Back Griddle Diner · 46 stories

A Back Griddle in Anseong

Writes about small restaurants scattered through Gyeonggi towns. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Bars

PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Wanjeong Station BBQ for a couple after work: Jeju collar, Dwitgolmok

Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi Geomdan Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 3 of Wanjeong Station in Seo-gu, Incheon, grilling 72-hour aged Jeju pork over charcoal. After work on a weekday, a couple ate thick Jeju special collar, Jeju ddotgalbi (pork ribs), a seafood doenjang stew with a whole abalone, and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles); the juicy collar and the owner's own garlic and salted shrimp sauce stood out most. Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi is an easy Wanjeong Station BBQ pick, especially if you park at the Dangha public parking lot across the street.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ at Balsan Station: hangover naengmyeon, Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch (이화정갈비명가 마곡발산점) is a large pork galbi restaurant with a hotel hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) feel near Exit 4 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekend afternoon, a couple paid 63,000 won for 2 servings (300g each) of seasoned pork neck galbi, plus mul naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon and rice. They liked the less-sweet marinade made with organic pear juice, the neat side dishes and the hangover-soothing naengmyeon broth. For a meal with parents, a family gathering or a Magok Korean BBQ with easy parking, Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a good choice.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Egg mayo dakgalbi and icy buckwheat noodles in Geomdan: Cheolpanjeong

Cheolpanjeong Dakgalbi & Iron-Plate Fried Rice Geomdan Sinhyeongdan Branch is a dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) and iron-plate fried rice restaurant on Wondang-daero 839beon-gil in Geomdan, Seo-gu, Incheon. On a Friday evening the writer upgraded the signature set to egg mayo dakgalbi for ₩38,000 and also had steamed egg, Chuncheon buckwheat noodles and iron-plate fried rice. Usually a fan of plain dakgalbi, the writer named Cheolpanjeong's egg mayo dakgalbi a surprise standout.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Dokjeong tonkatsu & spicy ramen for a spice-shy husband: HOKATSU

HOKATSU is a Blue Ribbon Survey 2026 tonkatsu (Japanese-style pork cutlet) restaurant in the Megabox building near Dokjeong Station in Geomdan, Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer visited HOKATSU right after the break time with her tonkatsu-loving husband and ordered the Choeae Katsu ("favorite katsu," tenderloin katsu plus cheese katsu) and the spicy tonkotsu ramen; the moist tenderloin, the long-stretching cheese and a ramen even her spice-shy husband ate happily all satisfied. Verdict: HOKATSU is a Geomdan tonkatsu spot where the cheese katsu and spicy tonkotsu ramen combo is a must-order.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Ruwon City, Incheon BBQ with owner-grilled briquette pork: Heukdwaeji

Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul Gajeong Ruwon City Main Branch is a coal-briquette black pork BBQ restaurant in Ruwon City, Seo-gu, Incheon, near Gajeong Station. The writer ordered the Yukbaek-i set (7-day low-temperature aged Jirisan black pork neck and pork belly) and handmade mul naengmyeon (cold noodles), and the owner pre-grilled the meat over coal briquettes at a central fire pit before bringing it to the table, so there was no grilling to do. For anyone who finds thick cuts hard to grill themselves, Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul is a comfortable and tasty choice.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo Korean restaurant with an 18-dish couple's spread: Bomseol Gimpo

Bomseol Gimpo (Hansik Gongan On, 한식공간 온) is a large, newly opened Korean set-meal restaurant next to Positive Space 566 in Gamjeong-dong, Gimpo. The writer and her husband ordered the Bomseol Healthy Table for 2 (18,000 won per person): an 18-dish spread with braised pollock, spicy stir-fried pork, cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and side dishes. The meal also included a self-serve corner for making young radish bibimbap and a finish of sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and nurungji. With a big parking lot and private rooms, Bomseol Gimpo is a good choice for taking parents out or hosting guests.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon pizza place open till 1 AM for a late-night date: Cheesewave

Cheesewave Bucheon City Hall (치즈웨이브 부천시청점) is a pizza restaurant near Exit 2 of City Hall Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, and the 8th branch of a pizza brand that started in Itaewon. A couple visited around 9 PM on a weekend and ordered a pepperoni and combination half-and-half pizza set, upgraded to a cheese crust through a review event, with butter garlic potatoes on the side; the generous pepperoni and the crispy crust filled with whole cheese stood out most. Because it stays open late, Cheesewave Bucheon City Hall is a solid pick for a late-night pizza date near City Hall Station.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Sindorim bossam restaurant: 3 persimmon kimchi refills, Sambaekga

Sindorim Sambaekga (신도림삼백가) is a Korean bossam (boiled pork wraps) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Unit 118 of the Sindorim Prugio shopping arcade near Sindorim Station Exit 1 in Guro, Seoul, reportedly run by a former Chosun Hotel chef. Three of us shared the Sambaek Bossam Kalguksu Set (₩42,000) at a weekend lunch: moist pork belly bossam, fresh clam kalguksu noodles that stayed springy to the end, and persimmon-seasoned geotjeori (fresh kimchi) so good we refilled it three times. With single dishes from ₩9,900, Sindorim Sambaekga is a good-value Korean restaurant by Sindorim Station that I wish were near my home.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Gyeyang charcoal duck BBQ for a couple with two self-bars: Ganaandeok

Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a raw duck restaurant grilling over real charcoal on Jangje-ro in Gyeyang, Incheon, near Bakchon Station. A couple ordered one whole raw duck (700g, 56,000 won), grilled it over charcoal in two 350g rounds and dipped each piece in roasted sea salt; the fat dripped away, so the duck never felt greasy, and they finished with mung bean porridge and charcoal-roasted sweet potatoes. With clean-tasting grilled duck, a tidy self-serve bar and a large parking lot, Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a place the couple wants to return to for family meals and gatherings.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Gajeong Station Korean BBQ dinner for two, 63,300 won: Euljiro Yeontan

Euljiro Yeontan Gui Luone City Branch (을지로 연탄구이 루원시티점) is a charcoal-briquette Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 6 of Gajeong Station in Seohae, Incheon, that also serves seafood such as abalone, sea squirt and scallops. On a weekday evening, a couple ordered the 600g pork set, a plate of scallops, Samsuni bibimbap, doenjang (soybean paste) stew and soju for 63,300 won in total, and enjoyed the smoky briquette-grilled pork, the 4,900-won bibimbap and the plump scallops. For good-value Korean BBQ near Gajeong Station, Euljiro Yeontan Gui Luone City Branch is a place worth coming back to.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju ssambap restaurant, pumpkin namul refills at dinner: Simhaksan

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a ssambap (lettuce-wrap rice) and Korean set-meal restaurant on Dolgoji-gil in Paju, Gyeonggi, known for its Deul set and Flower set. A couple ordered the Deul set for 2 around 6pm on a weekend evening: sweet pumpkin porridge, spicy pork and squid stir-fries, doenjang (soybean paste) stew and pot rice. They also refilled greens and side dishes from the self-bar and finished with chocolate ice cream. With mildly seasoned yet deeply savory sides, Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a Korean restaurant near Simhaksan worth coming back to.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Clear sundae-guk in Gimpo after a 1-hour holiday wait: Paldam Sundae

Paldam Sundae Gimpo Main Branch is a restaurant specializing in handmade sundae (Korean blood sausage) and sundae-guk (sundae soup), tucked in an alley near Janggi Station in Seokmo-ri, Gimpo. On a holiday-weekend Saturday, a couple joined a 10-team Catchtable waitlist, got in after about 1 hour, and shared the omakase set for two with clear sundae-guk. Verdict: Paldam Sundae's clean-tasting broth with no gamey smell and its handmade sundae made the wait worth it.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored