Menu Traveler · 54 stories

Across the Menu

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I try in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Isu Station pub with open window seats & gopdoritang: Rainbow Pocha

Rainbow Pocha Isu Branch is a Korean pub near Exit 11 of Isu Station (Chongshin Univ. Station) in Dongjak, Seoul, with platform floor seating and open window seats. On a Friday evening, with the terrace platforms full, two friends sat at the 1st-floor open window seats. They ordered the chicken-feet gopdoritang (spicy chicken stew with boneless chicken feet and beef intestines, 39,900 won) at 30% Shin Ramyun spice, plus 2 bottles of soju, and left full. With the windows thrown fully open, Rainbow Pocha Isu Branch gives you an outdoor street-pub feel even indoors.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Halfway-meetup offal BBQ at Isu Station, Seoul: Baekho Yangdaechang

Baekho Yangdaechang (백호양대창) is a charcoal offal BBQ restaurant near Exit 10 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul, where staff grill the gopchang (beef small intestine) and daechang (beef large intestine) on a charcoal grate from start to finish. On a Friday evening with a friend from Gyeonggi Province, 2 portions of gopchang, 1 portion of daechang, soju and fried eggs came to ₩59,700, a generous amount for two. For a Seoul–Gyeonggi halfway meetup where you would rather talk than tend the grill, Baekho Yangdaechang is a great fit.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae yakitori bar with binchotan skewers and Meromero: Yakitori Iyu

Yakitori Iyu is a charcoal-grill skewer izakaya in the alley behind Sangsang Madang in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, about an 8-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3. On a weekday evening, the writer sat at the bar facing the charcoal grill and ordered the 5-skewer assortment (₩17,800) and tori paitan ramen (₩12,000), with soju and a melon-flavored Meromero. Yakitori Iyu's clean-tasting skewers, smoky from binchotan charcoal, and its quiet atmosphere make it a good stop for a calm drink in Hongdae.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno yakiniku restaurant: wagyu grilling order by cut at Hwarodam

Hwarodam is a yakiniku (Japanese-style grilled meat) restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 8 of Gwanghwamun Station, where diners grill wagyu themselves over personal binchotan charcoal braziers. On a weekday evening, a couple ordered the Hwarodam course for two (₩60,000 per person), grilling wagyu sirloin, galbisal (rib meat) and striploin in order, followed by chicken neck, scallops, oden (fish cake) soup, fried shrimp, gim maki (seaweed roll) and cold soba. Hwarodam's wagyu course suits a calm, quiet date where you can compare the texture of each cut.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Bangi bar for octopus kimchi jeon and pineapple sherbet: Jojomomo

Jojomomo is a Korean gastropub (yorijujeom) on basement level 1 in Bangi Food Alley, Songpa, Seoul, near Jamsil Station Exit 11. On a weekday evening, two of us had octopus seafood kimchi jeon (₩18,000), boneless fried chicken (₩8,000) and pineapple sherbet (₩7,000) with soju. The cup you pick yourself, a welcome shot of Jirisan Gangsoeju, staff happy to change our seats and even mouthwash stood out. Jojomomo is a Bangi-dong bar where you can talk over drinks without shouting.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Weeknight sundae-guk for two near Sinchon Station: Pyeongando Sikdang

Pyeongando Sikdang Sinchon Branch is a 24-hour sundae-guk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant, open every day of the year, about a 3-minute walk from Sinchon Station Exit 3 in Seodaemun, Seoul. On a weekday evening, two people shared two bowls of Pyeongando sundae-guk for 22,000 won; the glutinous-rice sundae and meat were so generous that one bowl of rice was enough, and they changed up the flavor by adding salted shrimp, then dadaegi (spicy seasoning paste), then perilla seed powder. Pyeongando Sikdang Sinchon Branch is an easy, affordable pick for a hangover meal or a hearty dinner in Sinchon.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Hyehwa Station bar with 15ml gin and whisky flights: Oneuldo Hanjan

Oneuldo Hanjan (오늘도 한잔) is a budget cocktail bar on the basement level near Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekend evening second round with a friend, the writer compared the Sollip Meongneun Songchungi (솔잎먹는 송충이) set of three gins and the Blended Malt set of three whiskies, 15ml per pour and 13,900 won per set. For anyone new to whisky or gin who wants to taste several kinds in small amounts, the Oneuldo Hanjan set menu is an easy, low-pressure choice.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Daehangno izakaya: ₩26,000 yakitori set and truffle fries at Hanamato

Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa is a charcoal yakitori and oden izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. Early one evening, two friends sat at the 1st-floor counter of Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa, watching the skewers grill over charcoal, and shared a 5-yakitori + 5-oden set (₩26,000) and truffle potato fries (₩10,000). At ₩36,000 for two, the food was plenty to go with 2 bottles of Saero soju.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae ramen spot with free noodle refills & yuzu radish: Ramen Truck

Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch is a ramen restaurant in an alley near Sangsu Station Exit 4 in Mapo, Seoul, which started as a Hongdae food truck in 2013 and is known for the Im Young-woong autograph on its wall. On a weekend lunch date, the writer and his girlfriend ordered chashu-men (15,000 won) and gyokai tonkotsu ramen (13,000 won), and the yuzu pickled radish and free extra noodles kept them going until the broth was gone. Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch is a solid pick for the first meal of a Hongdae date.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ and soju on a patio by Gyodae Station, Seoul: Gyodaepae

Gyodaepae (교대패) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in an alley near Exit 9 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, specializing in chilled, never-frozen Korean pork (Handon) shaved into thin slices. On a cool evening, two friends sat at Gyodaepae's patio tables out front and ordered the Gyodaepae Set (₩43,000) with soju and cola for ₩50,000 total; the spicy dipping sauce and kimchi grilled on the pan paired especially well. Gyodaepae is a good pick for a casual drink outdoors when you're craving chilled pork belly.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong donburi date: sake-don with hot wasabi, Jongno Donburi

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese donburi (rice bowl) restaurant on basement level 1 in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. Staff mentioned that the salmon was especially good that day, so the writer ordered two sake-don (salmon rice bowls, ₩18,000 each). Because the wasabi is fairly hot, adding it a little at a time and dipping the salmon in soy sauce brought out more of the salmon's sweetness. With its quiet, wood-filled dining room, Jongno Donburi Yeonnam suits an evening date in Yeonnam-dong.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gangdong wood-fired jokbal, small platter for two: Iseon Hwaduk

Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal Bossam Myeongil Branch is a wood-fired jokbal (braised pork trotters) restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Myeongil Station Exit 2. Two diners ordered the small wood-fired jokbal (39,000 won), makguksu buckwheat noodles (10,000 won) and gorgonzola pizza (8,000 won). The small size alone was plenty, with chewy skin and meat tender enough to pull apart along the grain. With a self-serve bar and soft tofu stew on top, Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal Bossam makes a well-rounded meal for two.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored