Old Kettle Traveler · 20 stories

Worn Kettle, Gyeonggi and Daegu-Gyeongbuk and Daejeon-Chungcheong Restaurants and Cafes

Writes about restaurants and cafes across Gyeonggi, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Daejeon-Chungcheong. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gyeongan-dong lamb skewers on a long smoke-free grill: Sinbaegok

Sinbaegok Yang Kkochi Gyeongan Branch is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor at Gwangju-daero 55beon-gil in Gyeongan-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. On an after-work visit, the writer ordered 10 original lamb skewers, 10 seasoned lamb skewers and the signature three-color guobaorou (sweet-and-sour fried pork); the long grill and drip-free rack kept the skewers smoke-free, and the guobaorou, served on warm sauce, stayed hot to the last piece. With parking support and wide table spacing, Sinbaegok Yang Kkochi Gyeongan Branch is an easy, comfortable place for lamb skewers in Gyeongan-dong.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon beef BBQ for two: leftover special cuts packed to go, Jowatso

Jowatso Janghowon Gamgok Main Branch (조왔소 장호원 감곡 본점) is a charcoal-grilled beef BBQ restaurant in Janghowon-eup, Icheon, Gyeonggi. On a weekend, two people shared the 850g signature special-cuts platter of uidae galbi, bonkkotsal, galbisal and flat iron, with sushi rice, free beef haejangguk (hangover soup) and bibim naengmyeon served with broth. The platter was more than two could finish, and the staff at Jowatso neatly repacked the leftover beef to take home, so the friendly service stood out as much as the meat.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chowol Korean restaurant for parents: mild squid duruchigi, Oneuldo

Oneuldo Utja Chowol is a Korean restaurant on Sansu-ro in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, serving squid and pork duruchigi (spicy stir-fry) and pot rice. On a meal with the writer's parents, the family ordered squid and pork duruchigi for 3 plus pot rice; well-aged kimchi deepened the flavor, and the parents enjoyed it because the seasoning wasn't too spicy or harsh. With parking right out front, wide table spacing and a self-serve bar, Oneuldo Utja Chowol was a satisfying spot for a family meal with parents.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam braised pollock family dinner with seaweed soup: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in kodari jorim (braised half-dried pollock) on Wolho-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi. For a family dinner with parents and kids, the table shared a medium siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock, fragrant pot rice for 2 and a seafood pancake, with seaweed soup and nurungji (scorched rice) tea alongside. With a large parking lot and a clean dining hall, Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch left nothing to be desired as a family dinner spot.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek dakgalbi lunch with a dog after a park walk: Semo Dakgalbi

Semo Dakgalbi Pyeongtaek Godeok Urban Grove Mall Branch is a dog-friendly dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Urban Grove Mall in Godeok-dong, Pyeongtaek. After a park walk, the blogger and their dog sat on the outdoor terrace for the Semo Dakgalbi set menu, and the pudding-soft steamed egg, crispy shredded potato pancake and mul makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth) were so filling that the fried rice had to be skipped. Semo Dakgalbi in Godeok is an easy, relaxed lunch spot for anyone eating out with a dog or kids.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanjeongsik in Chowol, Gwangju: mild soy crab and tea at Bomseol

Bomseol (봄설 한정식) is a hanok-style hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant on Hyeonsan-ro in Chowol, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. At Bomseol, the writer ordered the master's ganjang gejang set (soy sauce marinated crab), which was not salty, along with self-serve banchan (side dishes) and pot-cooked nurungji (scorched rice), then had tea in a guest-only lounge in the building across the street. From parking to post-meal tea, Bomseol flows smoothly, making it a good hanjeongsik restaurant for taking parents out.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Easy-parking family BBQ in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju: Sangnok Hoegwan

Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch is a coal briquette Korean BBQ restaurant on Hoean-daero in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. On a family dinner, the writer parked in the roomy lot, ordered the pork one-geun set (pork belly, pork neck, dwitgogi and pork skin) with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and bibimbap, and finished with a self-serve slushie. For a family meal by car or a group dinner, Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chowol Station Korean restaurant: squid duruchigi & sikhye, Oneuldo

Oneuldo Utja Chowol (오늘도웃자 초월) is a Korean restaurant specialising in kimchi jjigae and duruchigi (spicy stir-fry) on Sansu-ro in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. On a sweltering day, the writer ordered squid and pork duruchigi for two (28,000 won), added 2 pots of sotbap (freshly cooked pot rice, 4,000 won) separately and finished with Utja sikhye (sweet rice drink, 3,000 won). The spicy-sweet squid and pork duruchigi, freshly cooked sotbap and cold sikhye at Oneuldo Utja Chowol made a meal that revived a heat-dulled appetite.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Asan soup restaurant: yukgaejang set for one with dumplings at Ihwasu

Ihwasu Traditional Yukgaejang Asan Namdong is a yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) restaurant on Oncheon-daero in Asan, Chungnam. On a trip to Asan, the writer ordered the set for one (traditional yukgaejang with 2 king dumplings) and a traditional yukgaejang on its own, and enjoyed the deep beef-bone broth, tender meat and well-filled dumplings. For a hearty bowl of soup on an Asan trip, the set for one at Ihwasu Traditional Yukgaejang Asan Namdong is a good choice.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ: pork galbi soft enough for weak teeth, Neul Gogi

Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled marinated pork galbi restaurant on Gyeongchung-daero in Icheon, Gyeonggi. Over dinner with their parents, the writer ordered 4 servings of marinated pork galbi (₩76,000) and beef tendon doenjang stew (₩10,000). Staff grilled the meat from start to finish, and the galbi was tender enough that the writer's mother, who has weak teeth, ate it comfortably. With a large parking lot and well-spaced tables, Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is an easy galbi restaurant to take parents to in Icheon.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGumi, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gumi Korean restaurant: beef intestines piled with minari, Hanjaechon

Hanjaechon Gumi Main Branch is a Korean restaurant in Indong, Gumi, Gyeongbuk, best known for its hanwoo beef stew (hanwoo sojjigae). On this visit the writer skipped the stew and ordered gop-jumulleok (marinated beef intestines) piled with minari (water dropwort) for ₩30,000, plus beef tartare bibimbap for ₩12,000 and mung bean pancake (bindaetteok) for ₩6,000. The meal also included a self-serve banchan bar and a grill pan lined with bread slices to soak up the fat. Hanjaechon's gop-jumulleok works both as a drinking snack and as a full meal mixed into white rice.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGumi, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gumi Korean restaurant that tones down the octopus spice: Imgane

Imgane Nakji Bossam (임가네낙지보쌈) is a Korean restaurant in Jinpyeong-dong (In-dong), Gumi, that serves fire-grilled octopus stir-fry and herbal boiled pork (suyuk) together as one set meal. The writer, who struggles with spicy food, ordered the Imgane Hansang set for 2 made less spicy for lunch, and parking was easy thanks to spaces out front and free use of the nearby Citizen Happiness Parking Lot. Imgane Nakji Bossam is a place where even spice-shy diners can ask for a milder flavor and enjoy fire-grilled octopus with boiled pork.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored