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

PlaceGumi, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gumi black goat restaurant, steamer-warm suyuk set for two: Irojeong

Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch is a Korean health-food restaurant at 32 Bakjeonghui-ro in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, near Geumosan. The Sanghwang black goat suyuk (boiled meat) set for two comes in a steamer over a burner, so the black goat stays warm and tender to the last bite with no gamey smell, alongside black goat soup, fried loach and turmeric rice. With parking for 60+ cars, a waiting room, group rooms and a kids' play room, Irojeong is a solid pick for a nourishing family meal out.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju galbi restaurant's 150g beef rib lunch set: Jeongwon Galbi

Jeongwon Galbi Gyeonggi Gwangju Branch is a charcoal-grill galbi restaurant on Gyeongancheon-ro in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, with a lunch special that can only be ordered on weekdays before 3pm. After a short weekday-lunch wait, the writer ordered two servings of the beef rib meat set, each with 150g of rib meat, and shared mul naengmyeon (icy cold buckwheat noodles), steamed rice and doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). The tender beef rib meat paired with refreshing cold noodles stood out. For a hearty beef galbi lunch on a weekday in Gwangju, the Jeongwon Galbi beef rib meat set is a solid pick.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Monkfish restaurant in Gwangju with boneless soup: Badaga Nae Sonagwi

Badaga Nae Sonagwi Gyeonggi Gwangju is a monkfish jjim (braised spicy monkfish) restaurant on Suha-gil in Songjeong-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. At Badaga Nae Sonagwi, the Set A Daehwanjang Monkfish Set (small, 39,000 won) brought monkfish jjim, boneless monkfish soup, whelk sukhoe (blanched whelk) and steamed egg together, and the refreshing, spicy boneless soup and single-use wasabi and soy sauce packs stood out. With easy parking and free rice, Badaga Nae Sonagwi is a monkfish jjim spot worth recommending for a family meal or group gathering in Songjeong-dong.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chowol, Gwangju Korean restaurant with mild soy sauce crab: Bomseol

Bomseol is a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant in Chowol, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, with a main building, an annex and a large parking lot. At lunchtime we ordered Bomseol's signature soy sauce marinated crab (ganjang gejang) set for 2, and the crab was not salty at all, so even the sauce alone was easy to sip. The set also came with stone pot rice, master-made side dishes, cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), unlimited barley rice and a self-serve bar. For mild soy sauce crab and a space suited to family gatherings, Bomseol is a good fit.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tofu restaurant by the toll gate, mild spicy sundubu: Jinsol

Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu (진솔할머니순두부) is a sundubu (soft tofu) restaurant on Wonamhaksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, close to the Sokcho toll gate and open early in the morning. For a first meal in Sokcho, the writer ordered chodang sundubu and eolkeun (spicy) sundubu: the spicy sundubu was mild enough for people who can't handle heat, and the chodang sundubu was soft, curdy and nutty. For an easy route, a spacious parking lot and a breakfast that's gentle on the stomach, Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu is a good fit.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimcheon, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gimcheon cold noodle shop: bibim naengmyeon & pork suyuk, Haru Myeonok

Haru Myeonok (하루면옥) is a Korean restaurant for naengmyeon (cold noodles) and gomtang (beef soup) on Hyeoksin 8-ro in Yulgok-dong, Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk. At Haru Myeonok we ordered bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) for ₩11,000, brisket gomtang for ₩11,000 and a small pork suyuk (boiled pork slices) for ₩18,000. The bibim naengmyeon looked deep red but was not heavily seasoned. The pork suyuk was tender with no gamey smell and is the real highlight of Haru Myeonok. Haru Myeonok has a large parking lot behind the building and separate summer and winter menus, so it is worth a return visit each season.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam braised pollock, kiosk order, pot rice for two: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch (아빠찜 하남본점) is a Korean restaurant on Wolho-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, specializing in kodari-jjim (braised semi-dried pollock) with siraegi (dried radish greens). At Appa Jjim, the writer used the table kiosk to order a large siraegi braised pollock (50,000 won), poached cuttlefish (15,000 won), seafood pancake (16,000 won) and pot rice for two (5,000 won), all at the default mild spice level; the pot rice for two came together in one large pot. With a big private parking lot and well-spaced tables, Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a solid pick for a family gathering or a lunch in Misa.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Gonjiam café with outdoor dog seating: watermelon bingsu at La Cuesta

La Cuesta Gwangju (라꾸에스타 경기광주점) is a large bakery café in Gonjiam, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, on the way to Hwadam Botanic Garden and Gonjiam Resort. Dogs can't join you for food indoors at La Cuesta Gwangju, so the visit with a dog was spent at the outdoor tables over snowflake watermelon bingsu (shaved ice), a rice white roll, melon bread, a La Cuesta latte and red tangerine tea. The outdoor seats are hot in midsummer, but La Cuesta Gwangju is a good café to return to with a dog once the weather cools.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
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