Backstreet Stroller · 26 stories

Seoul Side Streets

I write about small things to do around Seoul. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon sashimi restaurant: 10 seafoods and sake at Soraepogu Haenam

Soraepogu Haenam Susan Guwol branch (소래포구해남수산 구월점) is a sashimi restaurant built around private rooms in Guwol-dong, Namdong, Incheon, near Incheon City Hall Station. The writer ordered Course B for two (48,000 won per person) with a bottle of Sen 300 sake and worked through 12 stages: maesaengi (seaweed fulvescens) abalone porridge, 10 kinds of seafood including live octopus and silk sea squirt, live and aged flatfish, red sea bream and amberjack sashimi, then spicy fish stew and fish roe rice, on the day the restaurant first cut into its large amberjack. Soraepogu Haenam Susan Guwol branch is a solid pick for a long group meal of sashimi, seafood and drinks.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung souvenir shop: spread-packed sesame sand—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a dessert café and souvenir shop in a three-story standalone building on a Seonggokgoyang-gil side street near Ojukheon in Gangneung, Gangwon. On the way back from Gyeongpo Lake Park, the writer bought one box each of Gangneung Sand coffee (16,000 won) and black sesame (17,000 won): the coffee sand had a gentle coffee aroma and wasn't too sweet, while the black sesame sand was almost completely filled with spread. Whichever flavor you pick, Gangneung Sand is a can't-miss gift from a Gangneung trip.

Written Apr 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Yeonsu Korean restaurant: mild ribs & mushroom kalguksu, Haemokjeong

Haemokjeong Yeonsu Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in galbijjim (braised ribs) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), across the road from Exit 1 of Yeonsu Station in Incheon. At Haemokjeong Yeonsu Main Branch, Set B (₩45,000) brought mild spicy pork galbijjim that was nearly boneless, a spicy mushroom kalguksu in a broth made from 23 ingredients, and plump fried squid, all in generous portions. For a Korean restaurant in Yeonsu with easy parking and group seating, Haemokjeong's Set B is a hearty, filling pick.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonCafés

Solo-study café in Juan, Incheon: 4 floors & scones to go, Tiny Dot

Tiny Dot (타이니닷) is a large roastery café in Juan-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, set in a standalone building by the entrance to Hanshin Apartments. On one of several visits, the writer ordered a ₩5,500 vanilla latte with a croffle, a gourmet scone and a chocolate scone (₩3,500 each) on a weekday afternoon, ate them at seats with a different mood on each floor, and took the leftover scones home. Whether you need a seat for solo study, group seating or a private rental, Tiny Dot in Juan is a safe choice.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo food court: hot crunch chicken & free sauces at Angry Potato

Angry Potato Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo Branch is a fries, chicken and cheese stick snack shop in the B1 food court of Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo (Songhyeona) in Yeonsu, Incheon. The writer ordered hot crunch chicken, mac and cheese hot chicken, whole mozzarella and chili cheese sticks, and chewy potato à la carte, then topped them with combinations of the 7 free sauces. Angry Potato Songdo is a good snack stop in Songhyeona when you get hungry while shopping and want chicken, potato and cheese sticks in one go.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Affogato café at Songdo outlet: ice cream to the last bite, Wunder

Wunder Coffee Bar Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo Branch is a coffee and ice cream café in the basement 1 food court of Songhyeon-a (Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo) in Yeonsu, Incheon. On one of several visits, the writer ordered the signature Wundergato (₩7,500) in hojicha and classic vanilla. Espresso is poured over a cup filled to the top with ice cream, so there was still ice cream to spoon up at the very end. For an affogato with generous ice cream, the Wundergato at Wunder Coffee Bar is the right pick.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop in Yongsan: Shin Ramyun-level spicy broth & karaage, Menya

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is a ramen shop in the 7th-floor restaurant zone of Living Park at Yongsan I'Park Mall, which connects to Yongsan Station in Seoul. On a weekday lunch with no wait, the blogger ordered a spicy-broth ramen set with karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and a single bowl. The spicy broth at Menya Seoul is about as hot as Shin Ramyun, cuts the richness, and pairs well with the dongpo pork and butter-rich jambon. If you can't handle spice, order the mild broth and add the chili oil (rayu) on the table.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Sinyongsan yukhoe bar for weekday lunch drinks: Yukhoegwan Black

Yukhoegwan Black Sinyongsan is a yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and raw beef bar on the 3rd floor of a building at the start of Yongnidan-gil, near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. Arriving for the 11 a.m. weekday opening, the writer took a window seat, picked the cut, and ordered round yukhoe (32,000 won), the uni set (37,000 won) and a Maker's Mark highball (11,000 won). The best bite was gamtae seaweed topped with yukhoe, uni, wasabi and sesame oil. Because Yukhoegwan Black Sinyongsan opens in the daytime, it is a good pick for yukhoe and uni over lunch or early drinks.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonHair & beauty salons

Men's heat perm for flat bangs at a Guwol-dong hair salon: Juno Hair

Juno Hair Guwol-dong Rodeo Branch is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of the Link126 building in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, with a designer who specializes in men's hair. The writer's partner was growing his hair out, but his bangs kept falling flat, so he got a side trim and a medium-roll heat perm on his bangs at Juno Hair Guwol-dong Rodeo Branch, finished in about 90 minutes. Verdict: a good fit for men who want to keep their length while adding lift to their bangs.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong abalone restaurant for a post-checkup meal: Jeonbokchon

Jeonbokchon (전복촌) is an abalone set-meal Korean restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, near Yesulhoegwan Station, with floor-seating private rooms and its own above-ground parking lot. After a health checkup that included a colonoscopy, the writer ordered the Jeonbokchon abalone set (₩39,000 per person) for 2, and the soft abalone innards porridge and seafood nurungji (scorched rice) soup went down easily on a sensitive stomach. For a gentle yet filling restorative meal after a checkup, the Jeonbokchon abalone set is a good fit.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Study café in Songdo, Incheon: crisp-chewy plain salt bread, Cozy Bear

Cafe Cozy Bear Salt Bread Bakery Songdo Hagwonga Branch is a salt bread and coffee café on the Songdo academy street (hagwonga) in Yeonsu, Incheon. At Cozy Bear's big-windowed shop, the writer had an iced Americano (₩3,800), a Cozy Latte (₩5,000) and two plain salt breads (₩3,500 each); the nutty, non-acidic Americano paired well with the crisp-outside, chewy-inside salt bread and its properly hollow center. Cozy Bear is a handy salt bread café for a snack, a light meal or a laptop study session around the Songdo academy district.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong Korean restaurant: gomtang vs Andong guksu sets, Hantiok

Hantiok Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is a Korean restaurant serving hanwoo (Korean beef) soups and noodles on B1 of Lotte Department Store Incheon in Michuhol, Incheon, with an underground link to Incheon Terminal Station. Two of us ordered the hanwoo gomtang (beef bone soup) set (21,000 won), the Andong guksu (Andong-style noodle soup) set (21,000 won) and 3 mandu (dumplings, 6,000 won); the gomtang set came with jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) as its main side, while the Andong guksu set came with bossam (boiled pork slices). For a hearty hanwoo meal while shopping, a Hantiok set is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored