Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round for a tale of Friday night shenanigans, culinary calamities, and a desperate quest for sustenance before the grand cinematic adventure began. It all started when my coworker and I, fueled by post-work enthusiasm, decided to hit the Megabox near Hyundai Department store, conveniently close to Omokgyo station, for a movie night to remember.
The Megabox Mystery: As we approached the Megabox ticket counter with anticipation in our eyes, the ticket agent, with a solemn tone, revealed that the next showing of “Sunshine” wouldn’t grace the silver screen for a whopping ninety minutes. We exchanged glances of disbelief, our stomachs rumbling in protest. “What now?” we thought, panic bubbling beneath the surface.
Mission: Find Food, ASAP: Undeterred by the time crunch, we embarked on our quest to conquer hunger, for surely, the Megabox was surrounded by a cornucopia of dining options, right? Wrong. It was a measly 10 PM, a time when Seoul’s nocturnal creatures were just starting to stir. Yet, every restaurant we ventured into seemed to be in a hurry to close shop faster than a squirrel on an espresso binge.
Sushi Conveyor Belt Drama: Our first stop was a cozy Japanese joint, complete with chairs circling a conveyor belt that showcased a tantalizing parade of sushi delights. We were ready to feast when a frantic worker waved us away like we were mosquitoes at a picnic. Apparently, they had a strict “ten-fifteen closing time” policy. But it was only ten, and other patrons were still happily plucking plates from the conveyor belt! Go figure.
Chinese Kitchen Chronicles: Next on our culinary quest, we found ourselves at the Chinese Kitchen, tantalizingly close to a Coldstone Creamery (which, at that point, sounded like a gourmet five-course meal). Alas, we were handed menus only to discover that the kitchen had already closed its doors. Menu in, menu out – and still, no dinner.
VIPs Drama Unfolds: Undeterred, we ventured into VIPs, thinking we had finally struck gold. It was like Sizzler, Red Lobster, and TGI Fridays had a delicious lovechild. With a window view to boot, we settled in, only to be greeted with the soul-crushing news that the kitchen was off-limits, and only the salad bar was open. Salad bars? Nah, we’re more like salad-bar-skeptics, especially when the veggies look like they’re plotting a rebellion.
Burger King Heartbreak: The clock was ticking, and the movie deadline loomed. Desperation kicked in, and we headed back to the Hyundai Food Court, where the Burger King gleamed like a beacon of hope. Or so we thought. Just as we approached the counter with dreams of flame-grilled glory, the guy on the other side broke the news: “Sorry, we’re closing now.” Foiled again! I even tried pleading, but he wasn’t flipping any more burgers for me – or, I suspect, for the Pope himself.
Colonel Sanders to the Rescue: Thank the cinematic gods that the Colonel next door still had its doors wide open, serving up comfort food in abundance. Was it the healthiest choice? Probably not. But at that point, my friends, all that mattered was that it was edible. Victory!
Movie Night Triumph: We triumphantly returned to Megabox not only in time for our movie but with a few minutes to spare. In our hearts, we imagined our very own Megabox Oscar for Best Acting in a Culinary Crisis, a performance for the ages.
Stay tuned for my upcoming movie review – because, in the end, it’s not the food that matters most on a movie night, but the delicious stories we collect along the way.
