Break Time Eater · 59 stories

A Meal Break

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I try in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu lunch at Seoul Station before the GTX to KINTEX: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style beef cutlet) restaurant in the basement arcade of the LG Building across from Seoul Station, in Jung-gu, Seoul. Before taking the GTX to KINTEX, the blogger arrived at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch right at opening time and ordered the Ichigyu gyukatsu set (striploin) with a 200ml lunch mini beer. The blogger then seared the striploin in butter on a personal mini grill, cooking each piece to taste. For a filling lunch near Seoul Station that is a step beyond the usual options before a trip, Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a good choice.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pho restaurant near Sunae Station with bun cha and shrimp balls: Camon

Camon Bundang Sunae Station Flagship is a Vietnamese pho restaurant that opened on Baekhyeon-ro 101beon-gil near Sunae Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A writer who once lived in Ho Chi Minh City had pho, Camon bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles) and shrimp balls there for a weekend lunch date with his wife, and the rich broth and bun cha sauce reminded him of his regular local spots in Vietnam. If you want a taste close to Vietnam, order the bun cha first at Camon Bundang Sunae Station Flagship.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiCafés

Anyang open-kitchen brunch café: jambon plate and fig ade at Notten

Notten is a brunch café tucked into the café alley of Dongpyeon-maeul (동편마을) in Dongan-gu, Anyang, serving plates of Korean wheat bread baked in-house. The writer stopped in alone before a weekday work meeting and, with sunlight pouring through the big windows and a view of the open kitchen, had the Korean wheat jambon plate and a fig ade; the generous spread of homemade jambon, jam, butter and an antibiotic-free egg beat expectations. Notten is worth considering for a relaxed morning brunch in a quiet neighborhood alley.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Korean BBQ: pork belly, beef sashimi sides at Sutbhyanggi Bonga

Sutbhyanggi Bonga (숯향기본가) is a new Korean BBQ restaurant near Yeonghwa-dong in Jangan-gu, Suwon, specializing in fresh and marinated galbi (ribs). A couple ordered 2 servings of fresh pork belly there on a Sunday afternoon and found the side dishes, including beef sashimi, raw shrimp, spicy marinated crab and fish-fragrant eggplant, by far the best of any Korean BBQ place they had visited lately. The meat at Sutbhyanggi Bonga is not especially cheap, but the quality of the meat and sides makes it a great choice for dinner with your parents.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Eel bowl spot in Songjeong, Busan: a couple's Gijang trip dinner, Yuok

Yuok (유옥) is a Japanese-style eel bowl restaurant in a wooden house on a residential street near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. A husband and wife on a Gijang getaway wanted a clean, simple meal instead of straw-fire grilled hagfish, so they went to Yuok and shared a jumbo unaju (grilled eel rice bowl set) made with domestic eel and a saba ochazuke set (mackerel over rice with green tea), along with one bottle of beer. The writer calls Yuok the most memorable meal of the Busan trip and plans to return.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Solo rice bowl lunch at Dongguk back gate: pork jowl set, Haekbap

Haekbap Dongguk (핵밥 동국대본점) is the flagship branch of the Haekbap rice bowl chain, on the second floor of a building between Chungmuro Station and the Dongguk University back gate in Jung-gu, Seoul. Dining alone at peak lunch, the writer got a single-person bar seat right away and ordered the pork jowl rice bowl set on a tablet. The set came with mini udon and karaage after about 15 minutes. Verdict: the spicy sauce cuts the richness of the pork jowl, making Haekbap Dongguk a better-than-expected solo lunch.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Sinyongsan curry lunch: katsu vs charcoal jokbal topping at Bogumjip

Bogumjip Yongsan Main Branch (보금집 용산본점) is a restaurant near Samgakji Station in Yongsan, Seoul, serving fire-grilled jokbal (pork trotters) and other meat dishes in the evening and Japanese curry simmered for over 6 hours at lunch. On a late lunch after the noon rush, the Kaburi katsu curry (pork cap cutlet) and the charcoal jokbal galbi curry were ordered together, and the complimentary pork kimchi stew and frozen radish salad cut through the richness of the fatty meat toppings. Bogumjip Yongsan Main Branch is a strong pick for a Samgakji lunch when you want thick, rich curry with hearty meat toppings.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station teppanyaki spot, yakisoba like my Japan study days: Jojo

Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is an okonomiyaki and yakisoba teppanyaki (iron-griddle) restaurant in the basement-level (B1) food hall of AK Plaza, which connects directly to Suwon Station. The writer stopped in alone after work on a weekday and watched the cooks at the open-kitchen griddle while waiting. The 1-person yakisoba set brought back the taste of the yakisoba the writer often ate while studying in Japan, and it came with mentaiko-sauce yaki gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) in a generous portion. Jojo has drawn queues on Yongridan-gil, but Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a no-wait spot for a solo meal at Suwon Station.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno 3-ga bakery brunch: frozen onion bagel & coffee bread, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a small bakery at the entrance to the Ikseon-dong alleys near Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul, and only 2 groups can go in at a time. On a return visit to her all-time favorite bakery, the writer took home Munhwa Bakery's onion bagel and coffee bread, froze them, then reheated them in the oven for 1 minute for a weekend brunch with her husband. Verdict: Munhwa Bakery's onion bagel and coffee bread were just as satisfying reheated.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Takeout shop at Yongsan Station 3F: half chili/cream shrimp, Ppareuju

Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong (빠르쥬 덮밥&강정) is a takeout-only shop for deopbap (rice bowls) and dakgangjeong (sweet glazed fried chicken), located near the ticket gates of the 3rd-floor waiting hall at Yongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. On a return visit during a work trip, the writer took home peanut bread, half-and-half chili/cream shrimp and a small dakgangjeong to share with family, and was very pleased with how the food came out the moment it was ordered and with the thick chicken and chewy rice cakes in the dakgangjeong. Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong is a good place to grab a filling takeout meal at Yongsan Station when your train is close.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Pangyo Station terrace pub for cheese melon jamón after a date: Bacha

Bacha Pangyo Branch is a gastropub on Bundangnaegok-ro near Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, run by a former IT developer and UX designer. After a date at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo, blogger Edwood and his wife booked Bacha Pangyo Branch on Catch Table, sat on the terrace and shared cheese melon jamón, the signature Bacha seafood jjim (steamed seafood) and Suntory highballs, plus a yogurt ice cream from the review event. For couples who want dinner with drinks, the generous Bacha seafood jjim at Bacha Pangyo Branch is enough for a first round on its own.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam poke restaurant revisit: steak poke & mushroom soup, Hola Poke

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is a poke and salad franchise on the second floor of a building at the entrance to the food alley by Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Pleased with a first visit, the writer returned to Hola Poke Seolleung Branch and ordered the signature steak poke, topped with a 100g steak over oat and brown rice with wasabi mayo sauce, alongside a warm mushroom soup. The verdict: the steak poke is filling yet easy on the stomach, and Hola Poke Seolleung Branch looks set to become a regular lunch spot.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored