Coffee Pause Log · 39 stories

Coffee Break Ledger

I write about cafés I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station salad lunch: Super Protein poke & tofu salad, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch (올라포케 서초교대점) is a poke and salad restaurant on basement level 1 of 54 Banpo-daero 28-gil in Seocho, Seoul, between Seocho Station and Gyodae Station. For lunch the writer ordered the Super Protein poke, whose meat and brown rice tasted clean and turned softer when dipped in ranch sauce, and the mini tofu salad, a nutty finish with black sesame sauce. With free americano and extras such as soy sauce and mouthwash, Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is an easy, low-pressure spot for a solo lunch.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam pufferfish soup spot: milbok dinner & jumbo cutlet, Bokdeurim

Bokdeurim Bokguk (복드림 복국 콩나물국) is a Korean restaurant specializing in pufferfish soup and bean sprout soup, set in a tiled-roof building near Samseongjungang Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer came for dinner and ordered a clay pot of milbok (pufferfish soup) piled high with minari (water dropwort), a cheese cutlet and a jumbo pork cutlet, eating the milbok both in its broth and mixed with chojang (vinegared chili sauce). Bokdeurim Bokguk is a good pick for enjoying clean, refreshing pufferfish broth and savory cutlets at one table.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Ikseon-dong bakery: onion yogurt bagel & garlic baguette, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-focused bakery with a traditional tiled-roof, hanok-style exterior in the Ikseon-dong alleys, on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul. Even right after Munhwa Bakery opened, a line had already formed; the writer chose an onion bagel filled with onion yogurt and a garlic baguette, and the staff sliced both into easy-to-eat pieces on the spot. Verdict: Munhwa Bakery is an ideal grab-and-go stop to snack on during an Ikseon-dong stroll.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae gimbap shop kiosk lunch: packed tuna roll & chicken, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap and Korean snack shop near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer used the self-order kiosk to order a tuna gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and sweet-spicy dakgangjeong (crispy glazed fried chicken) for a solo lunch. The writer was pleased that the tuna gimbap tasted more of filling than rice and that the dakgangjeong was crispy outside and moist with sauce. For a simple but filling meal near Gyodae Station, the tuna gimbap and dakgangjeong combo at Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a choice that won't disappoint.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Katsu, udon and pasta lunch date in Hyehwa: kimchi nabe, Maison Akai

Maison Akai Hyehwa (메종아카이) is a tonkatsu, pasta and udon restaurant on the 2nd floor of 34 Daemyeong-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Hyehwa Station. For a lunch date at Maison Akai, we ordered katsu kimchi nabe udon, mentaiko cream pasta and Akai iron-plate cheese katsu, and the wood-toned interior with soft lighting set a pleasant mood. Maison Akai suits a Hyehwa lunch date when you want to share udon and pasta rather than a single tonkatsu.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Wood-toned Euljiro ramen shop: motsu, tori paitan, karaage, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a Japanese-style ramen shop on Mareunnae-ro 2-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, near Euljiro 3-ga Station. In the wood-toned dining room, the writer ordered the signature motsu ramen, tori paitan (rich chicken-broth ramen) and handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken), eaten with the yuzu pickled radish set on every table. With its rich broth, chewy noodles and generous portions, Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a great pick for a filling lunch in Euljiro.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese pot rice in Munjeong: steak rice the table's way, Gome Mui

Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong (고메무이 송파문정) is a Japanese restaurant serving sotbap (rice cooked in a stone pot) and tonkatsu, on B1 of Tera Tower near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. In the spacious, wood-toned dining room, the writer followed the how-to-eat guide on the table for the steak pot rice, finding tender steak with a subtle smoky flavor, and found the tonkatsu in the perilla oil braised mushroom pot rice + tonkatsu set crispy outside and moist inside. Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong suits a Munjeong Station lunch for anyone wanting pot rice and tonkatsu in one hearty meal.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam patio Korean BBQ: 360-hour dry-aged pork and Hanwoo, Daepae

Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch (대패마켙 강남논현점) is a 24-hour patio-style Korean BBQ restaurant serving thin-sliced meat on Hakdong-ro 2-gil in Gangnam, Seoul. On an evening visit, the writer ordered 360-hour dry-aged thin pork belly, thin pork neck and Hanwoo (Korean beef) thin-sliced brisket and used the vegetable self-bar, which even includes corn salad. With both the meat quality and the patio atmosphere satisfying, Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch is the writer's first-choice Korean BBQ spot for any return to Nonhyeon-dong.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan snack bar, 3-fritter combo & long fish cake: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) snack bar on Hangang-daero 39-gil in Yongsan, Seoul, near Yongridan-gil. On an early-evening visit, the Hyeonseon Combo Set brought tteokbokki, long fish cake, sundae (Korean blood sausage), mini gimbap and sweet potato, squid and gimmari fritters all at once. Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a satisfying pick when you want a light taste of every classic Korean snack.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulThings to do

Seoul house wedding hall with forest-garden stairs, flank steak: Arbe

Arbe Wedding Hall (아르베) is a romantic house-wedding-style wedding hall at 302 Bongeunsa-ro in Gangnam, Seoul. Visiting as a wedding guest, I toured Arbe's foliage-lined staircase, butterfly and flower photo zones and the bride's and groom's prep rooms, then tried flank steak, yuksashimi (raw beef sashimi), California rolls, gorgonzola pizza and gelato from its Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Western buffet. Arbe Wedding Hall is a bright, pretty Seoul wedding venue whose buffet tastes like a specialty restaurant, and guests leave happy.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop near Noryangjin Station: salt-to-taste cho ramen at Chome

Chome (초메) is a Japanese-style ramen shop near Noryangjin Station in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer ordered cho ramen, tsukemen, salmon futomaki (thick sushi roll) and karaage together at Chome; the rich savory pork-and-chicken-bone broth and the option to adjust the saltiness to taste stood out most. Chome is a good Noryangjin ramen shop if you want rich ramen with futomaki and karaage on the side.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Samsung Seoul Hospital tonkatsu: tangy tomato curry udon, Sioldon

Sioldon Irwon Branch is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Irwon-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Samsung Seoul Hospital. In its wood-toned dining room, the writer shared tenderloin katsu, cheese katsu and tomato curry udon: the tenderloin was thick and juicy, the cheese stretched, and the tomato balanced the heaviness of the curry. For sharing tonkatsu and udon at one table, this three-dish combination at Sioldon Irwon Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored