Back Griddle Diner · 46 stories

A Back Griddle in Anseong

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

Incheon Nonhyeon Japanese spot: salmon sakedon set, Hongdae Gureume

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a Japanese restaurant in Namdong, Incheon, on the 2nd floor of the iFlex Building right outside Exit 3 of Incheon Nonhyeon Station. It serves ramen, tonkatsu and sushi and has been in the same spot for more than 10 years. On a Saturday around 4:30pm, the blogger and her husband had the salmon sakedon set (16,000 won) and the spoon-scooped salmon sushi (12,900 won), and the Norwegian salmon tasted clean, with no fishiness, and melted in the mouth. For salmon lovers, the sakedon set at Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeohae, IncheonShopping

Cheongna optician: husband's brown horn-rimmed frames, Hwangseonsaeng

Hwangseonsaeng Angyeong Lensme Ruwon City Branch is a large optical shop in Ruwon City, Seohae-gu, Incheon, serving the Cheongna area with Korean and international house brands plus an officially certified Oakley line. The writer came to have glasses made for her husband, chose translucent brown horn-rimmed frames, had a precise eye exam on the Zeiss Profiler, and the glasses were made and fitted in 10–15 minutes. The brand selection, exam system and final fitting at Hwangseonsaeng Angyeong Lensme Ruwon City Branch all made it a satisfying purchase.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYangpyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangpyeong burger date spot: Original Special set at Burger924

Burger924 Yangpyeong Main Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on Jungang-ro 167beon-gil in Yangpyeong-eup, Gyeonggi, run by a couple with 26 years of experience and offering 36 kinds of burgers. On a weekend afternoon visit, the writer ordered the Original Special burger set, the Yangpyeong hanwoo (Korean beef) jalapeño cheese burger set and a side of fries, and the house sauce, red yeast rice bun and freshly fried fries stood out. Burger924 is a good Yangpyeong date spot to stop at on a drive out of Seoul.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chuseok hand-made dumpling hot pot for two in Siksa-dong: Arirang

Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in hand-made mandu (dumplings) on Dongguk-ro in Siksa-dong, Goyang, just behind Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital. During the Chuseok holiday, after a hand car wash nearby, the writer ordered the Gaeseong hand-made mandu hot pot for two at 24,000 won, with dumplings big enough to fill a ladle, plenty of bean sprouts, enoki, bok choy and sweet pumpkin, and crisp geotjeori (fresh kimchi). Finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), the Arirang hot pot was a filling meal even without adding beef.

Written Sep 27, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Ruwon City braised pollock in gim with my husband: Hangsangcharim

Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga Ruwon City Branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in kodari (half-dried pollock) and braised pollock, on the 2nd floor of a parking tower building in Ruwon City, Incheon. The writer and her husband ordered the spicy braised pollock for two (37,000 won) at the less-spicy level; staff deboned the fish piece by piece. The braised pollock wrapped in gopchang-gim (thick seaweed), the young napa cabbage water kimchi and the springy japchae (glass noodles) all satisfied them. Thanks to the clean new dining room and neat side dishes, the couple has marked Hangsangcharim Kodari Myeongga as a place to come back to.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pungmu-dong, Gimpo: galbi house with free chicken feet, Galbigumteo

Galbigumteo Pungmu Station Branch is a charcoal galbi restaurant in Pungmu-dong, Gimpo, in a standalone building next to the Starbucks on the way to Homeplus, serving handmade domestic king pork ribs. On a weekend afternoon, two servings of the handmade king pork ribs were grilled over charcoal, and bone-free chicken feet (a new menu item in testing) plus a savory pancake came free. With 8 dedicated parking spots in front of and behind the building, Galbigumteo is an easy weekend choice for families arriving by car.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGeomdan, IncheonRestaurants

Geomdan gopchang restaurant with a beef heart add-on: Hwang Gop

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch is a Korean beef gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in an apartment shopping block in Wondang-dong, Geomdan, Incheon, where every cut arrives already grilled so nobody has to cook at the table. On a Sunday evening booked through Naver Reservation, two people shared the Hwang Gop mixed platter set 1 (44,000 won) with beef heart added for 12,000 won, plus complimentary yukhoe (beef tartare) and icy mukbap (acorn jelly in chilled broth). For the nutty richness of Korean beef intestine without any grilling work, Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town is the easy choice.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok taco restaurant with a 16-person group table: Taqueros

Taqueros Magok Main Branch is a taco and fajita restaurant on the 2nd floor of Magok GMG Tower in Gangseo, Seoul. After a walk around Seoul Botanic Park, the writer ordered the signature couple set for two at 56,000 won with an orange ade at 3,500 won, in a red-and-wood room with sofa booths, a 16-person group table and a mini fan wearing a cowboy hat. Tortillas and sauces were refilled at no extra charge, making Taqueros a filling, easygoing spot for a date.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo lunch for two, 11,000 won chicken kalguksu each: Eonyang Dak

Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch is a Korean restaurant on Haedoji-ro in Yeonsu, Incheon, serving chicken kalguksu (chicken noodle soup) with noodles made in-house. Two diners ordered two servings at 11,000 won each and got bowls holding a whole half chicken, then refilled mild kimchi, spicy kimchi and pickled radish freely at the self-serve bar. Between the price, the portions, the roomy dining room and one hour of free underground parking, Eonyang Dak Kalguksu made a satisfying Songdo lunch.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju galbi restaurant with 16-person rooms: Manpo Galbi family meal

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a large standalone galbi (grilled rib) restaurant in a building of its own on Songnang-ro in Mansong-dong, Yangju, Gyeonggi. On the way back from a pre-Chuseok grave visit, the family shared three servings of hand-made Korean pork ribs at 19,000 won and a brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew at 6,000 won, then finished with the free dessert naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bbeong-tuigi ice cream. The wide parking lot, partitioned tables and 8-to-16-person rooms make Manpo Galbi an easy choice for a family meal.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored

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