Before you go, buy or book in Korea

Discover local places and Korean products through reviews from people who’ve actually been there and tried them.

Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.

Sangsu pizzeria, Manjo & Croccante halves: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant on Dongmak-ro 7-gil near Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the Gamberi Crema shrimp cream pasta with penne and a half-and-half Manjo and Croccante pizza; the cream pasta's spicy kick that keeps it from feeling heavy and the sauce-loaded Manjo pizza stood out most. Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a satisfying choice if you want to try two pizza flavors in one order.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored

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Seongnam, GyeonggiBars

Jeongja Station pub: tteokjjim that deepens as it boils, Bacha

Bacha Jeongja is a Korean gastropub near Jeongja Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. After work, the writer ordered the brisket seafood tteokjjim (spicy rice cake stew), cooked at the table, and the mozzarella chili shrimp. The tteokjjim broth grew richer the longer it boiled, and the sweet-and-spicy shrimp paired well with drinks. With consistently good food and atmosphere, Bacha Jeongja is a Jeongja Station bar the writer would revisit.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Toddler-friendly Chinese lunch after Osong Station trains: Julseoneun

Julseoneun Banjeom Gangnae (줄서는반점 강내본점) is a Chinese restaurant in Gangnae-myeon, Cheongju, about 7 minutes by car from Osong Station. After watching trains at Osong Station with an 18-month-old, the writer arrived for the 11:00 opening and ordered lemon tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) for ₩13,900, sirloin jjajangmyeon for ₩7,000, seafood jjamppong for ₩10,000 and fried dumplings; the jjamppong packed with fresh surf clams and the softly lemon-scented tangsuyuk stood out. With high chairs and stroller access, Julseoneun Banjeom Gangnae is a good fit for a weekend Chinese lunch with little kids.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu kalguksu shop for half-chicken samgye and bibim noodles: Donggok

Donggok Jemyeon Daegu Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant with house-made noodles on Gukchaebosang-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu. The writer ordered the extra-rich samgye kalguksu (₩13,000) and the chogye bibim kalguksu (₩11,000), plus a seafood chive pancake (₩15,000). Switching between the deep samgye broth with half a chicken and the tangy bibim noodles worked well, and the whole-shrimp seafood chive pancake was the best dish of the day. Even if you think all kalguksu shops are the same, Donggok Jemyeon's chewy noodles and menu pairings should satisfy you.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Siheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siheung briquette BBQ: pajeon bulgogi for 3, steamed egg, Bulhyangjip

Bulhyangjip Mulwang Lake Main Branch (불향집 물왕호수본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant grilling meat on wire grates over coal briquettes near Mulwang Lake in Siheung, Gyeonggi. Unable to forget the smoky flavor from a first visit, the writer returned and ordered 3 servings of briquette pajeon bulgogi, 1 Eomma-son steamed egg and 2 bowls of rice on the table tablet. The writer also filled up at the self-serve bar of house-made side dishes and ssam greens. Verdict: Bulhyangjip Mulwang Lake Main Branch is a Mulwang Lake BBQ spot where the first-visit wow holds up on a return trip.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Original army stew for 3 in Irwon-dong, Gangnam: Uncle Budae Jjigae

Uncle Budae Jjigae Irwon Branch (엉클부대찌개 일원점) is a budae jjigae (army stew) restaurant on the Irwon-dong food street in Gangnam, Seoul. The blogger and an elementary-school child shared the Original budae jjigae for 3, with butter stirred into the rice and an extra fried egg, and the child ate it happily. With unlimited ramen noodles, a self-serve bar and parking for 3–4 cars, Uncle Budae Jjigae Irwon Branch is a solid pick for a family meal in Irwon-dong.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Seongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja Station pho: self-bar onion pickles, egg fried rice at Kkamon

Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store (까몬 분당정자직영점) is a Vietnamese restaurant near Jeongja Station in Bundang, Seongnam, open 10:00–23:00 with no break time. On a chilly day the writer ordered Kkamon pho, Kkamon fried rice topped with a soft-yolk egg and 8,000-won cream shrimp; the pho broth was deep, and the fried rice was generous, half meat and half rice. Kkamon is a good Jeongja-dong lunch spot for warm pho, filling fried rice and a cream shrimp side.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Uijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kid-friendly gomtang restaurant in Uijeongbu: Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang

Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang Uijeongbu Main Branch is a newly opened, hanok-style hanwoo gomtang (Korean beef bone soup) restaurant across from Eulji University Hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. After a kindergarten event one evening, a family of four ordered the hanwoo Naju gomtang suyuk set (with sliced boiled beef), the hanwoo gomtang dumpling set and spicy beef offal soup, and the kids mixed rice into the Naju gomtang and finished a whole bowl. With high chairs, a self-service corner and sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch), Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang is a hearty, easy choice for eating out with children.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk Station Exit 2 hanok restaurant: solo soy crab pasta, Concasse

Concasse Anguk (콩카세 안국) is a Korean-Western fusion restaurant with a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel on Bukchon-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Anguk Station. On a solo visit to Concasse Anguk, the writer ordered soy-marinated crab pasta, mushroom soup and Mungyeong omija ade, and the crab pasta topped with chamnamul (Korean wild parsley), black sesame and soy-marinated shrimp was nutty, fragrant and especially satisfying. Concasse Anguk is worth recommending if you want pasta that blends Korean and Western flavors in a stylish hanok.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong izakaya date after dinner: wagyu set at Gusa Yeonnam

Gusa Yeonnam is a teppanyaki izakaya on basement level 1 of Yeontral Tower in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The blogger booked a weekday table at 7pm after already having dinner with her boyfriend and ordered the ₩66,000 wagyu set for two (wagyu, grilled shrimp, yakisoba and okonomiyaki), plus a grilled scallop from the review event. Gusa Yeonnam gets busy, but the lamp over each table keeps the focus on your conversation, making it a good Yeonnam-dong spot for date-night drinks.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Gijang, BusanCafés

Kid-free date café in Gijang, Busan: fig Earl Grey tiramisu, Deokmi

Deokmi Gijang Branch (덕미 기장점) is an ocean-view dessert café on Dongamhaean-gil in Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, right beside a coastal walking path. On a couples' date, with her 6-year-old son left in her husband's care, the blogger heard the owner explain the menu and tried the signature Bomnaeeum, a matcha latte, a café latte, the fig Earl Grey tiramisu (12,800 won) and the Oreo cheesecake. Verdict: Deokmi Gijang Branch, with its not-too-sweet, upscale desserts and a seaside stroll, makes a satisfying short, restorative date for a busy mom.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulThings to do

Couple's thriller escape room in Hongdae, all hints used: Cube Escape

Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is an escape room café in Hongdae, Seoul, about a 7-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9, running 8 themes. A married couple who often played escape rooms early in their relationship returned after a long break to try Deliver, a thriller theme rated medium-high difficulty, used every hint and still fell 1–2 puzzles short of escaping. Deliver at Cube Escape is lock-heavy and tough for a rusty comeback, but its solid story and tension make it fun even when you fail.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido burger dinner for two: grilled-onion triple cheese, Dumburger

Dumburger Yeouido is a new American-style handmade burger joint behind the KBS annex near Saetgang Station and Yeouido Station in Seoul. The writer went for dinner with a younger sibling and ordered a basic cheeseburger set and a three-patty triple cheeseburger. Dumburger skips lettuce and tomato in favor of grilled onions, keeping the focus on patty, cheese and a rich beefy flavor. Verdict: Dumburger Yeouido suits fans of meaty burgers and office workers looking for an easy solo meal in Yeouido.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored

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