Homebound Bite · 81 stories

A Bite Before Home

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songpa Korean BBQ: pork galbi, Andong soup, G-Dragon tea, Hantiok

Hantiok (한티옥) is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi Korean BBQ restaurant near Bangi Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer ordered the Korean pork galbi set with Andong soup (55,000 won), had the staff grill it, added 300g more galbi because it was so good, and finished with the yulmu-cha (Job's tears tea) at the entrance. Hantiok's Andong soup, a first for the writer, tasted far better than yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), so the set is a smart pick when you want pork galbi and soup in one meal.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gapyeong octopus restaurant for dinner with parents: Paldang Jikhwa

Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi (팔당직화불쭈꾸미) is a flame-grilled baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant on Hanseo-ro in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, serving rice bowls, hot plate dishes and octopus pancake. The writer went for dinner with their parents and shared 2 flame-grilled octopus rice bowls (26,000 won), pot rice, steamed egg, muk sabal (acorn jelly in cold broth) and an octopus pancake (13,000 won), plus a self-bar with jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and sundae (Korean blood sausage), and sikhye (sweet rice punch) for dessert. Mom's pork cutlet was sold out, but Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi's wide menu made it an easy family dinner where everyone ate what they liked.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Seocho: gochujang bulgogi dinner plus pork belly, Galgol

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch (감골연탄집 서초교대점) is a briquette-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 6 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. At dinner, the writer started with 2 portions of gochujang briquette bulgogi (29,800 won), then added 1 portion of coarse-salt pork belly (15,900 won), along with doenjang (soybean paste) stew, shrimp steamed egg and white rice. Galgol Yeontanjip served consistently tasty food with friendly service even at a busy hour, making for a satisfying dinner.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gildong Korean restaurant: hot pot and Saecheongmu rice, Sinjuokmi

Sinjuokmi Gildong Direct Branch (신주옥미 길동직영점) is a gukbap (Korean soup and rice) restaurant near Gildong Station Exit 1 in Gangdong, Seoul, specialising in sundaeguk (blood sausage soup), suyuk (boiled pork) and gopchang (pork intestine) hot pot. Two friends shared the spicy pork gopchang hot pot (35,000 won) with self-bar rice and ramyeon noodles, and found the gopchang generous and the premium Saecheongmu rice especially good. The gopchang hot pot at Sinjuokmi Gildong Direct Branch is less a light meal for two than a hearty, filling one.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongdam dinner date restaurant: Toowoomba pasta, Schedule Cheongdam

Schedule Cheongdam is a Western restaurant at 37 Seolleung-ro 152-gil in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul, near Apgujeongnodeo Station. For dinner, the writer ordered truffle chicken thigh (27,000 won), Toowoomba cream pasta (29,000 won) and jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) fried rice (26,000 won). The writer also took in the chandelier interior and the marble tables set with fresh flowers and lamps. Schedule Cheongdam is worth considering for a Cheongdam dinner date where the food and the space matter equally.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market fish shop shad platter, mini to special: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan is a fish shop at Garak Market, on the 1st floor of Garak Mall Panmae-dong in Songpa, Seoul, selling Jeon-Gwang-Cham-hoe, a single platter of gizzard shad, large flounder and large sea bream sashimi. Craving autumn shad, the writer and a friend bought the small Jeon-Gwang-Cham-hoe (₩70,000) at Yeongjae Susan, ate it at a nearby chojang house (a restaurant that serves market-bought sashimi for a separate fee), and liked the thick cuts and freshness most. For anyone who wants to alternate shad, flounder and sea bream rather than eat shad alone, the Yeongjae Susan Jeon-Gwang-Cham-hoe is a good fit.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Wheat rice cake tteokbokki in Yongsan with ramen noodles: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is an instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cake stew) snack bar on Yongridan-gil near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The order was instant tteokbokki for 2 at medium spice with ramen noodles and fried rice added, plus a free slush from the receipt review event. Wheat rice cakes that stay chewy through long simmering and a sauce that is neither too sweet nor too spicy make Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch a good reason to skip the trip to Sindang.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung gyukatsu restaurant: sirloin vs tenderloin at Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seolleung Branch (규엔당 선릉점) is a Japanese restaurant specialising in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 1 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Over lunch, the writer and a friend ordered one sirloin gyukatsu (19,000 won) and one tenderloin gyukatsu (24,000 won), grilled them on personal braziers, swapped bites and found the taste difference smaller than expected. Given the 5,000 won price gap, the sirloin gyukatsu is the better pick at Gyuen Dang Seolleung Branch.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Isu Station late-night bar: gopdoritang with ramen at Rainbow Pocha

Rainbow Pocha Isu Branch is a pocha-style Korean bar about 128 m from Exit 11 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul, open until 04:40. On a late evening visit, the writer ordered the chicken-feet gopdoritang (spicy chicken and beef gopchang stew, ₩39,900) and corn cheese, mixed rice into the broth, then added ramen noodles, and the Rainbow Pocha staff brought extra broth so the soup stayed rich to the last bite. With generous portions and great flavor, Rainbow Pocha Isu Branch is an Isu Station bar worth revisiting.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong brunch café: 3 dishes for two at ₩56,000, Mild High Club

Mild High Club Apgujeong Branch is a brunch café on Eonju-ro 170-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, within walking distance of Apgujeong Rodeo Station. On a weekend afternoon, two friends shared clam chowder with focaccia, an aioli chicken open sandwich and hard clam vongole for ₩56,000 in total, eating slowly in a bright room with a fully open front. Mild High Club is a good Apgujeong brunch spot for two people who want to try everything from soup to pasta.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ with folding-door window seats, Isu Station: Chammak

Chammak Isu Station Branch is a makchang (grilled pork intestine) and pork belly restaurant near Exit 13 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. At a window seat with the folding doors open, the writer shared the 2-person mixed makchang and domestic fresh pork belly set (440g after pre-grilling, 39,000 won), along with the complimentary steamed egg, buttered corn for booking on Naver, and self-cooked Yeul Ramen. Chammak Isu Station Branch is a filling makchang spot for two with an open-air street-stall feel, even though you're indoors.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Chinese dinner with a friend: old-style tangsuyuk, Maeranbang

Maeranbang Gyodae Branch is a Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 near Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Two friends had a medium old-style tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, ₩20,000), plump crab soup (₩7,000), Maeranbang Chinese-style bibimbap (₩12,000) and spicy seafood jjamppong (₩13,000); the meal portions were generous and the staff very friendly. At Maeranbang Gyodae Branch, one shared dish plus a meal each leaves two people full.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored