Late Stool Diarist · 15 stories

A Late Stool in Bundang

Writes about small bars scattered across Gyeonggi, one quiet visit at a time. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café: 3-bean hand drip with Peach Punch, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam (센트럴사이트 연남점) is a hand drip and tiramisu café in a corner building on the main road leading from Hongik Univ. Station into Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul. The writer tasted three hand-drip coffees made from Ethiopia, Colombia Peach Punch and Guatemala beans with a tiramisu, and enjoyed the small-European-village feel of the 2nd-floor window seats. Central Site Yeonnam is a Yeonnam-dong café that delivers both atmosphere and specialty coffee quality.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju sunset dinner café for a date, chewy-dough pizza: Four & More

Four & More is a large café on Soraji-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi, with views of the Han River and the Imjingang. At sunset, from a window seat, the writer had dinner of a Dubai croissant, shrimp Toowoomba pasta and a bacon potato pizza, and the pizza's chewy dough stood out most. Four & More is a strong pick for a Paju date café where you can catch the sunset and have dinner in one stop.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong Korean BBQ: whelk-flavored scallion salad, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) is a charcoal-grilled pork belly restaurant on Myeongdong 8na-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, counted among Seoul's top three pork belly spots and popular with foreign visitors. After shopping in Myeongdong, the writer had thick, staff-grilled pork belly, king oyster mushroom, mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and kimchi stew on the 2nd floor. The scallion salad that tastes like spicy whelk salad and the neat side dishes stood out most. Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a filling stop during Myeongdong sightseeing and an easy way to show friends from abroad how Korean BBQ works.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang crab restaurant: snow crab feast with self-serve sushi, Dongnam

Dongnam Hoe Sikdang (동남회식당) is a snow crab and raw fish restaurant in Jukdo Market, Pohang. The writer's snow crab feast dinner started with sides such as corn cheese, soy-marinated raw crab (ganjang gejang), braised fish, abalone, sea squirt and mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), then moved on to sashimi, self-serve sushi, pre-cracked snow crab, self-serve ramen, crab-shell bibimbap and spicy fish stew. Dongnam Hoe Sikdang suits Pohang travelers looking for a generous, well-hosted seafood dinner.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang crab restaurant in early summer: icy mulhoe, cold soba

Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang (갈릴리대게회식당) is a snow crab and raw fish restaurant inside Jukdo Market in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. Abalone porridge, icy mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), cold soba, hot-plate corn cheese, sashimi, soy-marinated crab and a self-cook seafood stew came out in turn before the main bakdal crab and a crab ramen finish, and the bakdal crab was sweeter and juicier than regular snow crab. With good food, friendly service and generous portions in good balance, Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a fine pick for a meal with your parents on a Pohang trip.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo Korean set meal for a seasonal boost: scallion bulgogi, Bomseol

Bomseol Gimpo (봄설 김포점) is a healthy Korean set-meal restaurant on Geomdan-ro in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, in the building next to Positive Space 566. Two diners shared a mountain of scallion bulgogi (pa-bulgogi) with glass noodles and mushrooms, stone-pot rice and neat side dishes; the meat was tender, and the sharp scallions and sweet marinade made the rice go down easily. Bomseol Gimpo is a satisfying choice for family gatherings looking for a mild yet deeply flavored Korean meal.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong pizzeria with an open balcony for friends: Pizzeria Snug

Pizzeria Snug is a wood-fired pizza and pasta Italian restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. On a get-together with friends in the sunny open-balcony setting, the writer ordered the Snug Classica (30,000 won) and the vongole pasta (21,000 won), and the chewy, nutty wood-fired dough left the strongest impression. Pizzeria Snug is worth recommending as a Sangam-dong meetup spot for both atmosphere and great dough.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Early-dinner Korean BBQ in Paju Unjeong: salt-dipped pork neck, Tannae

Tannae Paju Main Branch (탄내 파주본점) is a briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in Garam-maeul, Unjeong, Paju. Over an early dinner of 2 portions of pork neck and 1 portion of pork belly, the staff grilled everything at the table, and the thick pork neck stayed juicy and nutty even when dipped in salt alone. Tannae Paju Main Branch suits family dinners or company gatherings where everyone wants to focus on the meat without worrying about grilling skills.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Ilsan bakery snack: renewed salt bread sandwiches, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a newly opened bakery on the B1 floor of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang, and unlike the Boulangerie Tan flagship in Chorongkkot Village, Paju, it focuses on sandwiches. Its baguette sandwiches were renewed with a salt bread base, and the jambon fromage salt bread and carrot rapée salt bread from the new lineup made an afternoon snack with buttery flavor and a crisp texture. With salt bread, campagne, baguettes and cornet pies to choose from, Boulangerie Tan KINTEX is as fun to browse as it is to eat at for bread lovers.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Korean BBQ with wide-open windows: ₩59,000 set for 3, Haetteuljip

Haetteuljip is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of Yueun Tower 7 near Yadang Station in Paju, where huge windows are thrown wide open so grilling feels like a night at a campsite. Three people shared the gochujang pork belly, LA galbi and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) set for ₩59,000, ₩7,000 off the à la carte price. The nutty cheonggukjang and the sour kimchi, bracken and minari grilled alongside the meat stood out. Haetteuljip suits groups near Yadang Station who want an airy room and a good-value set.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan duck restaurant with charcoal-grilled jumulleok: Seokgi Sidae

Seokgi Sidae (석기시대) is a duck restaurant in Gusan-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, right in front of Gusan IC on the Jayu-ro expressway. Two of us grilled ori jumulleok (marinated duck) over charcoal with kimchi and were happy with the subtle smoky flavor, pleasantly spicy marinade, generous portion, complimentary duck soup and a spread of side dishes like a Korean set meal. With a big parking lot, friendly staff and non-spicy giant dumplings for kids, Seokgi Sidae is a good fit for family meals and group dinners.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju pork bone soup for 4 with extra ugeoji: Cheongnyeon Gamjatang

Cheongnyeon Gamjatang Sundaeguk Paju Geumchon-jeom is a gamjatang (pork bone soup) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant on Soejaegaeul-gil in Geumchon, Paju, Gyeonggi. On a rainy-season day, four adults shared a large Cheongnyeon gamjatang with extra ugeoji (dried cabbage leaves) and finished the meal with fried rice. The bones were piled up like a tower, the meat was tender, and the broth had a pleasant kick without being too spicy or salty. Cheongnyeon Gamjatang Sundaeguk is a good Geumchon spot for a family meal of generous, not-too-salty gamjatang.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored