Harajuku Cafe

For those of you who don't live in Japan or Korea (or even other countries n southeast Asia), convenience stores frequently have tables outside for their patrons. Given the absence of an open container law, people have beers or other alcoholic beverages at these tables.

Last night, at Richard Slezak's birthday celebration, a bunch of us sat outside GS25 in Dunsan dong. My friends were drinking while I was watching the people walk by.

The people watching was tremendous, more so than being in a bar or a club. People we knew also wandered up and chatted withe us while we drank. Unfortunately, people we didn't know also came up to us, but this would be the same in any bar.

So, with the exception of the limited choice of beverages (yet a host of ice cream flavors to choose from), is being on a table outside a convenience store better than a bar? Or equal but different?

There is no question that it is horrendously cheaper.