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.

Briquette pork BBQ near Gyodae Station: aged kimchi refills, Galgol

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch is a briquette-grilled pork restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Gyodae Station exits 6 and 7. At dinner, the blogger grilled Juljuri special pork neck, briquette rock-salt pork belly and the daily-limited seolhwa kkodeulsal (a chewy pork cut) in turn, refilled the aged kimchi more than twice, and found the kkodeulsal sold out when trying to order more. At Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch, order about 2 servings of seolhwa kkodeulsal from the start.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored

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Dongjak, SeoulBars

Sadang date izakaya with a terrace feel: spicy 1++ yukhoe at Susan

Susan Sadang Main Branch is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in an alley near Exits 7 and 8 of Sadang Station, Seoul. The writer visited with a partner around 6pm on a Saturday and, in a room with its doors flung open like a terrace, ate gochujang-seasoned Hanwoo 1++ yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and sweet shrimp buckwheat noodles. Thanks to the quality of its bar food, Susan Sadang Main Branch is worth recommending for a date or a light drink near Sadang Station.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Buk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Katsu lunch in Cheomdan, Gwangju: tenderloin & grain mustard, Filling

Filling Donkatsu Gwangju Cheomdan Direct Store is a katsu and pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor of Building A, IBC Knowledge Industry Center, in Buk-gu, Gwangju. After a hair salon visit, the writer and a friend had lunch there: a rosé pasta topped with egg yolk and the best-selling low-temperature tenderloin katsu, plus a refill of salad from the self-bar. The tenderloin katsu at Filling Donkatsu tasted best with whole grain mustard, and the bright, spacious dining room suits dates and family meals too.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Gwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Bongcheon restaurant, webfoot octopus hot plate lunch: Sangdo Neulbori

Sangdo Neulbori Bongcheon Station Branch is a Korean restaurant near Exit 5 of Bongcheon Station in Gwanak, Seoul, serving braised kodari (semi-dried pollock) and webfoot octopus. Won over by the kodari sauce, the writer came back a second time for lunch with her husband and ordered the webfoot octopus hot plate for two. Staff stir-fried it at the table, the octopus was plump and tender, and the perilla leaf and bean sprout wraps were a standout. If you want a savory sauce that people who struggle with spicy food can still enjoy, the webfoot octopus hot plate at Sangdo Neulbori Bongcheon Station Branch is a good fit.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Namdong, IncheonRestaurants

Nonhyeon, Incheon blind-date steak & squid ink risotto: Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a pasta and steak restaurant on the 3rd floor of the La Fiesta building in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, known as a spot for blind dates and wedding-invitation dinners. The writer ordered the beef salchisal (chuck flap) steak for 36,000 won cooked medium-well and the whole squid ink risotto for 17,000 won, and despite not liking risotto, happily finished the entire squid ink risotto. Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is worth choosing for a get-together near Nonhyeon Station if you want free parking, a clean, polished atmosphere and reasonable prices.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Gwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangmyeong grilled fish with a 3- and 4-year-old: mackerel at Todam

Todam Hwadok Saengseongui (토담화덕생선구이) is a hanok-style Korean restaurant serving clay-oven grilled fish on Anyangcheon-ro in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend, two adults and two kids aged 3 and 4 ordered 2 servings of grilled mackerel and 1 serving of grilled gulbi (salted dried yellow croaker), which came with pot rice, cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and side dishes from a self-serve bar, plus a complimentary egg custard and pumpkin porridge for dessert. The kids ate more mackerel than rice and finished two bowls of pumpkin porridge, making Todam Hwadok Saengseongui a satisfying family meal with young children.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Bupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong seafood restaurant: monkfish-octopus jjim with soju, Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is a monkfish jjim (spicy braised monkfish) and seafood stew restaurant on the main road of the seafood stew street in Bupyeong, Incheon. Three of us ordered the medium monkfish and octopus jjim with soju, ate the mussel soup and marinated shrimp sides, and fried rice in the leftover sauce, yet still packed leftover monkfish to take home. For generous drinking food with free valet parking, Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is a good fit.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam rice bowl spot: solo steak bowl with icy cold soba, Gogigadeuk

Gogigadeuk Deopbap Gangnam-gu Office Station branch is a steak rice bowl and noodle restaurant near Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Dining solo, the writer ordered the pork neck steak rice bowl set with 2 pieces of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and cold soba (buckwheat noodles). The soba was close to a full portion, so it felt like eating a meal for two. Most customers at Gogigadeuk Deopbap come alone and pets are allowed, making it an easy solo lunch spot near Gangnam-gu Office Station.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
Gijang, BusanCafés

Gijang bakery café: seasonal fig jambon-beurre brunch at Purity Cafe

Purity Cafe is a brunch and bakery café on Chaseong-ro in Gijang-eup, Gijang, Busan. On a weekend the writer and his wife had brunch there: a fig jambon-beurre, a mont blanc pastry, pollock roe salt bread and an egg tart with a hot Americano and an iced chocolate latte, and the fig jambon-beurre made with seasonal figs was the top recommendation. With its large car park, Purity Cafe is a relaxed Gijang brunch café to drive to for bread and coffee.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk hanok pasta restaurant, lunch with Mom while pregnant: Concasse

Concasse Anguk is a Western restaurant serving pasta and risotto in a 100-year-old hanok (traditional Korean house) on Bukchon-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Anguk Station. The pregnant writer and her mom had a weekday lunch of tomato salad, abalone soft tofu risotto and vongole squid ink pasta for 53,000 won in total, plus a free omija ade for posting a Naver photo review. Concasse Anguk's abalone soft tofu risotto, nutty and mild, was the dish mother and daughter liked best.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
Seongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Date-night daechang and makchang in Pangyo: Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang

Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang (판교인생곱창) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang (beef small intestine) grill and hotpot restaurant on the first floor of Pangyo Tower on Pangyoyeok-ro in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On an early dinner date, staff grilled hanwoo daechang (large intestine) and beef makchang (abomasum) at the table, and the meal ended with a spicy mayak ('addictive') ramyeon made with beef gopchang. With odor-free, crispy-chewy makchang, daechang that is crisp outside and tender inside, and a hearty spicy ramyeon, Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang is a solid pick for dates or group dinners.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
Gyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Korean rice bowls in Bomun, Gyeongju: mackerel with no fishy smell

Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon (향택별미원) is a hanok-style Korean rice bowl restaurant on Summeori-gil, on the road into the Bomun area of Gyeongju. The writer, who is sensitive to fishy smells, shared one bowl each of the Spanish mackerel gondre rice bowl (15,000 won) and the eggplant doenjang rice bowl (14,000 won), and called the boneless mackerel, mild with no fishy smell, the best mackerel they have ever eaten. With easier parking and shorter waits than the Hwangridan-gil main branch, Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon in Bomun is a solid pick for a meal.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ with kids after Seoul Gallery: pork neck, Geumseong

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch (금성회관 서울시청직영점) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in the Bukchang-dong food alley near City Hall Station, Seoul. After a weekend family outing to Seoul Gallery, the writer and the kids ordered charcoal pork neck for 3 plus 1 extra portion, with steamed egg and a beef-belly doenjang stew swapped in for the default soft tofu stew. Geumseong Hoegwan is a family dinner with kids that left the whole family satisfied.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored

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Seoul 92628Gyeonggi 53127Busan 18896Incheon 10034Gangwon 9547Daegu 8114Chungnam 6162Jeju 6158Gwangju 5580Gyeongnam 5228Daejeon 4895Gyeongbuk 4779Chungbuk 3714Jeonbuk 2640Ulsan 1851Sejong 1274Jeonnam 271