Afternoon Sipper · 8 stories

A Sip of Afternoon

I write about cafés I visit around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants

PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Namyangju river café revisit, 24K-cup Blue Mountain: Waltz & Dr. Mahn

Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a quiet, upscale riverside café on the Bukhangang River in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. The writer returned for a second year in a row, walked in and ordered a Vienna coffee (16,000 won), a Jamaica Blue Mountain served in a 24K cup (20,000 won) and a seasonal fruit cheesecake (9,000 won). Hand-drip coffee makes Waltz and Dr. Mahn pricey, but the atmosphere, the taste and the friendly staff make it worth a repeat visit.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Cold-day Hongdae Korean BBQ, salchisal at a window seat: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대숲길점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo, Seoul, where staff grill hanwoo (Korean beef) and handon (Korean pork) for you. On a suddenly cold autumn day, the writer chose a window seat over the patio and ordered the hanwoo/handon set for 2 (109,000 won) with salchisal (beef chuck flap), pork neck and rib meat, plus beef brisket doenjang stew, kkakdugi fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon. When you want the patio feel without the cold, book a window seat at Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong BBQ: axe-bone black pork & handmade galbi, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) is a black pork Korean BBQ restaurant on Myeongdong 8na-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, where staff grill the meat at your table. The writer ordered the 15-day omija-aged black pork giant axe bone-in pork belly (49,000 won), Gwanggaeto handmade galbi (18,000 won) and tojang stew (8,000 won), and found the black pork chewy with no gamey smell, the marinated ribs juicy and the stew deep and savory. For staff-grilled Korean BBQ in Myeongdong, Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is an easy, confident recommendation.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok hotel buffet with Jiangsu beef and squid ramen: La Stella

La Stella at Seoul Garden Hotel is a hotel buffet on the first floor of Seoul Garden Hotel on Mapo-daero in Mapo, Seoul, where weekday dinner costs 88,000 won per adult with unlimited wine and beer. On a weekday evening the writer had Jiangsu-style beef from the October menu themed on China's four great culinary regions, several refills of stir-fried udon and squid jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle) Hangang ramen, then finished with dessert and fruit. Verdict: La Stella is a good-value Seoul hotel buffet with nothing lacking in taste, menu variety or atmosphere.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Prime chuck flap & chuck eye shabu-shabu in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1 in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul. A diner who had visited other Shabu in Seoul branches several times ordered the prime chuck flap set and the prime chuck eye set with spicy mushroom broth, then finished with rose risotto topped with truffle oil. With quality meat, tidy sauce service and an upscale atmosphere, Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is worth a visit, ideally with a reservation.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Pork omakase near Magok Station after the chef change: Don Tamguso

Don Tamguso (돈탐구소) is a pork omakase (donmakase) course restaurant near Magok Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. After a disappointing second visit, the writer returned a third time on news that the head chef had been replaced by a former hotel executive chef, ordered the 58,000 won 9-dish dinner course, and found the menu and flavors two to three times better. For good-value anniversary or date-night course dining in Magok, Don Tamguso is worth revisiting since the chef change.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songnidan-gil steak restaurant with tenderloin and tartare: Sekaro

Sekaro Steak Songpa Main Branch is an all-you-can-eat steak restaurant on Songi-ro 17-gil, along Seoul's Songnidan-gil in Songpa. On the World Steak Course (68,000 won), all 12 steaks and 10 side dishes are unlimited, and this visit covered tenderloin, hwangje-galbisal (premium rib finger cut), yukhoe (beef tartare) with kimbugak, tomato stew, polpo salad and bolognese pasta. The beef at Sekaro had no gamey smell and stayed juicy, closer to a dedicated steak house than a typical buffet.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored
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