Far Bench Diner · 5 stories

Far Bench, Restaurants Across the Middle

Writes about restaurants found while traveling between Gyeonggi, Seoul, Daegu/Gyeongbuk, Gangwon, and Daejeon/Chungcheong. · Writes about: Restaurants

PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwacheon duck BBQ, first duck brisket before the races: Deo Chadol

Deo Chadol (더차돌) is a duck BBQ restaurant on Dwitgol 2-ro in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, specialising in duck brisket and duck jumulleok (sweet marinated duck). Before a date at the Gwacheon racecourse, the writer had the Deo Chadol couple course (₩55,000) for lunch: the duck brisket, a first for them, was clean-tasting and went well with salt, and the sweet jumulleok marinade made the fried rice afterwards a success. Deo Chadol is a good pick for couples who want something different from the usual BBQ before heading to the racecourse.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pre-grilled pork BBQ date in Gojan-dong, Ansan: Gogit-ri 88beonji

Gogit-ri 88beonji Ansan Gojan Branch is a Korean pork BBQ restaurant at the entrance to the outdoor-table alley in Gojan-dong, Ansan. The writer and a partner sat at an outdoor table and ordered the Gogit-ri Assorted Set A (500g, ₩45,000) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles). Because the meat arrives pre-grilled, they could talk instead of tending the grill. With 2 hours of parking support and pre-grilled pork neck, Gogit-ri 88beonji is a good pick for an outdoor BBQ date.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean restaurant for post-climbing nakgopsae: Gungmin

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch is a Korean restaurant and pub near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, that specializes in nakgopsae (spicy stir-fry of octopus, beef tripe and shrimp). After a climbing session, the writer and a younger sibling had a medium hanwoo daechang (Korean beef large intestine) nakgopsae for ₩32,900 and fried rice for ₩3,000. With a spicy but not harsh sauce, generous fried rice, a parking lot behind the building and a projector, Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch is a solid pick for a post-workout meal or a team dinner.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Remodeled Gwangmyeong baby octopus spot at medium spice: Jeongipum

Jeongipum Jjukkumi Gwangmyeong 1st Branch is a griddle baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant in AK Plaza at Gwangmyeong Station, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend revisit with their partner, the writer found a roomier remodeled dining room and ordered the black pork belly set with extra add-ins (19,500 won per person) at medium spice, one level hotter than last time, then finished with snowflake cheese fried rice. The verdict on Jeongipum Jjukkumi Gwangmyeong 1st Branch: order two fried rices from the start.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant for a pre-movie weekend lunch: Izawa

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant near Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where each table grills sirloin on a mini brazier. For a weekend lunch before a movie date, two people ordered one gyukatsu set (sirloin) at 18,000 won and one steki (steak) set (sirloin) at 18,000 won and shared both, with one brazier per two diners so each piece could be cooked to taste. There was no wait at Izawa, and the ground-floor lot gives 1 hour of free parking, making it an easy lunch stop in Yeouido.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
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