Order Gap · 19 stories

Between Orders

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Eel BBQ buffet in Seongsu with thick, mud-free eel: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Seongsu Branch is an all-you-can-eat charcoal-grill restaurant on Seongdeokjeong-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, serving unlimited eel, whole pork belly and chicken neck. The writer tasted the first piece of domestic Japonica freshwater eel plain and found it clean and nutty with no muddy taste, then added self-bar side dishes, pork belly, chicken neck and eel soup, all for 32,900 won per adult including the table setting fee. Verdict: Songnim Bok Jangeo serves eel thick and good enough to visit even without the unlimited deal.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Jokbal spot in Sangbong, Seoul with a kimchi self-bar: Samo Jokbal

Samo Jokbal Sangbong Branch is a newly opened jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant in the food alley near Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. The writer ordered the medium half-and-half jokbal (classic jokbal plus fire-grilled spicy jokbal) for 50,000 won and a small makguksu (buckwheat noodles) for 7,000 won, and especially liked the self-bar's variety of kimchi and wrap greens and the chewy jokbal skin served gathered on its own. Samo Jokbal Sangbong Branch is a solid pick for jokbal lovers in Sangbong who judge a place by its side dishes too.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Late-night Nonhyeon bar: spicy octopus mayo wraps at Yeongdong Pocha

Yeongdong Pocha (영동포차) is a street-style pocha bar with outdoor tables on the 2nd floor of a building inside the Nonhyeon Station food alley in Gangnam, Seoul, open until 6am the next morning. At a table on the staircase up to the 2nd floor, the writer had the free ramyeon ttang starter snack, 88 Jjukkumi (spicy webfoot octopus, 30,000 won), the soft, fluffy steamed egg (7,000 won) and a bowl of rice. With spicy octopus balanced by soft steamed egg, Yeongdong Pocha is an easy bar near Nonhyeon Station for relaxed drinks with a friend.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Isu Station pub to meet a Gyeonggi friend halfway: Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Isu Station Branch is a Korean pub in Dongjak, Seoul, a 4-minute walk from Exit 13 of Chongshin University (Isu) Station. Meeting a friend from Gyeonggi-do at easy-to-reach Isu, the writer had soju with the limited-run mud duck jeonbyeong (19,900 won), a whole clay-baked duck with thin wraps, and the beef tripe soft tofu hotpot (23,900 won), packed with long beef tripe and plenty of jjolmyeon (chewy noodles). Ari Gyegok Isu Station Branch suits a night out near Isu Station when you want unusual drinking food and a waterfall-themed interior.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean pub in Apgujeong Rodeo: beef mala hot pot for three, THE GIWA

THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch is a premium Korean dining restaurant and Korean pub near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving traditional Korean food with a modern twist. Three of us shared the beef mala hot pot (42,000 won), which had a gentle mala aroma over a savory beef bone broth and was packed with beef, lotus root, mushrooms, corn noodles, fried tofu pouches and dried bean curd sticks. THE GIWA's beef mala hot pot is a warming pot that pairs well with a drink on a chilly day.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. izakaya for a second round after Seongsu gopchang: Ito

Ito is a basement izakaya near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Exit 2. After gopchang (grilled beef intestines) in Seongsu, the writer and friends came to Ito for a second round and ordered the assorted sashimi + 7-skewer kushikatsu set (₩54,000) and Malibu highballs, with the crispy handmade kushikatsu, sweet shrimp and ankimo engawa standing out. Ito is a second-round spot near Konkuk Univ. worth returning to for a menu and space unlike the usual franchise bars.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon: Jeju pork belly, hanwoo boyangtang lunch

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch (더바른정육식당 강남신논현역본점) is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station, serving 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) and Jeju black pork. The writer and a friend ordered 2 servings of Jeju black pork belly (ogyeopsal, 20,000 won per serving) with two lunch specials, hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap (13,000 won) and hanwoo boyangtang (discounted from 12,000 to 10,000 won), and rated the chewy texture of the staff-grilled, charcoal-cooked pork belly highest. For anyone who cares about pork belly texture, Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang is worth a return visit.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Raw fish pub in Wolsan-dong, Gwangju: heart-shaped raw shrimp set

Hwanggeum Hoe Pocha Gwangju Wolsan Branch (황금회포차 광주월산점) is a raw fish restaurant and pocha (Korean pub) in the Wolsan-dong food alley in Nam-gu, Gwangju, with live shrimp on show in a tank out front. The raw shrimp + sashimi set (₩65,000) arrived with big raw shrimp arranged in a heart and thick-cut fresh sashimi, alongside self-serve pancakes, complimentary fried shrimp heads and a ₩5,000 spicy fish-bone stew. If you want sashimi and raw shrimp in one meal, the set menu at Hwanggeum Hoe Pocha is a great fit.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Lunch café near Sinnonhyeon Station: loaded salmon sandwich, Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch is a 24-hour auto brew café near Exit 1 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. For a sandwich-and-coffee lunch, the writer ordered a smoked salmon sandwich (₩9,500) and a Mocha Blend iced americano (₩3,800), and the generously filled salmon sandwich paired well with the full-bodied Mocha Blend. For a sandwich-and-coffee lunch near Sinnonhyeon Station, Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch is a solid choice.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Sangmu, Gwangju Korean pub with Ipsaeju soju and makhoe: Misikga

Misikga Imokase Sangmu Main Branch (미식가 이모카세 상무본점) is a Korean imokase (chef's-choice set) pub near Sangmu Station in Seo-gu, Gwangju, serving 17 dishes as one spread. Two diners paid 35,000 won each and paired the spread with Ipsaeju, Gwangju's local soju. Highlights included grilled croaker, makhoe (sliced raw fish) with soybean powder, braised butterfish, samhap bossam, sweet-and-spicy jjukkumi (webfoot octopus), scallion yukjeon, and a dessert of fruit, Changeok injeolmi tteok and injeolmi snow bingsu. Misikga Imokase makes a satisfying dinner for anyone who wants to try many Korean drinking dishes with local soju in one sitting.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly Sangbong jjukkumi spot with outdoor tables: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a jjukkumi (baby octopus) restaurant in the food alley near Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul, with dog-friendly outdoor tables. On a fine weekend evening the writer sat outside with her dog Cream and ordered a two-serving sungnyung (scorched-rice tea), assorted add-ons and jjuksam (baby octopus with pork belly) set at 18,900 won per serving, plus a puffed-up steamed egg for 6,900 won and rice balls for 3,500 won. Joajukne Jjukkumi Sangbong is a good outdoor spot for spicy jjuksam and soju in the evening breeze with your dog.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sagajeong eel pub: wild ginseng liquor mixed with soju at Cheonsangae

Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch (천상애장어가 면목사가정점) is a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant between Sagajeong and Myeonmok stations in Jungnang, Seoul. The writer ordered the 2-person set (79,000 won) with restorative wild ginseng liquor (15,000 won). While staff grilled the eel, the writer worked through Tongyeong salted oyster wraps, stone-bowl sushi, wood ear mushrooms, charcoal-roasted potato and nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea). After finishing the wild ginseng liquor, the writer mixed it with Chamisul soju for two more bottles, which makes Cheonsangae Jangeoga a great Sagajeong eel spot for drinks.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored