Outing Logbook · 95 stories

Out and About, Seoul

I write about things to do around Seoul. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Stays · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Hanok bakery in Ikseon-dong: tile roof & orange-curtain shelves

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a hanok-style bakery with a tiled roof in the Ikseon-dong alleys near Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a Thursday midday in November, the writer looked over Munhwa Bakery's tile-roof exterior, the plaque and sign by the door, and an orange-curtained interior with shelves of coffee bread, garlic bread and mugwort rice cake bread, with the breads photographed priced from about ₩3,000 to ₩6,000. Munhwa Bakery is a good stop for picking up bread while exploring the Ikseon-dong alleys.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Hwayang-dong gukbap spot with stone pot samgyetang: Boseunghoegwan

Boseunghoegwan Seongsu Geondae (보승회관 성수건대점) is a gukbap and gamjatang (pork bone soup) restaurant, a brand dating from 1987, on Dongil-ro in Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Children's Grand Park Station. On a weekday evening the writer ordered two stone pot samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), a flame-grilled dish, spicy pollack salad and a self-serve rice ball for a 44,000 won subtotal, and was struck by the rich chicken broth, tender meat and generous side dishes. Though Boseunghoegwan is known for gamjatang and sundae gukbap, its samgyetang is worth ordering for a solo meal, a family dinner or a work get-together.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Guui Station Korean BBQ: marinated beef rib & kimchi noodles, Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is a charcoal and iron-lid Korean BBQ restaurant on Jayang-ro near Guui Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. On a Thursday evening, the writer's family grilled 2 servings of Emperor marinated beef rib meat over a charcoal brazier and wrapped it in greens from the self-serve bar. The meal finished with 2 bowls of kimchi-mari guksu (noodles in cold kimchi broth) and a cheese bomb steamed egg. Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a good Guui Station BBQ spot for charcoal-grilled marinated beef rib with greens you serve yourself.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Chilly-day Korean BBQ in Guui: pick-your-sauce pork belly at Sanggu's

Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch (상구네솥뚜껑삼겹살 구의강변점) is a pot-lid pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on Achasan-ro near Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a chilly Wednesday in November, the meat went on a pot-lid griddle with round grooves alongside kimchi, bean sprouts, mushrooms and onion, was dipped in a choice of sauces, and came with cheese steamed egg and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles). With free wrap vegetables, a range of sauces and proper meal dishes, Sanggu's Guui Branch is worth keeping on the list for Korean BBQ around Guui and Gangbyeon.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Sashimi dinner for two in Gwanghwamun, ₩50,000 platter: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi and sashimi restaurant on the first basement floor of the KT Building near Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. On an April evening at Elephant Sushi, the writer ordered a mixed sashimi platter for two (₩50,000), futomaki (₩15,000) and juicy karaage (₩15,000), paying ₩80,000 in total; the thick salmon sashimi and the generously filled futomaki stood out. Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is an easy recommendation for a sashimi-focused dinner or a small get-together.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Jayang Market chicken shop, showcase drumstick box: Mr. Kim's Chicken

Mr. Kim's Chicken Jayang Market Branch is a dakgangjeong (sweet, sticky fried chicken bites) and fried chicken shop inside Jayang Market near Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a Monday visit, the writer picked a box of drumsticks and an old-style whole chicken from the glass showcase, where the handwritten price list showed ₩7,000 for one old-style whole chicken and ₩10,000 for one sauced (yangnyeom) old-style whole chicken. Mr. Kim's Chicken Jayang Market Branch is a handy market chicken shop where you can see your chicken and pick it while doing your grocery shopping.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Guui Station dessert café with a Polaroid wall and guestbook: Wonz

Wonz Coffee Children's Grand Park Main Branch (ONES COFFEE) is a café and bakery in an alley near Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On the afternoon of Monday, November 2, the writer had an orange cream latte, Basque cheesecake, milk roll and a cup croffle at Wonz Coffee, then browsed its Polaroid photo wall and the guestbook by the counter. Wonz Coffee is a good neighborhood café for coffee and dessert before or after a day at Children's Grand Park.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Two solo shabu-shabu sets for ₩29,600 in Jang-an-dong: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch (샤브토랑 장안직영점) is a single-pot shabu-shabu restaurant in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, with a personal induction burner and tablet ordering at every table that make solo dining easy. Eating alone, the writer ordered a tomato shabu-shabu set and a basic shabu-shabu set, adding tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fresh sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes), boiled dumplings and cream pasta, for ₩29,600 in total, and left comfortably full with a generous spread. For a good-value lunch or solo shabu-shabu in Jang-an-dong, Shabu Torang is worth a visit, cream pasta finish included.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Wangsimni: flat ₩20,000 pork and 1++ Hanwoo, Pujutgan

Pujutgan Saenggogi-jeom (푸줏간생고기점) is a fresh-meat Korean BBQ restaurant in an alley near Wangsimni Station in Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Pujutgan Saenggogi-jeom serves five fresh pork cuts (pork belly, neck, jowl, gabrisal and galmaegisal) at a flat 20,000 won per serving, offers a Hanwoo beef menu labelled 1++ grade or higher, and grills thick cuts on a cauldron-lid griddle, with stew, naengmyeon, noodles and nurungji served unlimited. For pork and Hanwoo in one place near Wangsimni Station with a filling finish, Pujutgan Saenggogi-jeom is a strong pick.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Singaporean restaurant in Yeonnam-dong: Sunday mala chicken, Ttasijia

Ttasijia Yeonnam is a Singaporean restaurant tucked into an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, within walking distance of Hongik Univ. Station. Around 4 p.m. on a Sunday, from a window seat past the bamboo alley entrance, the writer skipped Ttasijia Yeonnam's signature shrimp noodles and ordered shrimp roll fries (10,000 won), a small black vinegar guobaorou (sweet-and-sour fried pork) and a small mala chicken with a Coke Zero. Even with just fried dishes and drinking snacks, Ttasijia Yeonnam delivers a satisfying meal with a travel-like atmosphere.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Jingwan-dong Korean BBQ with kids, thick pork neck: Donmihyang

Donmihyang Gupabal Branch is a Handon-certified Korean pork BBQ restaurant on Jingwan 3-ro in Eunpyeong, Seoul, near Gupabal Station. The writer sat in a floor-seating booth with a child, dipped thick pork neck (160g for ₩16,000) in salt, and rounded out the meal with brisket doenjang stew, steamed egg and bibim milmyeon (spicy cold wheat noodles). Thanks to the thick pork neck and well-filled sides, Donmihyang Gupabal Branch made a satisfying family meal out with a child.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Gwangjin: lid-grilled beef rib fingers, Sanggu's

Sanggu's Cauldron-Lid Samgyeopsal Guui branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Guui Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, that specialises in grilling on a cast-iron cauldron lid. On an evening during the Children's Day holiday, the writer had beef galbi-sal (rib finger meat) grilled on the lid with kimchi and mushrooms, served with doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), for ₩49,600 in total. Sanggu's is a pork belly restaurant, but its beef rib finger meat and attentive staff make it worth the trip, and the writer has already decided to return.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored