Copper Tray Traveler · 15 stories

A Copper Tray Through Seoul and Daegu

Writes about restaurants, bars, and cafes across Seoul, Gyeonggi, Jeju, and Daegu-Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Sinnonhyeon Station: aged pork neck and belly, Sansol

Sansol Sinnonhyeon is an aged-pork Korean BBQ restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3, where staff grill the meat for you. The writer ordered 1 serving each of Sansol aged kkotmoksal (pork neck) and aged pork belly, plus country doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), country steamed egg and Cheorwon Odae rice. Downdraft ventilation kept smoke smell off clothes and staff grilled from start to finish, making Sansol Sinnonhyeon a solid pick for quality meat, neat side dishes and full grilling service.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Daecheong Station tonkatsu at weekend opening: yubu udon set, Sioldon

Sioldon Irwon Branch is a premium tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Irwon-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Daecheong Station and Samsung Seoul Hospital. The writer arrived for weekend dinner right as the break time ended and ordered a sirloin katsu set with mini yubu udon (udon with fried tofu pouches) instead of soup, plus a cheese katsu set with long, stretchy cheese. The cutlets were crisp outside and juicy inside, and Sioldon Irwon Branch earned a full recommendation for meat quality, flavor and value.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ team dinner: pork galbi & tendon stew, Neul Gogi

Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is a galbi (grilled ribs) restaurant on Gyeongchung-daero in Icheon, Gyeonggi. The blogger ordered 2 servings of nuruk-marinated pork galbi (ribs marinated with a traditional Korean fermentation starter), beef tendon doenjang (soybean paste) stew and cheese steamed egg on a table kiosk, and staff grilled the galbi while the table enjoyed neat, varied side dishes and wrap greens from the self-serve bar. With a 30-car parking lot and spacious group seating, Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is a solid pick for a family meal or a team dinner.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Hanok bakery in Ikseon-dong: rice chestnut & cheese loaves, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a hanok-style bakery in Ikseon-dong, Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 7 of Jongno 3-ga Station on Donhwamun-ro. After trying the tasting bread, the writer took home a rice chestnut loaf and a rice cheese loaf to eat with milk and coffee, and both loaves were packed with chestnut and cheese. Munhwa Bakery sells only bread made that day and is said to donate the leftovers, making it a good bakery to pick up bread from when you visit Ikseon-dong.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Station gamjatang: sujebi bone hangover soup and jeyuk, Nuri

Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch (누리마을감자탕 이태원점) is an outlet of a 22-year-old gamjatang (pork bone stew) brand, on the 2nd floor of a building a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Itaewon Station in Yongsan, Seoul. Three diners ordered by kiosk: sujebi (hand-torn dough flake) bone hangover soup loaded with siraegi (dried radish greens) and sweet-spicy jeyuk-bokkeum (stir-fried pork), with a self-serve bar and group seating on hand. For a filling meal, Nuri Maeul Gamjatang's rich bone soup and jeyuk wrapped in perilla leaves make it an Itaewon gamjatang spot worth recommending.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hannam hair salon grown-out drop cut and down perm: ONLY FOR YOU

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a hair salon in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd floor of Hyundai Liberty House, about a 10-minute walk from Hannam Station Exit 1. The writer's previous drop cut had grown out a lot, so the writer booked designer Yeongseo at ONLY FOR YOU for a drop cut and, after a consultation, got a cut tailored to head shape, a down perm, a shampoo, a blow-dry and styling tips. The sides and back of the drop cut came out neat and exactly as wanted, making it a very satisfying visit.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanak Korean restaurant: braised skate and bean sprouts at Yeseoban

Yeseoban (예소반) is a Korean restaurant specializing in braised dishes on Munseong-ro in Gwanak, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Seowon Station Exit 1. At lunch, the writer ordered Yeseoban's braised skate, which came with a stone pot rice (sotbap) and side dishes, plenty of radish, tofu and rice cakes, bean sprouts to mix into the braising sauce, and nurungji (scorched rice) to finish. The skate at Yeseoban is tender and the sauce is not too strong, making it a solid pick for a hearty Korean meal.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae gimbap shop takeout for a weekend family brunch: Halls Gimbap

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll), dakgangjeong and tteokbokki shop in Seocho, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gyodae Station, and the new name of Auto Gimbap Seocho. The writer took home 2 servings of Halls Gimbap and a small dakgangjeong (crispy sweet-glazed fried chicken) for a weekend family brunch, and the parents and older brother all said it was delicious. Verdict: the mildly spicy Halls Gimbap and crispy-outside, tender-inside dakgangjeong make Halls Gimbap Main Branch a go-to gimbap spot near Gyodae Station.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Korean restaurant for three: galbitang, kongguksu, Nuri Maeul

Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is a 24-hour gamjatang (pork bone stew) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building one minute on foot from Itaewon Station Exit 4 in Yongsan, Seoul. A group of three skipped the gamjatang and ordered special galbitang (short rib soup), handmade kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles) and jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) served with perilla leaves, and the rich kongguksu broth and the clear, deep galbitang broth stood out most. Nuri Maeul Gamjatang Itaewon Branch is a pork bone stew restaurant whose galbitang, kongguksu and jeyuk-bokkeum also make a filling meal on their own.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean buffet near Mangpo Station, Suwon with retro snacks: Boriook

Boriook Main Branch (보리옥 본점) is a Korean buffet in Yeongtong, Suwon, a 9-minute walk from Exit 1 of Mangpo Station, where diners help themselves to as much namul (seasoned vegetables), japchae (glass noodles) and fritters as they like to build their own bibimbap. On a weekday at 1pm, two diners ordered two barley rice set meals (13,000 won each) and enjoyed sweet pumpkin fritters, seasoned tofu, the included stew, and old-fashioned Korean snacks and drinks for dessert. With its neat, vegetable-focused spread, Boriook Main Branch makes a filling choice for family gatherings or a workday lunch.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ with table kiosks: nuruk pork galbi, Neul Gogi Jip

Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is a galbi and Korean BBQ restaurant on Gyeongchung-daero in Icheon, Gyeonggi, where diners order from a table kiosk and staff grill the meat. This meal was 2 servings of nuruk (fermented rice malt) marinated pork galbi with beef tendon doenjang (soybean paste) stew and cheese steamed egg, plus neat side dishes and a self-serve bar for lettuce wraps. From side dishes to galbi to stew, Neul Gogi Jip served a hearty, filling meal.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Ikseon-dong bakery on a hot day: coffee bread eaten frozen, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a bakery on the hanok street of Ikseon-dong in Jongno, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Jongno 3-ga Station. On a hot day of exploring Ikseon-dong, the writer took home injeolmi (roasted soybean rice cake) bread, walnut bread and coffee bread, and found the coffee cream in Munhwa Bakery's coffee bread tasted even better frozen. The shop is small and lets in two groups at a time, but there was no wait that day.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored