After-Work Eater · 22 stories

Meals After Work

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul after work. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceYeongjong, IncheonRestaurants

Eel and beef buffet in Yeongjong: yukhoe on beef belly, Jangsodam

Jangsodam Yeongjong Direct Store (장소담 영종직영점) is an all-you-can-eat eel and beef buffet restaurant in Yeongjong, Incheon. The writer and her husband visited on a Tuesday and had Set A at ₩39,000 per adult: domestic Japonica freshwater eel, 6 beef cuts and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare). They liked the galbi-sal (rib meat) so much that they ordered it again from the table tablet. Jangsodam Yeongjong Direct Store lets you add half an eel or a small plate at a time, and its spacious hall suits both a dinner for two and a group dinner.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Late-lunch date Korean BBQ in Myeongdong: yukgyeopsal, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork restaurant in a tile-roofed building on a Myeongdong side street in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a late lunch date after 2 p.m., the dining room was still almost full; the couple ordered omija-aged black pork yukgyeopsal (six-layer pork belly), handmade pork galbi and tojang stew, and a staff member grilled the meat at the table. Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is worth a visit for the yukgyeopsal alone.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Namdaemun snack shop: couple's 45 buns & smoothie sample, Daesin

Daesin Ttangkong-ppang (대신땅콩빵) Namdaemun Market branch is a street snack shop inside Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, selling peanut bread, egg bread and peanut smoothies. The writer and her husband bought 45 peanut buns for ₩6,000 plus egg bread, and were given a small sample cup of the nearly sold-out peanut smoothie. Daesin's fluffy peanut bread, studded with whole peanuts, feels unusual at first but gets more addictive with every bite.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGunpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ lunch with Mom in Sanbon: clear-broth shabu set, Geobugi

Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch is a pork BBQ and shabu-shabu restaurant on Sanbon Rodeo Street in Gunpo, on the 2nd floor of a building about a 3-minute walk from Sanbon Station. On a late Saturday lunch with Mom, the shabu-shabu & pork belly set with clear broth came with pot rice, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and free ice cream, like a full course. For a family meal where you want grilled pork belly and shabu-shabu in one sitting, Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch is a good fit.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station eel bowl lunch: crisp eel & first sansho, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel restaurant near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, whose lunch menu is a single dish: the eel bowl (unagi donburi). The writer ordered two Manmok eel bowls in the one-eel size and found no fishy taste, a gentle charcoal aroma, eel slightly crisp outside and moist inside, and a first try of sansho pepper on eel that paired well. If you prefer eel grilled crisp over very soft eel, Manmok's eel bowl is a good fit.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station gopchang daechang hotpot with no gamey smell: Horangigul

Horangigul Timevillas Suwon is a motsunabe (beef intestine hotpot) restaurant in the 3rd-floor food hall of Timevillas Suwon at Suwon Station. On an early weekday evening during a shopping trip, the writer ordered the Horangi gopchang daechang hotpot (18,900 won). The broth was spicy without being harsh, and the gopchang (small intestine) and daechang (large intestine) were generous and free of any gamey smell, so filling that there was no room left for risotto. For a rich, spicy hotpot, Horangigul is worth a dinner visit at Suwon Station.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Jung-gu soba restaurant: pollock makguksu & bossam, Nagwon-ui Soba

Nagwon-ui Soba (낙원의소바) is a soba restaurant with house-made noodles on Seoae-ro near Chungmuro Station and Dongguk University Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, which moved there from Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station. At dinner, the writer ordered a small bossam (boiled pork wraps), lemon soba and pollock makguksu (buckwheat noodles with marinated pollock), and switched between the mild bossam, the refreshing lemon soba and the sweet-and-sour makguksu. If you want soba, bossam and makguksu at one table, Nagwon-ui Soba is a good fit.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom cake café late-evening takeout: desserts at home, Notldun

Notldun is a dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, between Seoulsup and Ttukseom Station. The writer visited Notldun late in the evening with no wait and took home a Mascaberry, a Pistachio Festival and a raspberry madeleine. The showcase was fairly empty, but every dessert chosen was satisfying, so go earlier if you want the full range.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul monkfish stew & fried rice with Mom: Yaksudong Haemul Teombeong

Yaksudong Haemul Teombeong (약수동해물텀벙) is a long-running restaurant near Yaksu Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, that specializes in agujjim (braised monkfish) and seafood stew. On a rainy day with Mom, the writer ordered a medium monkfish and seafood stew at regular spice, plus fried rice. The portion was far bigger than expected, the sauce was mild but deeply savory, and the stew came with large shrimp, crab and octopus. Yaksudong Haemul Teombeong is an easy Seoul monkfish stew pick for families who can't handle much heat.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon Station bar for beer and extra-yukhoe bibimbap: Yukhoe Dokjon

Yukhoe Dokjon Suwon Station Branch (육회독존 수원역점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) bar on Rodeo Street by Suwon Station in Suwon. Stopping in for a meal and a drink, the writer ordered the hanwoo yukhoe platter for two at 37,000 won, a hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap at 10,000 won and beer, then piled yukhoe from the platter onto the bibimbap. Yukhoe Dokjon Suwon Station Branch is an easy, casual stop on days you want tender yukhoe and beef sashimi with a beer.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu tomato ramen shop: 7 dishes and real tomato salad, Menya Pomo

Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch is a tomato-based ramen restaurant on Seoulsup 4-gil in Seongsu, Seongdong, Seoul. On a first visit the writer ordered 7 dishes: Hanwoo (Korean beef) cutlet tomato ramen, Hanwoo cutlet Indian tomato ramen, cheese rice, basil cheese rice, karaage, croquettes and a Real Tomato Salad. The rich, savory broth, juicy Hanwoo cutlet and cheese-rice risotto finish all satisfied. Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch suits anyone in Seongsu looking for an unusual bowl of ramen, a solo meal or a date-night dinner.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon Station café with big windows and coconut coffee: Jeong Ji-young

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters AK Plaza Suwon is a branch of a roastery café that started in Haenggung-dong, located on the 3rd floor of AK Plaza, which connects directly to Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On a weekday visit, the signature coconut coffee had a subtle coconut aroma and a clear coffee flavor, and the strawberry latte was smooth with no syrupy taste. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters AK Plaza Suwon is worth a stop while you wait for a train at Suwon Station or take a break from shopping.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored