Brick Wall Sitter · 38 stories

Coffee at the Brick Wall

I write about cafes I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Things to do · Bars · Shopping

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Izakaya at Gongdeok Exit 7: highballs, mackerel bo-sushi, Orot Silbi

Orot Silbi (오롯실비) is a Blue Ribbon Japanese izakaya on the 3rd floor of 4 Saechang-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Gongdeok Station Exit 7. The writer and friends ordered 3 highballs with uni cream pasta, fried pork collar and sababouzushi (mackerel bo-sushi), and the writer was impressed with how well the dishes worked together and happy with every one. Verdict: Orot Silbi is a must-visit Gongdeok bar for anyone who loves Japanese food.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno Korean BBQ after an MMCA show in Anguk, five-layer belly: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving black pork and Boseong Nokdon pork on the first floor of the Picadilly CGV building in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. After an exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Anguk, the writer came on a weekday around 5 PM and ordered 2 servings of Jirisan black pork five-layer belly and 1 Jirisan black pork neck. Staff grilled the meat from start to finish, and the generous dropwort (minari) served as a standard side and the grilled potato wraps stood out. Cham Dwaejitgan is a good Jongno pork belly stop when you crave meat after an Anguk exhibition.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo Korean BBQ: pork neck grilled to 80% at Gamgol Yeontan Jip

Gamgol Yeontan Jip Daeheung Station branch is a retro charcoal-briquette Korean BBQ restaurant near Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered 2 servings of the signature special pork neck, flat bibim noodles and gochujang briquette bulgogi, eaten with basil ssamjang and sides from the self-serve bar. Staff explained that the pork neck is steak-cut meat best cooked to about 80%. If you want tender, chewy pork neck, Gamgol Yeontan Jip's special pork neck with a side of flat bibim noodles is worth trying.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Gongdeok izakaya with alcohol-free ginger highballs: Yakitori Shomong

Yakitori Shomong is a yakitori izakaya (Japanese pub) in Mapo, Seoul, between Daeheung Station and Gongdeok Station and facing the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. The writer took a window seat at opening time and ordered the 3-skewer course, braised pork jowl and abalone rice, paired with a non-alcoholic lemon sour and a non-alcoholic Bundaberg ginger highball. The Forest Trail view, the truffle chicken thigh skewer and braised pork jowl sprinkled with shichimi made Yakitori Shomong a very satisfying Gongdeok bar visit.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Ikseon-dong bakery after an Anguk exhibit: soft garlic bread, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-only bakery near Ikseon-dong in Jongno, Seoul, less than a 5-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station. After an exhibition in Anguk, the writer queued on a weekday and took home garlic bread (6,500 won), coffee bread (5,500 won) and sweet potato bread (3,800 won), and Munhwa Bakery slices the garlic bread in store on request. With its moist sauce and soft crumb, Munhwa Bakery's garlic bread won over even a friend who doesn't usually enjoy bread.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae weekday-lunch Korean BBQ: pork belly + pollock roe, Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a pork BBQ restaurant on Donggyo-ro near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday lunch, the writer and a younger sibling ordered 2 servings of salt pork belly, Choryang pork ribs, zucchini doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and double cheese steamed egg, and fell hard for pork belly paired with myeongnanjeot (salted pollock roe) and myeongi pickles. Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a Hongdae Korean BBQ spot worth a special trip for that pork belly and pollock roe combo.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju dakgangjeong shop: chewy cooled mild my parents loved, Mannyeon

Mannyeon Dakgangjeong Hanok Village Direct Store is a takeout-only dakgangjeong (sweet glazed fried chicken) shop on Taejo-ro in Jeonju Hanok Village. The writer took home a large boneless box, half mild and half soy, and let it cool on purpose: the coating turned chewy like guobaorou (Chinese sweet and sour pork) and the thigh meat stayed tender, winning rave reviews even from parents with weak teeth. If you pick only one flavor at Mannyeon Dakgangjeong, make it the signature mild.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Daechi-dong eel bowl lunch: sansho & a mouthwash restroom, Manmok

Manmok (만목) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in eel bowls and grilled eel on Seolleung-ro 82-gil in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Seolleung Station. Over lunch with a friend, the writer had two whole eel bowls at 39,000 won each. The eel, slightly crisp outside and chewy inside, was especially good with sansho pepper, and the set came with chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), matsutake mushroom broth and black tea ice cream. Manmok served the best eel bowl the writer has ever had, and they want to bring their parents back.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulShopping

Late-autumn picnic rental in Mangwon, backrest chairs: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon is a picnic gear rental shop right in front of Mangwon Hangang Park in Mapo, Seoul. For a late-autumn picnic with friends, the writer rented two one-touch tents, three mats, a wood table, backrest chairs and a power bank, then ate cream curry tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and chicken gangjeong (sweet glazed fried chicken) from Q's Dakgangjeong (큐스닭강정) at Mangwon Market. Picnic List Mangwon lets you rent everything for a Mangwon Hangang picnic in one stop, and the writer highly recommends it.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok café open 8 a.m. weekdays: 4-slot gift box, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a baked-goods dessert café one minute from Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, and it opens at 8 a.m. on weekdays. The writer, who returns to Fluffy Bake Shop whenever a gift is needed, picked 7 madeleines, canelés and an egg tart on a weekday morning and packed them in a 4-slot pulp box for an extra 500 won. The chewy Earl Grey canelé was the standout, and Fluffy Bake Shop is a reliable choice for dessert gifts in Gongdeok.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Cheese festival sushi buffet in Nowon: cheese sushi at Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro in Nowon, Seoul, with plenty of private spaces that make it popular for family gatherings. A sushi-loving writer visited Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch during its cheese festival and tried cheese sushi, salmon aburi sushi, fresh salmon sushi, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), hot dishes, seasonal fruit and an ice cream waffle. The verdict: Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is worth it both for anyone who eats more than ten pieces of sushi and for family gatherings with a wide range of ages.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulThings to do

2-player board game café at Nowon Station: Schotten Totten, Hero

Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch is a board game café in Nowon, Seoul, less than 5 minutes on foot from Nowon Station, offering Nintendo, PlayStation and arcade machines as well as board games, plus private rooms. The writer played the 2-player games Skewer Master (꼬치의 달인) and Schotten Totten, finished with poker, and drank a Jaws Bar cocktail and a zero apple tea. Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch is so carefully kept that even a single deck of cards is sorted in order, and the writer strongly recommends it to anyone playing board games in Nowon.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored