably should be a part of the conversation. Taipei also has fairly great local food and has a lot of the broad expanse of Chinese cuisine as well as a strong unique local cuisine. International food-wise, I'd place it lower than Tokyo and Hong Kong but it has a number of highlights though similar to Hong Kong a lot of restaurants and eateries cater a bit too much for local taste which makes thing really hit and miss. I would say that its Japanese cuisine selection is also quite good.
Also, it'd probably make sense to throw in Osaka and its environs since it's also a developed megacity in the region; and probably Nagoya as well.
It's easier to find American specialities like Philly cheese-steak and clam chowder in Taipei than here in Australia. There was even a South American restaurant. The owner, from somewhere in South America, said that most of the customers were tourists not locals though.
I was interested in comparing and contrasting these cities in terms of...
I have travelled to all these cities many times, except Seoul, Only been there once.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Airport Cleanliness
Singapore and HK are heads above the other 2, or any other airport in the world. As far as cleanliness, odd way to judge airports by the way, I didn't notice much difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Architecture
Tokyo hands down, too many nice buildings old and new. I like the palace there but wish more was open to see. Singapore is making big headway and will soon pass HK here if they haven't already. The view from the harbour of the casino and downtown is very nice, keeping and repurposing old building like Chjimes and the Fullerton is a good idea also. Seol is last here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Culture
Singapore is the most diverse from what I have seen, with some very distinct town centers for Chinese, Indian and Malays. Tokyo next then HK and Seoul tied.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Food
Hands down Singapore. Singapore and Italy have the best food of anywhere I have been in the world. Singapore is a mecca for authentic Asian cuisines of any culture and for modern fusion. Food is discussed frequently and blogged relentlessly as they search for the best place to find a particular dish. I think it depends on what you prefer for how the next 3 fall, as its easy to argue for any of them to be second.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Neighborhoods
Tokyo takes it here as they have some very distinct and nice neighborhoods. HK is second. Singapore 3rd and Seoul last as I haven't seen much of its areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Nightlife
Probably HK then Tokyo but you could argue for either one. HK is more of a drinking type place and Tokyo is more of a club type, at least the places I have been. Although I have noticed in Tokyo next to business centers its much more of bar type drinking scene, so I guess it just depends on where you go. Singapore 3rd again and Seoul last simply because I haven't seen much of its nightlife.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Safety
Singapore first. Literally can walk any street any time of day and feel safe. Tokyo next but there are clearly some places I have seen that I knew better than to go down. I would have to put Seoul 3rd and HK last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man
Transportation
Singapore first, then Tokyo. Tokyo and Singapore are pretty even really, but its much cheaper in Singapore and Tokyo's train system can be very confusing until you spend some time traveling the different rails. The craziest thing I still don't understand about Tokyo's system is when you have to change rails in places you have to actually exit up to street level and walk a block to the other station then down to the train. Stupid imo. I suppose that stems from 3 (or 4) different companies owning different lines and building their own stations instead of splitting costs and building 1.
Airport Cleanliness - Both are as efficient and sterile as can be, but Singapore's has more bells and whistles. Hong Kong's is merely enormous and functional; Singapore's has much more luxury.
Architecture - Hong Kong has an unplanned, gritty, haphazard Manhattan feel. Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world. Singapore, however, has stricter building codes and oversight; the apartment complexes are clean but cookie cutter (a high-rise version of Levittown)
Culture - Nowadays Hong Kong is much more Chinese; Singapore is still as westernized as ever.
Safety - Mercer's Quality of Life Survey (2012), rating 221 cities around the world, named Singapore among the Top Ten Safest cities, the ONLY Asian city to enjoy the honor. There are no slums in Singapore--but there are in Hong Kong
Transportation - Hong Kong, for now, as it is even more compact than Singapore (where else can you find apartment complexes and shopping malls built on top of subway stations?), but after Singapore doubles the length of its subway by 2030, it will definitely be Singapore.
Airport Cleanliness - Both are as efficient and sterile as can be, but Singapore's has more bells and whistles. Hong Kong's is merely enormous and functional; Singapore's has much more luxury.
Architecture - Hong Kong has an unplanned, gritty, haphazard Manhattan feel. Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world. Singapore, however, has stricter building codes and oversight; the apartment complexes are clean but cookie cutter (a high-rise version of Levittown)
Culture - Nowadays Hong Kong is much more Chinese; Singapore is still as westernized as ever.
Safety - Mercer's Quality of Life Survey (2012), rating 221 cities around the world, named Singapore among the Top Ten Safest cities, the ONLY Asian city to enjoy the honor. There are no slums in Singapore--but there are in Hong Kong
Transportation - Hong Kong, for now, as it is even more compact than Singapore (where else can you find apartment complexes and shopping malls built on top of subway stations?), but after Singapore doubles the length of its subway by 2030, it will definitely be Singapore.
Food = Singapore by miles, it's not even a competition. That's probably S'pore's biggest selling point.
I have been to all 4 cities. I have lived in Seoul, Tokyo and visited Singapore, HongKong for a few days.
I'll be very objective here.
Airport Cleanliness--All 4 cities have world class international airports and they're all really clean, so can't really tell.
But if we see the size and how efficient the airport is, Seoul(Incheon airport) wins it. Seoul>Singapore>Hong Kong>Tokyo.
Architecture--Hong Kong definitely wins it. Hong Kong has amazing skyscrapers. Hong Kong>Tokyo>Singapore>Seoul.
Just so you know, all these 4 cities have one of the best architectures in the world.
Culture--Seoul wins it. Seoul has amazing historical monuments and it has K-POP. Seoul>Hong Kong>Tokyo>Singapore.
Food--Seoul wins it. Korean food is one of the best food in the world. Seoul>Hong Kong>Tokyo>Singapore.
Neighborhoods-Singapore wins it. Nice houses, very clean and safe. Singapore>Tokyo>Hong Kong>Seoul.
Nightlife--Hong Kong definitely wins it. No one can argue. There are bright and huge neon signs, clubs, pubs everywhere.
Hong Kong>Tokyo>Seoul>Singapore.
Safety--Singapore wins it. Crime rate of Singapore is one of the lowest in the world.
Singapore>Tokyo>Seoul>Hong Kong
Transportation-Tokyo wins it. Tokyo has very nice bus and subway system. There are a lot of taxis too.
Tokyo>Seoul>Hong Kong>Singapore
I've only been to Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore. Maybe I should include Taipei.
Airport Cleanliness
1. Singapore - you can do lots of things in Changi Airport. Everything is world class.
2. Incheon - the airport itself is best by world standard but the travelling to the airport makes it even more amazing.
3. Hong Kong - i like it being the airport and seaport in one place.
3. Taipei
Architecture
1. Seoul - i like the modern architecture and new buildings in Seoul. They are almost everywhere.
2. Singapore - there are many iconic buildings but it is overshadowed by HDB.
3. Hong Kong
4. Taipei
Culture
1. Seoul
2. Taipei
3. Hong Kong
4. Singapore
Food
1. Seoul - when I went to Seoul, I've tried the "real" Korean food. There are lots of them!
2. Taipei - too many varieties, street foods are the best here!
2. Singapore
3. Hong Kong - I just love the beef brisket in Hong Kong.
Neighborhoods
1. Singapore
2. Seoul
3. Taipei
4. Hong Kong
Nightlife
1. Singapore
2. Seoul
3. Hong Kong
4. Taipei
Safety
1. Singapore
2. Seoul
3. Taipei
4. Hong Kong
Transportation
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Seoul
4. Taipei
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