Busanjin Barfly · 16 stories

At the Bar Counter

I write about visits to bars in Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Wangsimni café: Portuguese egg tart, Ghirardelli iced choco, Eojil In

Eojil In Wangsimni Station Branch is a two-floor dessert café and bakery right in front of Exit 6 of Wangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. At Eojil In, which is almost full after 2 pm, the writer had a Portuguese-style egg tart (₩3,800), an iced chocolate made with Ghirardelli chocolate (₩6,000) and an iced latte (₩5,500), and the egg tart, crisp outside and soft inside, stood out most. Eojil In is a Wangsimni dessert café that satisfies on atmosphere, desserts and drinks alike.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu near Daechi academies: tenderloin & cheese split, Sioldon

Sioldon Irwon Branch (시올돈 일원점) is a tonkatsu restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, between Daecheong Station and Irwon Station on Line 3, close to Samsung Seoul Hospital and the Daechi academy district. Two friends ordered one tenderloin katsu set (₩14,900) and one cheese katsu set (₩12,900) at Sioldon Irwon Branch and split them half and half, and switching between the mild tenderloin and the rich cheese katsu kept every bite interesting to the end. Verdict: if you can't pick just one, sharing both sets is the most satisfying way to eat at Sioldon Irwon Branch.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup tonkatsu spot with table kiosks and katsudon for two: Kosi

Kosi Seongsu Branch is a udon and tonkatsu restaurant in Seongdong, Seoul, tucked in the back alley off Seoulsup Station Exit 1 and near Ttukseom Station Exits 6 and 7. The writer visited Kosi Seongsu Branch with a friend, ordered katsudon and a loin + cheese tonkatsu on the table kiosk, and loved the crisp, non-greasy batter and the salty-sweet katsudon sauce. If you want tonkatsu that tastes great even without sauce, Kosi Seongsu Branch is worth a visit.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Insadong gomtang restaurant: mild vs spicy Hong Gomtang, Wolhadong

Wolhadong is a gomtang (Korean meat and bone soup) restaurant in a converted hanok at the start of a tiled-roof alley near Ssamziegil in Insadong, Jongno, Seoul. At Wolhadong we ordered one mild Wolha Gomtang and one spicy Hong Gomtang, both served toryeom-style (rice warmed by ladling hot broth over it), and tried the doenjang (soybean paste) sauce for dipping the meat. For a bowl of soup and rice with almost no artificial seasoning taste that sits easy on the stomach, Wolhadong is a solid recommendation.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulCafés

Dessert café at Balsan Station after lunch: big lattes, Byway Bakers

Byway Bakers Balsan Station is a dessert café and bakery near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, known for its wakku salt bread and financiers. During the lunch rush the writer ordered two lattes, a fig financier and a chocolate financier at Byway Bakers; the lattes matched a large café size and came with latte art. Among the many budget coffee chains around Balsan Station, Byway Bakers is a comfortable bakery café for sitting down, talking and taking a break.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Galbitang vs galbi gukbap at a Seomyeon, Busan restaurant: Gang

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant a 5–10 minute walk from Seomyeon Station exits 9 and 11 in Busan. During a heatwave, the writer and a friend went to Gang Galbitang for a restorative beef rib meal. They ordered the signature galbitang (₩14,000) and the spicy galbitang at level 1, and learned that galbitang comes with rib bones while the galbi gukbap (₩9,500) uses beef brisket. Gang Galbitang's galbitang is well seasoned and the meat comes off the bone easily, making it worth a stop whenever you want a hot bowl of soup in Seomyeon.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo café in Busan for a hazelnut latte and lemon cream pie: Hippy

Hippy is a cream pie dessert café in Jeonpo, Busan, tucked into an alley just off the main road at Jeonpo Station exits 4 and 6. On a sweltering summer day with a friend, the hazelnut Deowisanyang Hippy latte with house-made slushy espresso ice had none of the usual cream-latte heaviness and finished cool, while Hippy's lemon cream pie, with bits of lemon zest, was lighter than expected. With vintage interiors and goods to browse, Hippy is a good pick for enjoying both dessert and atmosphere.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Busan milmyeon restaurant with radish salad refills: Seomyeon Milmyeon

Seomyeon Milmyeon is a milmyeon (chewy cold wheat noodle) restaurant less than a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Seomyeon Station in Busanjin, Busan. Arriving at 2 pm meant a wait of under 10 minutes, and the order was one mul-milmyeon (noodles in broth), one bibim-milmyeon (spicy mixed noodles) and mandu (dumplings), with a generous extra helping of musaengchae (crisp vinegared radish salad) brought to the table on request. For anyone eating alone, Seomyeon Milmyeon's bone-broth mul-milmyeon is the better pick.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Kiosk-order Chinese restaurant in Marine City, Busan: Bueokgan Chinese

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch is a Chinese restaurant on the second floor of a building on Marine City 3-ro in Haeundae, Busan. Orders are placed at the table by kiosk, and this meal covered eohyang-gaji (eggplant in savory-spicy sauce), usamgyeop beef jjamppong-bap (spicy beef brisket noodle-soup flavors over rice) and a spicy poached-egg octopus rice bowl; the eohyang-gaji came as crisp fried eggplant with the sauce poured over rather than stir-fried in it. With main dishes starting in the low 20,000-won range, Bueokgan Chinese feels like good value for the polished Marine City setting.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market croquette shop that reheats crisp: Samsam Goroke

Samsam Goroke is a croquette bakery in Sokcho's Jungang Market in Gangwon. On an early-August visit, a 6-piece set covering all six flavors came after a 3-minute wait: the gochu japchae (stir-fried peppers and beef) and abai croquettes were eaten on the spot, while the pollack roe cream, red crab, potato and jjamppong ones were microwaved the next morning at the hotel and still came out crisp rather than soggy. If you only take a 3-piece set from Samsam Goroke, order jjamppong, potato and red crab in that order.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho makguksu restaurant with trademark-filed deulmemak: Topgol

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant near Sokcho Beach whose signature dish is deulmemak, perilla oil buckwheat noodles the restaurant notes as trademark-filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The order that day was the signature deulmemak, a basic buckwheat makguksu and suyuk (boiled pork) served with raw fish salad, with the house secret broth added to taste; Sokcho Topgol Makguksu sells no wine but allows corkage for free. The deulmemak's strong perilla oil aroma suits anyone who likes bold, punchy flavors.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Honey-spicy deodeok dakgangjeong at Sokcho market: Seomin Gapbu

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is a dakgangjeong (Korean sweet-and-spicy fried chicken) shop right at the entrance of Jungang Market in Sokcho. In the middle of the summer holiday queue, a deodeok dakgangjeong in the honey-spicy flavor (+1,000 won) was fried to order and took 10-15 minutes, arriving moderately sweet with a hot finish while the deodeok root cleaned up the palate. If you want something more local than the plain dakgangjeong sold all over Sokcho, the deodeok version at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is the answer.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored