Apron Peg Regular · 37 stories

The Apron Hook

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong-Sangsu izakaya with raw shrimp and yukhoe set: Soui Pumgyeok

Soui Pumgyeok (소의품격, nicknamed "Sopum") is a new yukhoe-focused izakaya near the Red Road between Hapjeong Station and Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a chilly autumn evening the writer ordered the yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and raw shrimp set with soju, and especially liked the complimentary beef radish soup, Soui Pumgyeok's own house-developed sauce and the fresh raw shrimp. Soui Pumgyeok is a good pick when you want a calm conversation over raw seafood and yukhoe.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangsu Korean date pub for octopus gamtae rice balls: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) is a Korean pub stocked with traditional liquors on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil near Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a date at Dambaek Jujeom, the writer had stir-fried octopus with gamtae (fine seaweed) rice balls, gochujang stew and meat with fluffy potatoes, and was most impressed by the heotgae tea served instead of water and the potato salad the owner offered for free. The writer, a seasoned pub-goer, calls Dambaek Jujeom the best pub in Sangsu and Hapjeong.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

2am Hapjeong pub for hangover zucchini stew with rice: Bako Jumak

Bako Jumak (바코주막) is a Korean pub serving cooked dishes, on Dongmak-ro 7-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations. The writer visited Bako Jumak around 2am with a soup-loving companion and ordered minari (Korean water parsley) squid salad and zucchini stew; the salad's homemade-tasting dressing and the zucchini stew's pork-rich broth stood out. The writer's verdict: at Bako Jumak, order the zucchini stew first.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Book City Chinese restaurant: 2-octopus seafood nurungji soup

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is a Chinese restaurant serving stone-plate dishes near Paju Book City in Gyeonggi. On an autumn outing, the writer ordered the samgye seafood nurungji soup (chicken and seafood in scorched-rice soup) with a 630ml Tsingtao and found two octopuses, plump shrimp and chicken thigh meat, seasoned just right, neither bland nor salty. With green onion kimchi at the self-serve bar, unlimited rice refills and crispy scorched rice to scrape from the bottom of the stone plate, Dolpanseok Jjamppong is worth the trip to Paju at least once, even from far away.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Korean restaurant: pre-bus squid stir-fry and beer, Bapjangin

Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch (밥장인 고속터미널점) is a Korean restaurant on the B1 level of Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seocho, Seoul, right in front of Shinsegae Factory. While waiting for a bus, the writer had a solo lunch and a daytime beer with medium-spicy squid stir-fry, and found the portion generous and the seasoning just right. Bapjangin is a good place to eat and drink alone when you have time to spare before a bus at the terminal.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae sashimi restaurant: spring flounder on stones, Eosa Chulto

Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch (어사출또 홍대점) is a sashimi restaurant in the Olive Young alley between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul. It opens at lunchtime and has a lunch menu that includes hoedeopbap (raw fish rice bowl), mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and nakgopsae (octopus, beef tripe and shrimp stew). The writer went for flounder sashimi before spring ended; it came cut by cut on stones and was eaten with wasabi soy sauce and a makjang (fermented soybean dip) the writer mixed themselves. With generous free side dishes and a draft beer machine, Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch is a solid Hongdae sashimi restaurant for a lunch get-together or a daytime drink.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Saturday day drinks at a Hapjeong Thai restaurant: Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a Thai restaurant on basement level 1 of Mecenatpolis at Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, serving highballs, draft beer and even soju. On a Saturday afternoon the writer shared day drinks with a friend over chili sea bass and tom yum rice noodle soup; the sweet, salty and sour tom yum broth and the scored, deep-fried sea bass stood out. Verdict: for a summer soup to go with drinks, the tom yum rice noodles at Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch are the pick.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Hanok Village crab restaurant: spicy crab with beer, Hanjamae

Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang is a soy-marinated crab restaurant on Gyeonggijeon-gil near Jeonju Gaeksa in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonbuk. On a late lunch just before break time, the writer ordered the mixed soy and spicy set with beer, and Hanjamae served a carefully prepared spread of soy-marinated abalone, shrimp, salmon and female crab, spicy crab and spicy shrimp, seed jeotgal (salted seafood) and roasted seaweed. The spicy marinade at Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang was not salty and full of savory flavor, making it a satisfying Jeonju crab restaurant, especially for fans of spicy marinated crab.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju pork rib BBQ with mom: somaek and Hamheung naengmyeon, Ibeosi

Ibeosi Sutbul Galbi Ajung Main Branch (이버시숯불갈비 아중본점) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in Ajung-ri, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju. The writer and her mom shared 2 servings of pre-grilled pork ribs (jjokgalbi) and Hamheung naengmyeon (cold noodles), with a rare round of somaek (soju mixed with beer), and enjoyed the thick ribs, the wide spread of side dishes and the savory noodles. If you like meat on the bone, the pork ribs at Ibeosi Sutbul Galbi are worth choosing over the regular pork galbi.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju bean sprout soup restaurant with 11-ingredient broth: Ogeorijip

Ogeorijip (오거리집) is a kongnamul gukbap (bean sprout rice soup) restaurant on the way into Seoseohakdong Art Village near Jeonju Hanok Village, open from 6:30am to 3pm for breakfast and lunch only. The writer ordered Ogeorijip's bean sprout gukbap with a poached egg, ox trotter soup and squid as a drinking side, and was impressed by the rich broth made from 11 ingredients, including sardinella, dried pollack and shiitake mushrooms, and by the clear, grease-free ox trotter soup. Ogeorijip is worth recommending to anyone near Jeonju Hanok Village who wants to try both bean sprout gukbap and ox trotter soup for breakfast.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Mangwon Korean pub: lemony steamed clams, kalguksu at Jeongju Ilga

Jeongju Ilga (정주일가) is a small, cozy Korean pub on Mangridan-gil in Mangwon-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Jeongju Ilga, the writer ordered steamed clams (jogae sul-jjim) and a whelk salad (golbaengi-muchim), added kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) to the clam pot, and drank soju and Hallasan. The steamed clams were packed with clams and full of savory flavor, and the whelk salad, not red with chili, was mild without being bland. Jeongju Ilga is a Mangwon bar serving carefully made Korean drinking food that is gentle yet keeps you reaching for more.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean restaurant: soft tofu potato stew with Spam, Bap Jangin

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch (밥장인 홍대점) is a Korean rice restaurant on Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil in Mapo, Seoul, where you mix thick, simmered stews into rice. With no break time, the writer dropped in close to 3pm and mixed soft tofu potato stew with extra Spam, pork kimchi stew with half a ramen noodle block and steamed egg into a big rice bowl with bean sprouts and seasoned seaweed flakes. Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is a hearty, great-value kimchi stew spot; just remember that grilled Spam has to be ordered as a separate side, not as a stew add-on.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored