Bite Break Sokcho · 77 stories

Between Bites

I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Gangwon and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Stays · Cafés · Shopping · Bars

PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Namwirye shabu-shabu buffet dinner: chuck & seaweed egg porridge

Dadam Shabu Shabu & Wolnamssam Wirye Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and rice paper wrap restaurant on the 3rd floor of G&G Plaza near Namwirye Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. Arriving for dinner (21,900 won per adult) right after break time, the writer had unlimited beef brisket and beef chuck in a half clear, half spicy broth, then rice paper wraps, egg porridge, soft serve ice cream and coffee. With fresh vegetables and café-style dessert in one place, Dadam Shabu Shabu is a solid choice for group meals in Wirye.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeosan, ChungnamRestaurants

Seosan sashimi spot: flounder with white kimchi, Jonghap Eosijang

Seosan Jonghap Eosijang (서산종합어시장) is a live-fish sashimi restaurant on Nambusunhwan-ro in Seosan, Chungnam, with a self-serve bar that even includes tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and fried fish cutlets. On a weekday evening we ordered small flounder sashimi (27,000 won), a large hoedeopbap (raw fish rice bowl, 12,000 won) and grilled mackerel (10,000 won). The chewy flounder was best wrapped in lettuce or eaten over rice with white kimchi. Seosan Jonghap Eosijang is a Seosan sashimi restaurant that suits dinner, drinks, family meals and group gatherings alike.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Munjeong BBQ for lamb ribs and pork special cuts: Lamb Shop Pork Shop

Lamb Shop Pork Shop Munjeong Station branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul, serving lamb ribs alongside pork special cuts such as gabrisal (pork neck-end) and galmaegisal (pork skirt meat). On a weekday evening visit, one portion each of gabrisal, galmaegisal and lamb ribs was finished with doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and rice; staff grilled the meat, and the lamb was rich in flavor with no gamey smell. For first-time lamb eaters or groups with different meat preferences, mixing lamb ribs and pork at Lamb Shop Pork Shop is an easy, low-risk order.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gamjatang spot in Songpa with a big hall for team dinners: Taeneung

Taeneung Gamjatang Garak Market Station branch is a newly opened gamjatang (pork bone stew) and braised pork bone restaurant near Garak Market Station in Songpa, Seoul. In the spacious hall, the writer had a medium cast-iron braised pork bones topped with a mountain of bean sprouts and beef tartare bibimbap, with free soup, pear kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and hovenia tea also provided. For a team dinner or family gathering around Garak Market, Taeneung Gamjatang Garak Market Station branch is a solid choice.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gildong Station gukbap for one: spicy pork jowl set, Boseung Hoegwan

Boseung Hoegwan Gildong Station branch is a 24-hour gukbap (rice soup) and samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) restaurant near Gildong Station in Gangdong, Seoul. The writer ordered the 1-person special spicy pork jowl suyuk gukbap and a samgyetang, and found tender boiled pork jowl, packed handmade sundae (Korean blood sausage) and a rich chicken broth. Boseung Hoegwan Gildong Station branch is a Gildong Station gukbap spot worth revisiting whenever you want a hot, filling meal.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulBars

Gildong izakaya counter seat with tuna seaweed sushi: Gamdong Dining

Gildong Gamdong Dining (감동다이닝) is an atmospheric izakaya (Japanese-style pub) between Gildong and Gubeundari Station in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. At the open-kitchen counter seats, the writer ordered tuna gamtae sushi (4 pieces), half a giant futomaki roll and abalone innards pasta, and because it was a tuna-cutting day, Gamdong Dining added a complimentary tuna tataki. Gildong Gamdong Dining is a date spot in Gildong worth saving.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulCafés

Vintage-tile date café by Olympic Park for tiramisu, latte: Damgeum

Damgeum (담금) is an Italian café in an alley in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park. At Damgeum, with its floral vintage tiles and green awning, the writer ordered two iced café lattes (one decaf, +500 won) and a handmade tiramisu, and enjoyed the balance of the coffee-soaked sponge and the light mascarpone cream. Damgeum is worth saving as an Olympic Park date café when you want both atmosphere and dessert.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongnae-dong restaurant for draft beer and Toowoomba gnocchi: Feast

Feast Olympic Park is a stylish restaurant in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park Station. At Feast Olympic Park we ordered the Salad Classic, a chuck flap (salchi) basil cream brown rice risotto and a gambas Toowoomba gnocchi with Cass draft beer and Cass Zero, and the Toowoomba gnocchi went so well with the draft beer that we ordered another glass. With its interior, food, easy access, free parking and a dog-friendly terrace, Feast Olympic Park is a date spot in Gangdong worth recommending.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeosan, ChungnamRestaurants

Seosan conveyor sushi: lidded plates and Philadelphia sushi at Mikado

Mikado Sushi Chungnam Seosan Branch is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Seongnim-dong, Seosan, Chungnam, where every plate costs 2,100 won and parking in the restaurant's own lot out front is free. During a weekend lunch on a Seosan trip, the writer picked Philadelphia sushi, eel sushi and fresh raw fish sushi from the lidded plates on the rail, then used a memo pad to order yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) salmon gunkan and grilled beef sushi. Mikado Sushi in Seongnim-dong is an easy, affordable place in Seosan to try a wide variety of sushi with hassle-free parking.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Unjeong, Paju bakery with no weekday wait: milk bread, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan Unjeong Main Branch is a natural sourdough bakery on the first floor of Farm Tower in Unjeong, Paju. On a late weekday afternoon there was no wait, and four breads were picked at Boulangerie Tan: gourmet butter salt bread, pollock roe potato salt bread, olive cheese ciabatta and saeng sikppang (soft milk bread). Each was neatly individually wrapped and good for gifting. If you want bread that sits easy on the stomach afterward, Boulangerie Tan Unjeong Main Branch is a dependable choice.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Halloween bakery café in Paju with cheese fondue bread: Barirus

Barirus (바리루스) is a huge bakery roastery café on Bongseosan-ro in Paju-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi, open until 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. During Halloween season, the writer visited Barirus amid its Halloween decorations and had castella cream bread (6,500 won), cheese fondue bread (5,300 won) and black olive ciabatta (5,000 won) with two iced café lattes. With a big parking lot and plenty of seating options, Barirus is a good pick for group meetups or a late-night drive.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Bagel sandwich café in Wirye, Songpa: arugula chicken at Soyeori Bagel

Soyeori Bagel Songpa Wirye Main Branch is a bagel sandwich brunch café on Wiryebuk-ro in Songpa, Seoul. At Soyeori Bagel we had a dill egg sandwich on a cheese jalapeño bagel, an arugula chicken sandwich on a plain bagel and two iced café lattes, and the generous fillings made a single sandwich a satisfying meal. For bagel brunch in Wirye, Soyeori Bagel is worth an early visit before the ingredients sell out.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored