Lakeside Kettle · 19 stories

Warm Kettle, Gyeonggi/Gangwon and Seoul Cafes

Writes about restaurants and cafes across Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Seoul, often stopping wherever the tea is still warm. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceGuri, GyeonggiRestaurants

Guri pot-lid chicken stew with parking coupon: Gangnam Dakhansang

Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch is a Korean restaurant on Angol-ro in Guri, Gyeonggi, that simmers dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken stew) in a huge pot lid. The writer ordered one whole chicken stew for 2 with Busan fish cake skewers, steamed rice and udon noodles. The writer liked the meaty chicken, the included add-ins, the roomy dining hall, the clean restrooms and the parking coupon for the public lot right across the street. Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch is an easy pick for group dinners and work get-togethers in Guri when you come by car.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ramen shop in Misa, Hanam: after-work couple's dinner combos at Menji

Menji Hanam Misa Branch is a ramen shop on Misagangbyeonbuk-ro 30 Beonan-gil in Hanam, Gyeonggi, known for its housemade chicken-broth tori paitan and sous-vide chashu. The writer visited with her husband at 6 pm on a weekday after work and ordered a tori paitan with mini loin tonkatsu combo and a tori shoyu with mini yakitori-don (grilled chicken rice bowl) combo, 33,000 won for two. With a clean chicken broth, chewy fresh whole-wheat noodles, seasoned mustard greens and pickled tomatoes, Menji Hanam Misa Branch is a recommended dinner spot for couples on a cold day.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

South-facing Gwangju café: red bean mammoth bread and hot latte at Sum

Sum (카페 숨) is a large mountain-view bakery café on Ojeon-gil in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, split into a main building and an annex with a media room and garden. On a weekend drive, the writer paid 19,700 won for two: a hot Americano (6,500 won), a hot café latte (7,000 won) and a red bean mammoth bread (6,200 won), and liked the roomy parking, the warmth of the south-facing windows and the densely filled bread. For an outing near Seoul with open mountain views, nutty coffee and a hefty mammoth bread, Sum is a good fit.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market bakery: day-trip sulppang at the beach, Sokcho Sulppang

Sokcho Sulppang is a makgeolli bread (sulppang, steamed rice-wine bread) shop in Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, right next to the Manseok Dakgangjeong market branch. On a bus day trip from Seoul, the writer tasted a warm sample, bought 3 loaves of Sokcho Sulppang's makgeolli bread at 5,000 won each and ate them at the beach, and even her husband, who doesn't usually enjoy sulppang, ate more than half. Leftovers kept in the fridge and microwaved for 30 seconds stayed soft and moist, making Sokcho Sulppang a 100% would-buy-again.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market croquettes, last of 200 daily red crab: Samsam Goroke

Samsam Goroke (삼삼고로케) is a croquette bakery inside Sokcho Central Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. On a Sokcho day trip, the writer took home the 17,000-won 6-piece set with all six flavors as gifts for family and friends, and grabbed the very last Sokcho red crab croquette, which is limited to 200 a day. With the nutty taste of real red crab and filling packed to the edges, Samsam Goroke is well worth it for a Sokcho bread gift.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market grain snack shop: still nutty a week later, Ibuja Mayak

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan (이부자마약곳간) is a grain snack shop in Unit 137 on the first floor of Sokcho Jungang Market (Sokcho Tourism & Fish Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling puffed brown rice, buckwheat, white rice, black rice and yellow rice coated in syrup, made and sold the same day. The writer bought two 8-piece bags, eating one at the beach and keeping the other as a gift, and the Ibuja Mayak Gotgan snacks stayed nutty with no stale taste for a week after purchase. For a crisp, not-too-sweet snack gift from Sokcho, Ibuja Mayak Gotgan grain snacks are the answer.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu in Amsa-dong, Seoul: a 20-minute chilly dinner wait at Tonka

Tonka is a katsu dining bar–style tonkatsu restaurant in an alley in Amsa-dong, Gangdong, Seoul. On a chilly evening when Tonka was full, the writer and her husband waited about 20 minutes outside. The limited-quantity special loin katsu sold out right in front of them, so they had the Tonkatsu for two (30,000 won), which comes with both loin and tenderloin. Tonka's tender cutlets and soup packed with clams and radish more than made up for the sold-out special.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Amsa Station chicken shop: 10-minute evening queue, Gimssi Chicken

Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch (김씨치킨 암사시장점) is a takeout-focused dakgangjeong (crispy glazed fried chicken) shop inside Amsa Market in Gangdong, Seoul, 230m from Amsa Station Exit 1, said to be a 15-year-old shop known as one of Seoul's top three for dakgangjeong. The writer joined the queue at weekday evening peak time but had a large boneless medium-spicy dakgangjeong (13,000 won) in about 10 minutes, then shared it at home with her husband alongside Cool-Pis and beer. Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch is a good-value market takeout spot with generous portions and a kick that even people who can't handle spice can enjoy.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Family-friendly Guui Station café: 3-hour free parking, Center Coffee

Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a café on the B1 floor of East Pole, connected to Exit 3 of Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer and a friend pushing a stroller ordered an Americano, a café latte and a tiramisu for ₩19,900 in total, and found 3 hours of free parking regardless of purchase amount through the end of December, baby chairs and a family restroom right across from the café. Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a Guui Station café with nutty coffee, moist tiramisu and facilities for visiting with kids.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulShopping

Dunchon-dong egg shop for perilla oil sunny-side-up eggs: Fresh Farmer

Fresh Farmer Olympic Park Foreon Direct Store is a 24-hour unmanned egg shop on basement level 1 of Park Foreon, in front of Dunchon-dong Station in Gangdong, Seoul. It sells only shell-number 1 free-range fertile eggs and number 2 animal-welfare fertile eggs. A couple bought both types to compare them and ate them as their first meal after a morning workout, fried sunny-side up with a drizzle of perilla oil or olive oil. The Fresh Farmer eggs had no fishy smell, a nutty taste and creamy yolks, and are worth switching to if they cost little more than supermarket No. 2 eggs.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gangdong ramen restaurant with 3-hour free parking: Myeon Sikdang

Myeon Sikdang Godeok Station Branch (면식당 고덕역점) is a Japanese restaurant near Godeok Station in Gangdong, Seoul, serving ramen made with a special pork-bone broth and house-made fresh noodles. On a weekday lunch for two, tonkotsu ramen, shoyu ramen, a half hirekatsu and a smoky mini buta-don came to 26,700 won in total, and free parking was registered for the building's basement car park. Myeon Sikdang Godeok Station Branch is a good fit for a two-person lunch when you want rich broth, crispy katsu and easy parking.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Gwangjin café for Sirius Yellow latte and raspberry scone: Wonz Coffee

Wonz Coffee Children's Grand Park Main Branch is a specialty roastery café in Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where americano and cold brew (4,900 won) come with a free bean change and free refills. After a walk in Children's Grand Park, the writer and her husband had a Sirius Black americano with a chocolate cookie and a Sirius Yellow café latte with a raspberry scone, then made the cold drip concentrate from the receipt review event at home. Wonz Coffee is a café near Children's Grand Park that satisfies on taste, price and parking alike.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored