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.

Hongdae Japanese restaurant: eel ochazuke with rice refills, Ochaya

Ochaya Yeonnam (오차야 연남점) is a Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3, serving ochazuke topped with eel, salmon or seafood. An unagi chazuke (₩16,000) and a shiitake and seafood fry mix (₩5,000) came to ₩21,000; the eel bowl was eaten once without broth and once with broth, and the multigrain rice, seaweed and side-dish refills were put to good use. Ochaya Yeonnam's tender eel and crispy shiitake fry make for a filling Yeonnam-dong lunch.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored

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Gangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung gamjatang restaurant: perilla stew & pork cutlet, Matdeurin

Matdeurin Sundubu Haejangguk & Gamjatang is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant a 2-minute drive from Ojukheon in Gangneung, Gangwon. On a chilly evening, the blogger's family ate Matdeurin gamjatang (₩35,000), a handmade pork cutlet and fried shrimp; the perilla-powder broth grew richer and nuttier as it simmered, and the pork bone meat came apart at a chopstick's touch. With a spacious dining room, ample parking and a pork cutlet even the adults loved, Matdeurin made a satisfying family dinner with kids.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant, lunch after a flea market date: Wongiok

Wongiok Gwanghwamun (원기옥 광화문점) is a Korean restaurant on basement level 1 of the Deoksugung D'Palace building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, serving a stamina hot pot (boyang jeongol) that reinterprets eobok jaengban (beef hot pot on a brass platter), tripe hot pot, gomtang (beef bone soup), stir-fried octopus and yukjeon (egg-battered beef). After a weekend date at the Gwanghwamun Square flea market and Kyobo Bookstore, the writer ordered the stamina hot pot (45,000 won), stir-fried octopus, yukjeon and nutritious pot rice à la carte, and felt properly restored by the rich broth, tender beef and ox knee cartilage. Wongiok Gwanghwamun suits couples looking for a warm, soupy Korean lunch in Gwanghwamun as the weather turns chilly.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Ansan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Japonica eel buffet with the owner's tips in Ansan: Songnim Bok Jangeo

Songnim Bok Jangeo Wongok Branch is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant in Wongok-dong, Ansan, near Ansan Station. A regular grilled Japonica eel at the table, added the unlimited marinated chicken neck and pork belly, and picked up the owner's tips for eating eel. For a company dinner or family meal built around a hearty, restorative dish, Songnim Bok Jangeo Wongok Branch was a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Andong, GyeongbukRestaurants

Andong restaurant after a 20,000-step day: mackerel set for 3, Gilpung

Gilpung (길풍) is a large Korean restaurant in Pungsan-eup, Andong, about 10 minutes by car from Hahoe Village, and it has appeared on TV several times for its heotjesabap (rice with ritual-style side dishes). After a first family-trip day of 20,000 steps around Hahoe Village and Buyongdae, the family skipped the heotjesabap and ordered Gilpung's salted mackerel set for 3 with a seafood pajeon (savory scallion pancake), and the thick mackerel, generous side dishes and seafood-packed pancake left everyone full. With a large free parking lot, Gilpung is an easy dinner stop on an Andong travel route.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Haeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae Western restaurant behind a signless door: Smith's Farm

Smith's Farm (스미스씨네농장) is a Western restaurant on Haeun-daero 483beonga-gil in Haeundae, Busan, hidden behind a big wall with a single door and no signboard. The blogger booked a same-day table on Naver, visited with a friend from Europe, and ate basil cream pasta and pepperoni corn pizza, with pumpkin soup before the meal and a banana dessert also served. With its cheese-loaded pizza and friendly service, Smith's Farm is a Haeundae Western restaurant worth recommending for a date or a filling group meal.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Gwangju, GyeonggiThings to do

Gwangju animal café with a parrot on dad's shoulder: Hamjjirang

Hamjjirang Tojjirang (햄찌랑토찌랑) is an animal experience café in Docheok-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, where visitors can meet hamsters, rabbits, ducks, chickens, a baby pig, parrots and a crested gecko. At Hamjjirang Tojjirang, the writer's family fed the chickens and the baby pig, joined the 4-month-old baby rabbit interaction zone, and laughed as a parrot sat on dad's shoulder for a long while. Hamjjirang Tojjirang is a great Gwangju outing with an elementary schooler, especially the day after Everland.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Yeonsu, IncheonBars

Kid-friendly Yeonsu Station pub for ice draft beer: Geumbyeol Beer

Geumbyeol Beer Incheon Yeonsu Branch is a draft beer pub in the Yeonsu-dong food alley in Incheon, near Yeonsu Station. After dinner with an 8-year-old, the writer stopped by for a second round of ice draft beer with squid karaage and grilled pollock roe, while the child happily ate pineapple sherbet. Thanks to cold draft beer, salty bar snacks and a relaxed atmosphere, Geumbyeol Beer Incheon Yeonsu Branch made a satisfying family round two.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Hwaseong, GyeonggiBars

Dongtan pub for dinner with parents: torch-seared suyuk, Jusangnakwon

Jusangnakwon (주상낙원) is a Korean gastropub (yorijujeom) just off the main street of Dongtan North Plaza in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a family dinner out with Mom and Dad, the writer ate a beef tendon fish cake soup filled to overflowing and gabrisal suyuk (boiled pork shoulder cap) seared with a torch, served with minari (water dropwort), and shared a beer with Dad. Jusangnakwon is a good choice for a relatively quiet meal with parents away from the noise of Dongtan North Plaza.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Paju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Unjeong lamb skewers and yurinyuk with Cheongyang chili: Sannaemaeul

Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of World Tower 3 in the Sannaemaeul shopping center in Unjeong, Paju, open for over 11 years. The writer ordered 2 servings of lamb skewers and yurinyuk (fried pork in soy sauce). The skewers were thick with no gamey smell, and the yurinyuk, soaked in a special soy sauce that isn't too salty and eaten with Cheongyang chili, was a standout pairing. For lamb skewers and Chinese dishes together in Unjeong, Paju, be sure to add the yurinyuk at Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Jayang-dong chicken shop, after-work kids' snacks: Mr. Kim's Chicken

Mr. Kim's Chicken Jayang Market Branch (김씨치킨 자양시장점) is a dakgangjeong (sweet, crunchy Korean fried chicken bites) and fried chicken shop at the entrance of Jayang Traditional Market, near Exit 4 of Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On the way home from work, the writer packed three boxes of snacks for the kids: boneless fried dakgangjeong (medium), mild seasoned dakgangjeong (medium) and 4 drumsticks, and the boneless dakgangjeong stayed crunchy even after cooling at home. With the Jayang Golmok Market public parking lot nearby and Onnuri vouchers accepted, Mr. Kim's Chicken is an easy after-work takeout stop for family snacks.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu fusion Korean early dinner: perilla potato pavé, Out of Order

Out of Order is a fusion Korean restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building, a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seongsu Station in Seoul. The writer visited Out of Order for an early weekday dinner at 5:30 pm with a close younger friend and ordered the scallion tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) risotto, tri-color crispy lasagna and perilla oil potato pavé; the mood and lighting suit a blind date or a wedding invitation meetup. For Korean food lovers tired of the predictable, Out of Order is a Seongsu Station restaurant worth a return visit.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
Danyang, ChungbukRestaurants

Danyang ssambap restaurant, 1/3-sauced pork and makgeolli: Heukmaneul

Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap (단양흑마늘쌈밥) is a black garlic ssambap (rice with leafy wraps) restaurant right in front of Gugyeong Market in Danyang, Chungbuk. On a weekday off, the writer took a day trip from Seoul with their parents and ordered 3 servings of black garlic boiled pork ssambap (₩19,000 each) with makgeolli. The meal came as a hearty, hanjeongsik-style spread with 7 kinds of wrap greens, 7 side dishes, black garlic rice and crab doenjang stew. Verdict: Danyang Heukmaneul Ssambap is a good stop with older parents, paired with a stroll around Gugyeong Market.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored

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