Firsthand stories from Korea, in ten languages

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.

Ansan Korean BBQ with pre-deboned salt jjokgalbi: Suamgol Jjokgalbi

Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul Ansan Hanyang University Station Branch is a pork rib (jjokgalbi) restaurant on Gwangdeok 1-ro in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi. The writer went after work with her mom for salt jjokgalbi, an old-style lunchbox and beer, and because the ribs arrive partly deboned and already seared once, the meal moved along much faster. With soft tofu stew served free, a self-serve side dish bar and outdoor tables, Suamgol Jjokgalbi Maeul is an easy place to take parents.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored

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Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Late-lunch Indian curry with Indian rice in Samseong: India The Durbar

India The Durbar Samseong Station Branch is an authentic Indian curry restaurant on the basement level of Samseong-ro 84-gil, near Coex in Gangnam, Seoul. A late lunch at 4pm meant the A Set for two at ₩64,000: mushroom soup, a giant samosa, tandoori chicken and king prawn, chicken korma and prawn makhani, plus butter naan and Indian rice. Portions at India The Durbar are big enough that two hearty eaters barely finished, and the sweet, tang-free makhani curry suits Indian curry beginners.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Jeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Post-movie galbi dinner near Jeonju Hyoja IMAX: Ubookgeum Saenggalbi

Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch is a beef short rib (saenggalbi) restaurant on Ongo-eul-ro in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, where staff grill the meat for you down to the last rib bone. It sits a 10-minute drive from Jeonju Hyoja IMAX, so after watching the film Odyssey we ordered one whole rack of beef short ribs, served with steamed egg, doenjang stew and seasoned bean sprouts as the standard setting. You never pick up the tongs, and the K Parking Lot across the street is an affiliated lot, which makes the whole evening easy.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Michuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Weekday ramen lunch for two sisters in Michuhol, Incheon: Menya Seoul

Menya Seoul is a ramen restaurant in the B1 food court of Lotte Department Store Incheon, connected to Incheon Terminal in Michuhol, Incheon. On a weekday revisit with her older sister, the writer ordered the jambon char siu ramen set with a gyoza side and the spicy dongpo pork char siu ramen set with a mini karaage rice bowl, and the two set orders came with two free Coca-Cola keycaps. The dongpo pork at Menya Seoul is braised until it falls apart at a touch of the chopsticks, and the karaage rice bowl is the side worth choosing.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoido Korean BBQ with icy soju after the Han River: Smile Samgyeop

Smile Samgyeop Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Korean pork and beef on Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil near Saetgang Station in Yeoido, Seoul. After a day out at the Han River, the writer ordered two servings of pork belly and one of pork neck, and the staff grilled and cut everything from the kimchi to the onion and shiitake mushrooms, piled the grill high with minari (water dropwort), and brought out icy soju plus a free kimchi stew. The minari and grilled kimchi pairing makes Smile Samgyeop a certain repeat visit.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Daehangno Indian curry à la carte for three, ₩50,000: Meono Kkameona

Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch is an Indian and Nepali restaurant a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. A family of three skipped the two-person set and ordered à la carte instead — chicken masala, chicken korma, basmati rice, chicken biryani, butter naan and half a tandoori chicken — for about ₩50,000 in total. For three people who want to share several dishes, the à la carte combination at Meono Kkameona beat the set menu.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant past the 1pm lunch rush: Izawa dontoro-don

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu (Japanese fried beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Yeouido Jonghap Sangga, right in front of Exit 5 of Yeouido Station in Seoul. Arriving just past the weekday lunch rush at 1pm, the writer ordered the double gyukatsu for 33,000 won and dontoro-don (pork jowl rice bowl) for 13,500 won, grilling a few pieces at a time on the mini charcoal grill and dipping them in salt, wasabi and yuzu sauce. Tables turn over quickly at Izawa, so with the right timing it makes an unhurried Yeouido lunch.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Hanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam Korean restaurant, Sunday 11am walk-in for two: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Wolho-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, specialising in braised pollock (kodari-jjim) and steamed seafood. Arriving for the 11:00 Sunday opening meant walking straight in with no wait, and two people shared a small siraegi braised pollock at 35,000 won, a crispy seafood pancake at 16,000 won and a pot rice add-on for two at 5,000 won — not very spicy, and far too much food to finish. With a large car park and a wide dining hall, Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch suits a family meal out with parents.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Dongjak, SeoulBars

Sharing platter for two at Cheonjan, an izakaya near Sadang Station

Cheonjan is an izakaya on Dongjakdae-ro 7-gil near Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul, with wood-toned interiors and soft lighting. Two of us ordered the Cheonjan Hansang A sharing platter, chadol bokkeum udon (stir-fried beef brisket udon) and Byeolbit Cheongha, so a spread of small bites plus a warm noodle dish covered drinks and dinner in one go. When two people can't decide what to order at Cheonjan, the hansang platter is the easiest place to start.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Hoengseong, GangwonShopping

Hoengseong hanwoo butcher: 700g of beef for two on an overnight trip

Hoengseong Hanu Jeongyukjeom (횡성한우정육점) is the oldest hanwoo butcher shop in Hoengseong, Gangwon, open since 1979 and now run by the second generation. On a one-night trip to Hoengseong, two people bought about 650–700g of galbisal (rib finger meat), low-fat aged salchisal (chuck flap) and sirloin for just over 100,000 won and grilled it all themselves. With grades from 1++ down to grade 2 sold in small packs, Hoengseong Hanu Jeongyukjeom makes it easy to taste several cuts in one go.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Jeju, JejuRestaurants

Nohyeong-dong black pork with grilled scallions in meljorim: Pork80

Pork80 Jeju Airport Branch is a black pork restaurant in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City, where staff charcoal-grill thick-cut Nanchuk Matdon pork from start to finish. Dipped in grilled scallions and meljorim (braised anchovy sauce), the pork tasted nutty with no fishy edge, and side dishes run all the way to seasoned raw crab. A parking lot 30 seconds away gives 3 hours free with a meal, making Pork80 an easy first meal after landing or a last one before the airport.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Gimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bun bo nam bo at Kkua, a Vietnamese restaurant in Janggi-dong, Gimpo

Kkua Gimpo Janggi Branch is a Hanoi-style pho restaurant in Janggi-dong, Gimpo, about 445m from Janggi Station Exit 4. Two people ordered Hanoi original grilled pho at 12,000 won, bun bo nam bo at 12,000 won and a shrimp rice roll at 7,000 won for a total of 31,000 won, and the smoky flame-grilled broth and the sweet-and-tangy sauce of the southern-style mixed noodles, bun bo nam bo, stood out most. If you want something closer to Vietnam than an ordinary bowl of pho, the grilled pho and bun bo nam bo pairing at Kkua Gimpo Janggi Branch is worth the trip.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju Chinese restaurant stop en route to Jeonju: Gyodong Jjamppong

Gyodong Jjamppong Yongjeong Branch is a Chinese restaurant in Yongjeong-dong, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk. Stopping in again on the drive down to Jeonju, the writer ordered jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) at 9,000 won, jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) at 6,000 won and glutinous sweet-and-sour pork at 18,000 won, and liked the deep broth made with both meat and seafood along with the thick, crisp tangsuyuk. There is no dedicated parking lot, but a meal comes in under 10,000 won, making Gyodong Jjamppong an easy stop when passing through Cheongju.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored

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