Warmth Collector · 50 stories

Warm Cups, Northbound

I write about restaurants and cafés I visit in Seoul and Gangwon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Course restaurant in Mangwon for solo diners: samgyetang at SIPO

SIPO is a course-meal restaurant on the second floor of a building on Woldeukeop-ro 19-gil in Mangwon, Mapo, Seoul. Wanting some time alone, the writer booked a single seat at SIPO's 5 p.m. first seating and paired the SIPO A course with a glass of New Zealand house wine, working from a strawberry amuse-bouche through sous-vide samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) to port wine ice cream. SIPO is a good fit for anyone who wants to enjoy a quiet course meal alone in Mangwon.

Written Apr 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon brunch café near the Grand Hyatt for kimchi pilaf: Ongfleur

Ongfleur (옹플뢰르) is a spacious brunch café near the Grand Hyatt hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. On a busy weekday lunchtime, the writer's group got a table at Ongfleur without waiting and shared brioche French toast, spicy aglio e olio pasta and kimchi pilaf. Ongfleur's Naver menu listing doesn't match the menu in the café, so check the photo menu at Ongfleur before you order.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangridan-gil salad spot: basil shrimp & pumpkin mousse, Green & Fini

Green & Fini Mangwon is a salad and brunch shop on the second floor of a building on the bakery-lined street of Mangridan-gil in Mangwon-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the avocado basil shrimp salad, one of Green & Fini's signatures, with a sweet pumpkin mousse add-on. The plump tiger shrimp and the egg, chickpea, corn and olive toppings made it filling, and the pumpkin mousse had a natural, unforced sweetness. With high chairs and even highballs, Green & Fini Mangwon suits anyone looking for a light but filling meal.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu dinner by Ttukseom Station: tiger shrimp side at Katsuryu

Katsuryu is a traditional tonkatsu and fried-food restaurant near Ttukseom Station in Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. For dinner, the writer shared one hire (pork fillet) katsu and one rosu (premium pork loin) katsu, added a side of 2 fried tiger shrimp, and enjoyed melt-in-your-mouth fillet, nutty loin and a soup with meat and radish. For a clean, high-quality tonkatsu dinner near Ttukseom Station, Katsuryu is a satisfying choice.

Written Nov 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Roomy Thai restaurant in Seongsu: som tum & pad mee moo, Thanon55

Thanon55 is a Thai restaurant tucked into an alley in Seongsu, Seoul, known for rice noodles cooked by foreign chefs. On a dinner visit to Thanon55, the writer ate pad mee moo (stir-fried noodles) loaded with pork and cabbage and a som tum (Thai salad) packed with cherry tomatoes, all in a spacious dining room with time to relax. For local-style Thai food in Seongsu without the crowds, Thanon55 is a good choice.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Laptop café in Gwangjin, Seoul: orange cream latte and egg tart, Wonz

Wonz Coffee Children's Grand Park Main Branch (원즈커피) is a café on Jayang-ro 32-gil in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, that offers a range of coffee beans and desserts made in-house. On a solo visit, the writer tried the signature orange cream latte, a lemon madeleine, a raspberry scone and an egg tart, and was most impressed by the well-balanced layered latte and the egg tart, which was served warm. Wonz Coffee is a quiet café near Children's Grand Park Station for a solo coffee and dessert or an afternoon of laptop work.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seocho café with handwritten cheer notes on the cup: Coffee829 Gyodae

Coffee829 Gyodae is a café in Seocho, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Exit 14 of Gyodae Station. At lunchtime the writer picked up a Signature latte and a misugaru (roasted grain drink) made with milk for the office; the Signature latte cup came with a cheer message handwritten by a staff member, and the misugaru was generous and rich. With its station-side location, friendly service and filling drinks, Coffee829 Gyodae is a reliable lunchtime takeout café near Gyodae Station.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Poke shop with free tea at Samseong: avocado & smoked duck, Ola Poke

Ola Poke Samseong Branch is a poke and salad restaurant on Yeongdong-daero 85-gil near Samseong Station in Gangnam, Seoul. A regular visited on a weekday before the lunch peak and ordered the avocado poke over brown rice and salad mix with smoked duck added, and was impressed by the bar-table solo seats, free water and tea, and quick turnover. Ola Poke Samseong Branch suits Samseong Station office workers eating alone who want a light but filling lunch.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Pork gukbap dinner near Yeoksam Station: Namdo Changpyeong Gukbap

Namdo Changpyeong Gukbap is a newly opened gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant on Nonhyeon-ro near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At dinner the blogger ate the pork gukbap clear at first, then stirred in dadaegi (spicy seasoning paste) for heat, alongside a tasting portion of suyuk (boiled pork slices) with chive salad and refilled kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). With meat that has no gamey smell and a rich broth that finishes clean, Namdo Changpyeong Gukbap is worth recommending for a hangover-soothing bowl.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

High-protein poke lunch at Gyodae Station: chili mayo bowl, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a poke restaurant on the basement level (B1) of 54 Banpo-daero 28-gil in Seocho, Seoul, near Gyodae Station. The writer, a carb lover who rarely gets enough protein, had a solo lunch of the Super Protein poke (salmon, avocado and chicken breast) with the recommended chili mayo sauce, then finished with coffee from Olla Poke's free self-serve Americano bar. For a quick, filling high-protein solo lunch near Gyodae Station, the Super Protein poke at Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a good fit.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ by Apgujeongnodeo Station, machine-seared pork: Chobeoljip

Chobeoljip (초벌집) Apgujeong Rodeo Branch is a newly opened Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in pre-seared pork belly, about a 1-minute walk from Exit 5 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer ordered 2 servings of the signature pre-seared pork belly (180g), which is seared on a rotating machine and then finished on the table grill by the owner, along with homemade pickles (jangajji) and a whole head of aged kimchi grilled on the grill. For hands-free pork belly with carefully made side dishes, Chobeoljip is a great fit.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Namyeong chicken BBQ: herbal dakgalbi, acorn jelly soup at Onggyejip

Onggyejip Sutbul Dakgalbi Namyeong branch (옹계집숯불닭갈비 남영점) is a charcoal dakgalbi (grilled chicken) restaurant in an alley in Namyeong-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, near Sookmyung Women's University Station and Namyeong Station. The visit included one serving each of herbal-aged marinated dakgalbi and pepper-garlic salt chicken neck, followed by muksabal (cold acorn jelly soup), a complimentary doenjang stew, Kirin draft beer and a free misutgaru slush. Onggyejip Namyeong branch fills up from 5 p.m., making it a dinner BBQ spot worth arriving at a little early.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored