A Warm Cup Between Gwangju and Daejeon — Jaemin Yul

Gwangju eel restaurant with day-of-the-week rooms: Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo is a domestic freshwater eel restaurant on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, across from Songjeong Outlet. At Yuil Jangeo you pick and pay for live eel at the seafood counter before you sit down — live eel runs 29,000 won per kg — and the hallway is lined with private rooms named Monday through Sunday, which suits family gatherings. With the pre-seared eel finished over charcoal at the table and a bowl of eel soup alongside, one meal at Yuil Jangeo is more than filling.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan sashimi restaurant, stew too big for fried rice: Donghae Bada

Donghae Bada Hoetjip is a sashimi and seafood restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, serving catches shipped straight from the port. Two of us ordered the sashimi platter + seafood stew set for two at 110,000 won, which brought a tuna, flounder and amberjack sashimi trio, a stew heaped with octopus, shrimp, blue crab and mussels, and a starter spread of seaweed soup, grilled fish and pajeon (scallion pancake). It was so filling that we never managed to order the stew fried rice, and with private rooms and parking, Donghae Bada Hoetjip suits group dinners and family meals alike.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceCheonan, ChungnamCafés

Cheonan café for lunchtime iced americano and 5 baked treats: Brewers

Brewers Coffee Cheonan Sinbu Branch is a baked-goods café in the Meokgeori 9-gil alley in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan. Over a lunch break, an iced americano came with salty caramel, salted chocolate and apple Earl Grey financiers plus almond chocolate and pecan espresso madeleines, each in the 3,000-won range, so picking up several was easy. Brewers Coffee is the right stop for tasting a wide range of baked treats, and drivers should check the public parking lot location before setting off.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored