Hillside Tea Tin Guest · 6 stories

Rooftop Tables, Seoul

Writes about restaurant meals in Seoul, recalling what was ordered and how each visit felt. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Songpa massage shop with stone therapy for a herniated disc: The Hanoi

The Hanoi Foot & Body Songpa Garak Branch is a massage shop on the 2nd floor near Exit 4 of Garak Market Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer, who has a herniated lumbar disc and swollen legs, had the 60-minute stone therapy back-side course (hot stones plus oil) with eucalyptus oil, and the therapist adjusted the pressure to spare the lower back before finishing with cervical alignment and a neck stretch. The writer felt refreshed and pain-free the next day, making The Hanoi Foot & Body a stone therapy spot in Songpa worth recommending to anyone with a sensitive back.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Monkfish stew restaurant after Sunday tennis at Olympic Park: Ttoksuni

Ttoksuni Agujjim Jamsil Direct Branch (똑순이아구찜 잠실 직영점) is a restaurant specializing in agujjim (braised spicy monkfish) in Songpa, Seoul, between Hanseongbaekje Station on Line 9 and Olympic Park. After a Sunday morning tennis lesson, a couple arrived 5 minutes before the 11am opening and waited inside. They ordered the Ttoksuni agujjim for 2 at the non-spicy level 1 and enjoyed the generous portion, chewy monkfish innards and a sauce that isn't overly sweet. Verdict: to skip the weekend lunch wait at Ttoksuni Agujjim, arrive at the 11am opening or book on Naver.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sinnonhyeon jazz bar and sauvignon blanc: Sunwoo Kim Trio, Flat Nine

Flat Nine is a live jazz bar and course-meal restaurant on the 5th floor of K-Tower in Seocho, Seoul, between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station. On a Saturday at 4pm, the writer and her husband ordered the new head chef's 7-course menu for two with a glass of MIHA 2025 New Zealand sauvignon blanc while the Sunwoo Kim Trio played guitar, drums and bass. Every course at Flat Nine, from the amuse-bouche to dessert, felt carefully made, making it a good fit for a date built around both music and food.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsil Italian weekend brunch: shrimp bisque linguine, Mano di Chef

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is a corkage-friendly Italian restaurant on basement level B1 of Tower 730 by Jamsil Station in Songpa, Seoul. Arriving at the 11am weekend opening, the writer and her husband ordered red shrimp bisque linguine, a black dough blueberry & arugula pizza and an orange ade, and especially loved the plump red shrimp, the charcoal-scented octopus and the thin, crisp pizza piled high with arugula. Verdict: Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch suits dates and family meals for anyone wanting a calm Jamsil pasta restaurant with easy parking.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Izakaya near Bongeunsa: sake-scented clams and mackerel tataki, Yoran

Yoran is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 1 of Samseongjungang Station on Line 9. On a holiday date in Samseong-dong before visiting Bongeunsa, the writer ordered the sashimi platter for 2, sake-steamed clams and Kirin draft beer, and especially liked the sea bream, tuna and Spanish mackerel tataki and the sake aroma in the clams' aftertaste. Yoran suits a light drink for two as well as a gathering in its private room or group seating.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant, thank-you dinner for a friend: Modam

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is a hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant on basement floor 1 of Deoksugung The Palace near Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul, serving sets that run like a course from starters through the main dish to maesil (green plum) tea. After work, the writer treated a friend they were grateful to: they ordered the abalone and shrimp jang (soy-marinated seafood) with butter rice set and the abalone tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) set, and the abalone jang capellini, one of six starters, and the rice mixed with melted Isigny butter stood out. With high partitions and corkage with no bottle limit, Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is worth recommending for quiet get-togethers or dinners with parents.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
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