Jieun Rok · 2 stories

A Lunch Window in Cheongpa-dong

Writes about small Seoul restaurants worth a detour, one neighborhood at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday lunch tikka masala and lassi: Mandala, Hapjeong Indian lounge

Mandala Indian Lounge is an Indian restaurant on the third floor at 26 Dokmak-ro 3-gil in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul, that shifts into a hookah lounge after 9pm. A weekday lunch visit brought chicken tikka masala with plain naan and a plain lassi, and the masala sauce kept the character of its spices alongside the chewy naan. Mandala Indian Lounge changes mood with the clock — lunch by day, shisha and cocktails at night — so it pays to pick your time slot.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk rice bowl restaurant solo lunch, daechang and karaage: Hekbap

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a Japanese rice bowl (donburi) restaurant on the 2nd floor near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. This visit's order was the beef intestine (daechang) rice bowl with a side of karaage, rounded out with kkakdugi, pickled radish and wasabi from the self-serve corner, and the solo seats made eating alone easy. For a filling Japanese lunch near Konkuk, the daechang rice bowl at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a solid pick.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored

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