Mapo Rest Stop · 62 stories

After a Walk

I write about meals and cafe visits in Seoul, sharing impressions from places I’ve visited. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi lunch, flounder-salmon & cold soba: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on basement level 1 of the KT Gwanghwamun Building WEST in Jongno, Seoul. For a Gwanghwamun lunch, the writer ordered the Elephant A set (10 pieces plus cold soba, ₩18,000) and the flounder and salmon half-and-half set (10 pieces plus cold soba, ₩35,000), and was satisfied throughout thanks to the good rice-to-fish ratio and fresh fish. With a filling set and add-on pieces like grilled swordfish with cheese and akami (lean tuna), Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi lunch worth recommending to Gwanghwamun office workers.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hapjeong café tour stop for two ice creams: Chimney Mansion

Chimney Mansion is a chimney bread bakery café on Jandari-ro near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a Hapjeong café tour, an ice cream sign drew the writer inside, where they and their sibling each had one ice cream, Green Garden Horse (₩7,500) and Peanut Caramel (₩7,500), in a European-mansion-themed space with a coal-burning table. Chimney Mansion is a cozy Hapjeong café where the relaxed atmosphere stays with you more than the flavors.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo course restaurant in Gongdeok: business dinner B course, Usu

Usu Gongdeok is a hanwoo (Korean beef) course restaurant on basement level 2 of the Lotte Castle President arcade, right in front of Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, and every seat is a private room. The writer had the dinner B course at Usu Gongdeok for a business meeting and was happy with both the service and the course flow, from beef and chicken porridge through hanwoo beef tartare with gamtae (seaweed), 1++ hanwoo tteokgalbi (grilled beef patty) and grilled 1++ hanwoo to Korean melon sorbet. Usu Gongdeok is a good fit if you want a hanwoo course in a quiet room where you can focus on conversation.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Violin profile photos at Areye Studio, a Hongdae self photo studio

Areye Studio (스튜디오어라이) is a self photo studio and rental studio on Donggyo-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station. The writer booked Areye Studio for violin profile photos and had a relaxed 30-minute shoot; the owner helped with a camera as a free extra and retouched 4 photos instead of the usual 2. Areye Studio's spacious room and generous shoot time make it an easy place to come away with plenty of natural-looking photos.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Santorini-style bar in Samgakji, Seoul: cheese tteokbokki, Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a café and pub in Yongsan, Seoul, next to the War Memorial of Korea near Samgakji Station. In Copenhagen's white-and-blue, Santorini-style space, the writer had half-and-half chicken (22,000 won) and old-school tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) topped with mozzarella cheese (10,000 won) with beer, and the paprika in the tteokbokki made it surprisingly tasty. Copenhagen is a Samgakji bar that suits friends or couples who want a quiet chat over chicken and tteokbokki.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Late-evening Paldang café: frappés & 3 desserts, Waltz & Dr. Mahn

Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a Bukhan River-view café on Bukhangang-ro in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. After a drive around Paldang, a classical-music major stopped by Waltz and Dr. Mahn in the late evening, explored the antique interior, chose frappés over coffee, and tried three desserts: Honor & Chevalier (18,000 won), Yogurt Delight with blueberry (16,000 won) and Camembert cheesecake (9,000 won). With Bukhan River views and its own classical concerts, Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a café worth recommending for a Paldang drive date.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon Thai restaurant: mild shrimp curry & pad thai at Fong Thai

Fong Thai Sinchon Main Branch (퐁타이 신촌본점) is a Thai restaurant near Sinchon Station, on the 2nd floor of a building on Baekbeom-ro in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered pad thai goong (shrimp pad thai, ₩11,500) and goong pad pong curry (stir-fried shrimp curry with egg, ₩12,000, large size +₩3,500), and rated the goong pad pong curry, with its soft egg, rich curry sauce and mild spices, as the best dish. Fong Thai Sinchon Main Branch is an easy pick for Thai food beginners who want to share two shrimp dishes.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Suyu Market chicken shop: overflowing ₩17,000 dakgangjeong box, Gimssi

Gimssi Chicken Suyu Market Branch (김씨치킨 수유시장점) is a market-style chicken shop inside Suyu Market in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. A large medium-spicy dakgangjeong (crispy fried chicken in sweet sticky sauce) costs ₩17,000. The owner tossed it in sauce on the spot with tteokbokki rice cakes, and the portion overflowed so much the box barely closed. Gimssi Chicken's dakgangjeong stayed crisp even eaten cold at home, which makes it great-value takeout from Suyu Market.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Open-kitchen pub near Sookmyung Station with buffalo wings: Heui Huam

Heui Huam (흐이 후암) is a Western-style pub on Duteopbawi-ro in Yongsan, Seoul, near Sookmyung Women's University Station, serving food alongside wine and highballs. Watching the open kitchen, the writer tried egg in hell, rosé Heui pasta, and buffalo wings with fries, and found that the soft lighting and neon-sign exterior gave Heui Huam a good date-night mood. Heui Huam is a Sookmyung Women's University Station date-night pub remembered even more for its relaxed, atmospheric space than for its food.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Euljiro date bar for shrimp cream pizza and wheat beer: Chin & Nose

Chin & Nose is a trendy wine bar on the 3rd floor of a building near Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a date in Euljiro, the writer ordered the Spring Green & Cream Shrimp Pizza (24,000 won), truffle fries (7,000 won), a Weihenstephaner Vitus wheat beer (18,000 won) and a Coke Zero (3,000 won), then lingered over conversation under soft lighting. Chin & Nose delivered on pizza, beer and atmosphere, making it a satisfying date-night bar in Euljiro.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Protein box takeout at Jonggak Station: wasabi mayo beef pasta, Wystab

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is a protein box and salad shop in the basement of the Le Meilleur building at Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The blogger ordered a beef protein box to go with pasta noodles and the owner's recommended wasabi mayo sauce, and had a chocolate protein cookie as a snack. Even people who don't usually enjoy wasabi will find the wasabi mayo nutty and mild, making Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun a good place for tasty, sustainable diet meals.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Mixed gopchang for 3 in Mokdong, too full for fried rice: Omokgyo

Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant near Omokgyo Station in Yangcheon, Seoul. The writer visited around 4 p.m. and shared a mixed gopchang platter for 3 with gopchang, daechang (large intestine) and makchang (abomasum), served with a fire show. The meat tasted rich and chewy with no gamey smell, but the portion was so big that the writer was too full for the fried rice. Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a good pick for gatherings and team dinners that want several cuts on one grill.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored