Side Plate Diarist · 7 stories

Side Plate, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Tables

Writes about restaurants and cafes across Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

Family ramen shop at City Hall Station: tonkotsu for 3 kids, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen shop near Exit 10 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At the end of an early-summer weekend outing around City Hall, the writer's three kids each had tonkotsu ramen (11,000 won) and the writer had spicy tonkotsu ramen (11,500 won), 44,500 won in total. The rich but clean broth and thick chashu meant every child emptied their bowl, so Mentsuru City Hall Branch is worth recommending for family dinners and for City Hall office workers eating solo.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Sunny Mangpo Station café with window seats & summer latte: Hongrad

Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a café on the 4th floor of the Nonghyup building near Exit 7 of Mangpo Station in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, and the Mangpo branch of Hongrad, a stylish café from Haenggung-dong. On a weekday afternoon, the writer and her husband ordered an Americano, a summer latte and a Basque cheesecake at Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch and relaxed in the sunlight by the windows and on soft sofas. With a spacious room, comfortable seats and decaf coffee until 11 p.m., Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is an easy café to linger in for hours.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

6 a.m. Yongin Korean buffet: DIY lunchbox for Caribbean Bay, Daedong

Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak (대동한식뷔페&도시락) is a Korean buffet in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, that opens at 6 a.m. and lets diners fill a lunchbox themselves from the buffet side dishes. On the morning of a Caribbean Bay trip, a family of five stopped at Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak for toast to take the edge off their hunger, then packed jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), namul (seasoned vegetables) and pork cutlet to eat for lunch at the water park. Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is a good way to sort out both breakfast and lunch costs on an Everland or Caribbean Bay day.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin kalguksu restaurant to catch up with an old friend: Yubok

Yubok Kalguksu Yongin Korean Folk Village Branch is a seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant with pufferfish broth on Minsokchon-ro in Giheung-gu, Yongin. The blogger met a friend they had not seen in years at Yubok Kalguksu as a midpoint in Yongin, shared kalguksu and a jjukkumi (baby octopus) seafood chive pancake, then talked for hours over coffee from the dessert zone. With a rich seafood broth, a light chive pancake, a spacious dining room and easy parking, Yubok Kalguksu made a satisfying place for a long-overdue catch-up.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGoseong, GangwonRestaurants

Boiled hanwoo restaurant in Goseong with 3 kids: Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk

Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk (고성한우수육) is a boiled hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant near Ganseong Market in Ganseong-eup, Goseong, Gangwon. On a return visit, a family of five ordered the medium hanwoo suyuk jeongol (boiled beef hot pot, 280g, ₩38,000) and suyuk muchim (₩20,000), then finished the meal as a course with kalguksu noodles and self-serve porridge. The beef was not greasy and the vegetables were generous, so the kids ate well. For families in Goseong who want a hanwoo meal that is easier on the stomach than grilled beef, Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk is worth a return trip.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho restaurant, octopus stew en route to Goseong: Deungdae Gotgan

Deungdae Gotgan (등대곳간) is an ocean-view restaurant serving nakji jjageuli (spicy octopus stew) on Yeongnanghaean-gil, facing Deungdae Beach in Sokcho, Gangwon. On the way to Goseong, a family of five booked Deungdae Gotgan by phone and ate 4 servings of octopus stew with udon and somen noodles for ₩69,000 in total. On a cloudy day just before the rainy season, they watched the sea through floor-to-ceiling windows and mixed rice into the spicy sauce to finish. With free roadside parking and baby chairs, Deungdae Gotgan is a good lunch stop for a trip with kids.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Classic Pose Burger at a Yeongtong-gu burger restaurant in Suwon: 666

666 Burger Main Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on Maeyoung-ro in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, where every patty is 100% domestic beef. Over lunch with her youngest daughter, the writer ordered a Classic Pose Burger on its own, a bulgogi burger and a side of churros, then traded burgers with her daughter once the mushrooms inside the bulgogi burger turned up. Neither burger was greasy, which made 666 Burger Main Branch an easy light lunch with a child.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored

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