Corner Stool Sitter · 13 stories

A Corner of the Bar

I write about visits to bars in Seoul, sharing impressions of the drinks and atmosphere. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants

PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Sinwol-dong mild braised chicken, persimmon dessert: Songga Chueotang

Songga Chueotang (송가네 추어탕) is a Korean restaurant on a side street off Woljeong-ro in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon, Seoul, serving chueotang (loach soup), other soups and jeongol (hot pot). The writer ordered dakbokkeumtang (braised chicken stew) for 2–3 people (₩32,000) with free suyuk (boiled pork slices), side dishes and rice, and liked the mild, non-spicy broth, the thick chicken pieces and the two persimmon slices served for dessert. For a gentle, filling braised chicken stew in Yangcheon, Songga Chueotang is a solid choice.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Station Korean BBQ for groups: aged black pork, Chamdwaejitgan

Chamdwaejitgan Magok Branch is a Jirisan black pork Korean BBQ restaurant on the 1st floor of Queens Park 9 Building C, near Magok Station and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. A group of friends grilled fresh Jirisan black pork belly and pork neck, taken straight from the aging fridge, with minari (water dropwort) and kimchi, then finished with doenjang stew (fermented soybean stew). With spacious group seating, a ₩0 self-service bar, 6 sauces and complimentary milk thistle, Chamdwaejitgan Magok Branch is a solid pick for groups craving chewy black pork.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Basement Hyehwa cocktail bar, flower-topped drinks: Oneuldo Hanjan

Oneuldo Hanjan (오늘도 한잔) is a basement cocktail bar on Daemyeong-gil in Jongno, Seoul, tucked into a Daehak-ro alley near Hyehwa Station. The visit started with a welcome cocktail and the self-serve snack bar, then moved on to a teddy bear ice cocktail, a Business cocktail topped with fresh flowers, a non-alcoholic ice cream cocktail, caramel popcorn ice cream and a mixed cheese platter, all in a dark, cozy room screening About Time. Oneuldo Hanjan is a good-value hideaway in Daehak-ro for a quiet date or a solo drink.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouinaru Asian eatery, double char siu chicken rice: Jeongyun Kitchen

Jeongyun Kitchen is an Asian home-style restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gongjak Arcade near Yeouinaru Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The signature char siu chicken rice costs ₩16,000; with the free extra-rice option and double char siu (+₩3,500), the total came to ₩19,500 for a filling lunch, and the sweet-salty soy-glazed chicken, herb rice, bok choy and chili cabbage stir-fry all paired well. For a mild, easy-on-the-stomach lunch in Yeouido, Jeongyun Kitchen's char siu chicken rice is well worth ordering.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Smash burger by Yeouido Station: double-patty Egg Bulgogi, Downtowner

Downtowner Yeouido (다운타우너 여의도) is a handmade burger restaurant on the ground floor of One Sentinel, near Exit 3 of Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. At Downtowner Yeouido, the Egg Bulgogi Smash set was ordered at the kiosk with an extra beef patty, fries and a Welch's, and the crisp-edged double patty balanced well with the bulgogi sauce and egg. With a clean self-service bar and roomy seating, Downtowner Yeouido is a solid pick for a Yeouido office lunch or a meal before or after shopping at The Hyundai Seoul.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae restaurant for beef jeon topped three ways: Yukjeon Gukbap

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in gukbap (rice soup) and yukjeon (egg-battered pan-fried beef), open 24 hours a day, year-round, in Seogyo-dong near the Hongik Univ. Station intersection in Mapo, Seoul. The writer topped the made-to-order yukjeon with kkakdugi, napa cabbage geotjeori and onion pickles one by one, then wrapped the yukjeon in bibim makguksu served with icy broth. The hot, savory yukjeon paired with the cold, spicy-tangy bibim makguksu was the must-try bite at Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido IFC Mall tteokbokki bar: Yongsan stall frames, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄) is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack bar on the B2 level of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. In its stylish dining hall, two people shared the Hyeonseonine Set (23,000 won) of brothy tteokbokki, assorted fried snacks, mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), and sundae (Korean blood sausage) with offal. The chewy wheat rice cakes and the clean, sweet-spicy broth stood out. Hyeonseonine Premium is a solid indoor date spot in Yeouido when taste, hygiene and atmosphere all matter.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido Korean restaurant: grilled mackerel set and gorgonzola pizza

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Bansang Yeouido is a Korean grilled fish restaurant with a wood-fired oven, on basement level 1 of a building on Gukjegeumyung-ro in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. We ordered the grilled mackerel set (13,500 won) and a gorgonzola pizza (14,900 won). The mackerel came out of the 500-degree oven crisp outside and moist inside, perfect wrapped in lettuce, with japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and black sesame lotus root salad from the self-serve side bar. Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Bansang Yeouido is worth recommending when you want a neat grilled fish meal without worrying about the smell at home.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant with a solo tray and miso soup: Izawa

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu (Japanese breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the second floor of a building near Exit 5 of Yeouido Station in Seoul. The 18,000-won gyukatsu set comes as a single-person tray with rice, clear miso soup, kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and two sauces, and each piece is grilled on a tabletop mini brazier and eaten with nothing but fresh wasabi. Izawa is worth a Yeouido lunch or dinner if you want the clean, plain taste of the beef itself.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido Station salad spot: sous vide chicken breast, Singsing Salad

Singsing Salad Yeouido Branch is a salad and poke restaurant near Yeouido Station and IFC Mall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The sous vide chicken breast salad costs 12,000 won and the salad pasta costs 12,500 won, with thick slices of chicken and plump shrimp on top. Bar tables make Singsing Salad easy for solo diners, and lunch here is filling without sitting heavy.

Written Aug 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Jung-gu ramen restaurant with under-seat bag storage: Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant on Seosomun-ro 11-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, a short walk from Exit 10 of City Hall Station. This solo visit took a counter seat with a luggage rack under the chair and covered motsu ramen (beef tripe ramen) at 15,000 won, handmade karaage at 7,000 won, and fried gyoza at 5,000 won. Smoky beef tripe, a spicy broth, and crisp sides made Mentsuru a filling one-person meal.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Eunpyeong ramen restaurant, tori paitan with zero cola: Oreno Ramen

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is a chicken-broth ramen restaurant right beside Bulgwangcheon-gil in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The tori paitan ramen (13,000 won) arrived under a layer of white foam over a thick, creamy chicken broth, served with assorted tsukune (grilled chicken meatballs, 5,000 won for two pieces) in a cheese-cream-like sauce, while red radish pickles and a zero cola cleared the palate between bites. With free noodle and rice refills on request, Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong makes for a generous, filling meal.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored