Small Mirror, Seoul and Gyeonggi Counters — Seodaemun Mirror Lunch Regular

Weeknight Korean BBQ in Deungchon, Seoul that needs booking: Ggupdda

Ggupdda (꿉따) is a cauldron-lid Korean BBQ restaurant near Deungchon Station in Yangcheon, Seoul. After work on a weeknight, the writer and her boyfriend shared Ggupdda's minari (Korean water parsley) pork belly and gabrisal (pork jowl) set plus mul makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), and even on a weekday Ggupdda filled up quickly with a waiting line. With a big bowl of minari and free, unlimited doenjang jjigae refills, Ggupdda is a Deungchon Station pork belly spot worth reserving on Catch Table.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Korean BBQ, staff-grilled pork & milk thistle: Chamdwaejitgan

Chamdwaejitgan Magok Branch (참돼짓간 마곡점) is a black pork Korean BBQ restaurant within a 5-minute walk of Balsan Station Exit 9 or Exit 1 in Gangseo, Seoul. After work on a Friday, the writer and a friend ordered black pork skin-on belly, pork jowl, doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), beer and soju; staff grilled the meat at the table, served grilled potato wraps and handed over a milk thistle supplement with the drinks. The doenjang stew may divide opinion, but the table-side grilling and spacious hall make Chamdwaejitgan Magok Branch a solid pick for after-work drinks or a team dinner.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon knife-cut beef noodle dinner vs Taiwan: Cheonghwaweon

Cheonghwaweon is a Chinese restaurant on Myeongmul-gil near Sinchon Station in Seodaemun, Seoul. Having been to Taiwan twice, the writer ordered beef knife-cut noodles (dao xiao mian), tiger rice bowl and cream shrimp as a pre-movie dinner with her boyfriend, who was trying beef noodle soup for the first time. Compared with the Taiwanese original, Cheonghwaweon's broth carried a light tomato note and felt less greasy, making it an easy fit for Korean tastes.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored