Side Dish Border · 28 stories

Banchan at the Border

I write about restaurants I visit across Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeongdeungpo chicken stew: mild aged kimchi & white rice, Doriyeon

Doriyeon Dakdoritang Yeongdeungpo-gu Office branch is a dakdoritang (Korean spicy braised chicken stew) restaurant a 3-minute walk from Exit 4 of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Seoul. On a weekday visit at 6 p.m., the blogger took the last open table in a full room, ordered the signature aged kimchi chicken stew boneless and at the mild level with added udon, and loved the broth so much that they had white rice instead of fried rice. Doriyeon is a good Yeongdeungpo-gu Office spot for company dinners and group gatherings, where even people who can't handle spice can enjoy the tangy, savory aged kimchi.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon BBQ a local friend picked: staff-grilled rib, Jipbul Taebaek

Jipbul Taebaek Suwon Ingye Branch (짚불태백) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Nahyeseok-geori in Ingye-dong, Suwon, where every cut is first seared over a straw fire and then grilled at the table by the staff. On a local friend's recommendation, the writer and the friend ordered marinated prime rib (300g for 2 people, ₩64,000) and kimchi stew, and the juicy, straw-smoked rib and the staff trimming and grilling even the meat left on the bone stood out. Because nobody has to grill, Jipbul Taebaek Suwon Ingye Branch suits dates and group dinners in Ingye-dong.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Asian restaurant after a Han River picnic: Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is an Asian restaurant chain on B1 of Mecenatpolis, connected directly to Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. After a picnic at Mangwon Han River Park, the meal was nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice, ₩16,000), giant-shrimp pad thai (₩19,000) and a mango and orange ade set of 2 (₩12,000), with the smoky wok-fried flavor and generous seafood standing out. Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a solid pick for a date or group meal in Hapjeong.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Cloudy-day couple's ₩10,000 picnic rental in Mangwon: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon (피크닉리스트 망원) is a 24-hour picnic gear rental shop right in front of Mangwon Hangang Park in Mapo, Seoul. After a good experience at the Seonyudo branch, the writer used the 10,000-won all-day pass at Picnic List Mangwon to rent an L-size picnic mat, a cushion mat, camping chairs, a table and badminton rackets for a couple's picnic on a cool, cloudy autumn day. Picnic List Mangwon suits couples who want to show up empty-handed for a Han River date.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station Korean BBQ catch-up with a pregnant friend: Ssosam 208

Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch (쏘삼208 수원역점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 13 of Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi, that grills pork belly and pork neck on volcanic stone grills. Three women, one of them pregnant, shared the medium Mixed Stone Grill (500g, 48,500 won) for a long-overdue catch-up, along with the complimentary rice noodles, kimchi fried rice with snowflake cheese and naengmomil (cold buckwheat noodles). With generous portions and staff who grill the meat, Ssosam 208 Suwon Station Branch is an easy place to focus on conversation during a get-together near Suwon Station.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station fusion Korean, rainy weekend date: 4 dishes for 2, Moa

Moa Gangnam is a fusion Korean restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station. On a rainy weekend date, the blogger and her boyfriend shared four dishes priced ₩14,800–₩16,800 each: vongole kalguksu (clam noodle soup), doenjang bulgogi arancini, spicy flounder buckwheat noodles and Hanwoo beef tartare wrapped in aged kimchi, with the hot vongole kalguksu and the crispy, tender arancini as the highlights. Moa Gangnam is worth recommending as a Gangnam Station date or blind-date spot that delivers on both atmosphere and food.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station kalguksu: weekday date, ₩10,000 clam noodles, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch (다선칼국수 본점) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant with 25 years of history, about 8 minutes on foot from Suwon Station Exit 8 in Suwon. On an early weekday evening there was no wait, and two bowls of kalguksu (₩20,000) and a plate of suyuk (boiled pork, ₩15,000) came with barley rice before the meal, kimchi, a clean broth packed with clams and pork with no gamey smell. Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch is a Suwon Station restaurant where suyuk is a must alongside the noodles.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station sushi spot: first sushi of the day on visit 3, Ilpum

Ilpum Gangnam Branch (일품 강남점) is a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and sushi restaurant on the basement level of Seocho Town Trapalace, a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 6 in Seocho, Seoul. On a third visit to Ilpum Gangnam Branch, the writer ordered the premium kaisendon (37,000 won), the kaisendon (26,000 won) and, for the first time, the sushi of the day (28,000 won), and the kelp-aged sashimi, thick-cut nigiri and fist-sized futomaki all hit the mark. Ilpum Gangnam Branch is an upscale Japanese restaurant near Gangnam Station that still offers good value.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend date sushi in Gwanghwamun, cold soba B set: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on basement level 1 of KT Tower at Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2, in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekend date, the blogger arrived before lunchtime, walked in without a wait, ate the Elephant Set B with cold soba (naengmomil), and added monkfish liver (ankimo) sushi, tried for the first time, and salmon sushi as single orders. Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun serves chewy, low-temperature-aged sushi and refreshing cold soba at a reasonable price, making it a satisfying summer sushi spot in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan Station izakaya after a Yanghwa Hangang Park picnic: Kaken

Kaken is a Japanese-style izakaya right outside Exit 2 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, serving charcoal-grilled skewers, aged sashimi and grilled fish to go with drinks. After a picnic at Yanghwa Hangang Park, the writer visited Kaken on a Friday evening for the 10-skewer mixed set, handmade tsukune (chicken meatball skewers, 2 for ₩6,000) and lemon sour (₩8,000 a glass), and was happy with the charcoal aroma and fresh ingredients. Kaken is a Dangsan Station bar worth recommending for a date, a blind date or a night out with friends who don't drink much.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulThings to do

Camping set and power bank picnic rental in Seonyudo: Picnic List

Picnic List Seonyudo (피크닉리스트 선유도점) is a 24-hour unmanned picnic gear rental shop near Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Over the October holiday, the writer rented a camping set with a friend, paid ₩10,000 more for longer use, added a power bank, and lay back at Yanghwa Hangang Park eating Hangang ramyeon (instant noodles cooked by the Han River). Picnic List Seonyudo is close to the park and its well-stocked set makes an empty-handed Han River picnic easy.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese restaurant at Balsan Station for steki fire sushi: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a gyukatsu (beef cutlet) and charcoal-grill Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of Hillstate Eco Magok, near Exit 1 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer ordered gyukatsu, a steki set (Japanese-style steak set meal) and a mini curry made in-house, grilling the beef on a personal brazier with Isigny butter; the steki was best dipped in salt or wrapped around rice as 'fire sushi'. Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a good-value Japanese restaurant near Balsan Station, with a fun grill-it-yourself format and a neat spread that suits dates and family dinners.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored