Back Griddle Diner · 46 stories

A Back Griddle in Anseong

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

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok sushi restaurant, mackerel bar sushi with no fishy taste: Ilpum

Ilpum Magok is a kaisendon (raw seafood rice bowl) and sushi restaurant on Gonghang-daero in Magok, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. On the Friday that opened a holiday weekend, a couple walked through Seoul Botanic Park, then sat at the Ilpum Magok counter for lunch and ordered the premium kaisendon (37,000 won) and mackerel bar sushi (26,000 won). The writer, who is sensitive to fishy smells, found no fishiness at all in the mackerel bar sushi. Verdict: with fresh seafood and standout plating, Ilpum Magok is a Magok kaisendon spot worth booking ahead for.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Rice bowl lunch by Misa Station: salmon, beef belly at Roi Sikdang

Roi Sikdang Hanam Misa Main Branch is a wood-toned Japanese rice bowl restaurant near Misa Station in Hanam, Gyeonggi, at 75 Misagangbyeonbuk-ro 30beon-gil. The writer met a friend there for lunch at 2 p.m. and shared a herb-cured salmon bowl set and a single beef belly bowl, and was most impressed by the pretty plating and the soy sauce Roi Sikdang makes separately for each dish. Despite worrying that pretty food would fall short on taste, the writer loved the food and booked the next meetup at Roi Sikdang too.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho beef restaurant: rainy-day hanwoo bulgogi hotpot, Soyachon 338

Soyachon 338 (소야촌338) is a hanwoo beef restaurant on the second floor of the Sokcho Barbecue 338 building in Haksapyeong, near Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon, and it serves only 1++(9) grade hanwoo. At the end of a 2-night, 3-day Sokcho trip, two of us arrived on a rainy day right at opening time, ordered hanwoo bulgogi hotpot for two (22,000 won per person) and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew, 3,000 won), and finished three bowls of rice between us. Soyachon 338's hanwoo bulgogi hotpot was clean and mild with no gamey smell, a satisfying last meal of the trip and a good hangover meal.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Yonghyeon-dong unlimited tuna refills and parking: Donggyeong Sukseong

Donggyeong Sukseong Chamchi (동경숙성참치) is an all-you-can-eat aged tuna restaurant on Nakseomseo-ro in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. A couple drove to Donggyeong Sukseong Chamchi, parked at the Yonghyeon 5-dong public street parking lot and ordered the Royal unlimited refill at 38,000 won per person, finishing four plates of tuna plus plenty of sukidashi (complimentary side dishes). The restaurant has no parking of its own, but the nearby public lot works fine, and this was the first time the writer ever got full on tuna, a truly satisfying meal.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Chinese restaurant for two: nurungji stone jjajang & menbosha

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is a newly opened stone-plate Chinese restaurant at the lower end of the Simhaksan food alley in Paju, Gyeonggi. Two people shared the nurungji stone plate (medium) + menbosha set for 41,000 won and a cold jjamppong for 10,000 won, finding nurungji (scorched rice) hidden under the saucy stone-plate jjajang, plus unlimited rice and self-serve scallion kimchi. With generous portions and reliable flavor, Dolpanseok Jjamppong is the writer's top pick for a return family meal in Paju Simhaksan.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju bingsu café after a full house: morning mango bingsu, Fruit

Fruit Forest (과일의숲) is a large fresh-fruit dessert café on Dolgoji-gil near Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi. After being turned away by a full house in early July, the writer came back on a second visit, ate the ₩32,000 fresh mango snow bingsu at a relaxed morning pace, and found the amount and ripeness of the mango as good as a hotel mango bingsu. For a proper mango bingsu, visit Fruit Forest early and avoid weekend peak hours.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho sashimi takeout seen on Shorts, booked 1 hour ahead: Hoega

Hoega (회가) is a sashimi takeout restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon, about a 5-minute drive or 10-minute walk from Sokcho Central Market. After seeing Hoega in a Shorts video, the writer phoned 1 hour ahead and picked up a small mixed sashimi platter (₩43,000) and a mixed mulhoe (cold raw fish soup, ₩17,000). Even the small platter came with thick cuts generous enough to fill two people. For sashimi takeout near Sokcho Central Market without worrying about being overcharged, Hoega is a sure choice.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Yangcheonhyanggyo octopus grill for a spice-shy husband: Jju Baksa

Jju Baksa Magok Branch is a griddle-fried jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) restaurant on the 1st floor of Daebang DMC City 2, near Exit 8 of Yangcheonhyanggyo Station (Line 9) in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekend evening, a couple ordered the octopus, pork belly and shrimp fried rice set (42,000 won) at the mild spice level with soju, and even the husband, who can't handle spicy food, enjoyed it. With adjustable spice, underground parking support and a park-view patio, Jju Baksa Magok Branch is where the couple has decided to become regulars.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market dakgangjeong & nurungji squid sundae: Seomin Gapbu

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip (서민갑부 시장닭집) is a dakgangjeong (sweet glazed fried chicken) shop inside Sokcho Jungang Market, also known as Sokcho Tourist & Fish Market, in Sokcho, Gangwon. After a lap of the market, Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip had the longest line, so the order was regular-flavor garlic dakgangjeong for ₩24,000 plus nurungji (scorched rice) squid sundae for ₩15,000 from Ttokine Twigim, run by the same shop. Topped with plenty of roasted garlic and nuts, the sweet-salty garlic dakgangjeong stayed soft even cold the next day and made a satisfying beer snack.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon bulgogi restaurant with group rooms for 6–28: Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi (동추원불고기) is a Seoul-style Korean beef bulgogi restaurant in Hagik-dong, Michuhol, Incheon, which has held the same spot for 10 years and is said to have been picked for the Blue Ribbon guide five times in a row. The writer and her husband visited on a weekend afternoon, ordered the Korean beef bulgogi set for two (₩27,900 per person), and confirmed private rooms for 6 to 28 people, seats set aside for families with infants and a kids' meal. With its mildly seasoned, brothy bulgogi, Dongchuwon Bulgogi is a good fit for family meals with parents or children and for group gatherings.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant lunch date with husband at Balsan Station: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch (이치규 발산역점) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) and steki (steak) near Exit 1 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a lunch date, a husband and wife ordered the gyukatsu set and the steki set (₩19,500 each) with a mini curry, grilled the sirloin themselves on a personal brazier with Isigny butter, and got a free shrimp tempura for a Naver receipt review. With 2 hours of parking support and rice refills, Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch earns a 99.9% chance of a return visit.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong ramen with 8-hour broth and 100g dongpo pork: Menya Seoul

Menya Seoul Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is a ramen shop in the basement food court of Lotte Department Store Incheon in Guwol-dong, Michuhol, Incheon. At lunch, the writer had the dongpo chashu ramen on its own (₩12,900) and the jambon chashu ramen set (₩15,900). The broth, said to be simmered for 8 hours with 25 ingredients, was as rich as gomtang (beef bone soup) without being salty, and the 100g dongpo pork was thick and tender. Menya Seoul is a reliable pick when you get hungry while shopping.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored