Corner Reader · 50 stories

The Corner Booth

I write about meals and impressions from restaurants I visit in Seoul. · Writes about: Books & stationery · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk Korean restaurant: charcoal mackerel & squid ink bowl, Gippeun

Gippeun (깊픈) is a Korean restaurant tucked down an alley on Insa-dong 16-gil, near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. At Gippeun we had the charcoal-grilled mackerel set, the lunch-menu squid ink squid rice bowl and a side of grilled spicy pork (jeyuk). The mackerel was crisp outside, moist inside and not fishy, and the thistle hangover soup and squid ink rice bowl were deep in flavor without being harsh. For a quiet, proper Korean meal near Anguk Station, Gippeun is an easy recommendation.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station fusion Korean date dinner with Tiger makgeolli: Moa

Moa Gangnam is a fusion Korean restaurant on the ground floor of the Geumseong Building on Teheran-ro 5-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On an evening date, the writer and her husband shared gondre cream sujebi (hand-torn dough soup with thistle greens), chamnamul (Korean wild parsley) chimichurri grilled pork jowl and a chamnamul cockle rice bowl with Tiger makgeolli. Even on a busy evening, the wide table spacing kept the meal comfortable. Moa Gangnam is a recommended Gangnam Station date-night dinner for anyone who wants both good plating and good flavor.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop near Gangnam Station for a cold-snap couple dinner: Oreno

Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a chicken-broth ramen shop on the 2nd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a suddenly cold early-November evening, the writer and her husband waited about 10 minutes for an early dinner of tori paitan (creamy chicken-broth ramen, ₩13,000) and loved the rich, nutty broth, the soft-boiled egg and the free refills of noodles, rice and broth. Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a good pick near Gangnam Station when a cold day calls for a hot, filling bowl.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Sinnonhyeon lounge bar with melon soda for non-drinkers: Mixed Table

Mixed Table (믹스드테이블) is a basement lounge bar in an alley near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a second round where 3 of 4 friends drank non-alcoholic, the writer had a melon soda and Mixed Table's signature kaymak & melon, and the soft lighting and not-too-loud music made conversation easy. Mixed Table is a good Sinnonhyeon bar for quietly enjoying the mood with friends who don't drink much.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant: hot-day stamina meal, half & whole eel, Chisot

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch (치솟 역삼본점) is a Nagoya-style hitsumabushi (grilled eel rice bowl) restaurant in an alley near GS Arts Center in Yeoksam, Gangnam, Seoul. Looking for a stamina-boosting meal as the weather turned hot, the writer ordered a mini hitsumabushi with half an eel and a deluxe hitsumabushi with a whole eel, enjoying the charcoal-scented eel, the savory umami-rich tare sauce and the fun of eating it three ways. The eel at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch has almost no fishy taste, making it a good pick even for people who usually find eel off-putting.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Rice bowl shop, Yongsan Station: spicy onion tempura dinner, Ppareuju

Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong is a rice bowl and dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) shop in the 3rd-floor waiting hall of Yongsan Station, Seoul. Getting off a train and not wanting to cook, the writer took home a spicy onion tempura rice bowl, a large seasoned dakgangjeong and cream shrimp. The sweet, crunchy Muan onion tempura, the plump rice cakes in the dakgangjeong and the light cream shrimp all satisfied. Ppareuju's food keeps its quality as takeout, making it a recommended lunchbox for a train trip.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burger shop after a clinic visit: avocado, Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam (다운타우너 강남) is a handmade burger shop in Gangnam, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Exits 11 and 12 of Gangnam Station. After a clinic appointment nearby, the writer finally tried Downtowner's signature avocado burger and a Classic Cheese Double burger set, and found the avocado burger light and nutty rather than greasy. The visit showed why the avocado burger at Downtowner Gangnam is called a must-order.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Pizza near Sillim Station Exit 6: fig & basil shrimp half, Pug Pizza

Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a bagel-dough pizza restaurant near Exit 6 of Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul. From the XR-size half-and-half pizza and cheese spaghetti set, the writer chose fig jambon-beurre arugula and basil mascarpone shrimp, adding the whole-cheese milk crust and extra cheese. Thanks to the chewy bagel dough, Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a Sillim Station pizza spot where you end up eating every last bit of crust.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Chicken BBQ date + roe cheese fried rice at Yangjae: Yanggyegok

Yanggyegok is a charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant near Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving dakgalbi (grilled marinated chicken) plus dishes like dakhanmari, spicy braised chicken and chicken noodle soup. After work, the writer and her husband had the Yanggyegok mixed platter (deodeok root, salt dakgalbi, gochujang dakgalbi and chicken cartilage) and flying fish roe cheese fried rice, and the staff brought a free bowl of dakgomtang (chicken soup) mid-meal. Friendly service and smoky charcoal-grilled chicken make Yanggyegok worth recommending for a Yangjae Station date or an after-work dinner with colleagues.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Eel bowl restaurant in Yeouido: charcoal unagidon at the bar, Ilpum

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is a Japanese restaurant specialising in kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and unagidon (grilled eel rice bowl), on basement level 1 of the Anwon Building on Eunhaeng-ro, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Arriving just after the lunch rush, the writer sat at the bar table, ordered the basic kaisendon and the unagidon, and was pleased with the fresh seafood, thick charcoal-scented eel and clean dessert finish. Verdict: Ilpum Yeouido Branch is a place to return to whenever Japanese food sounds good in Yeouido.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Sindorim Korean bar patio date: soy pork & perilla pasta, Mugeunji

Korean Suljip Mugeunji (한국술집 무근지) is a fusion Korean bar-restaurant within walking distance of Sindorim Station in Guro, Seoul. On a weekend evening the writer sat at an outdoor table with her husband and ordered Korean Suljip Mugeunji's signature special soy sauce suyuk (boiled pork) and the perilla cream pasta; the pork was moist, and the pasta was thick and creamy without being greasy. For a Sindorim date that pairs outdoor-table atmosphere with quality bar food, Korean Suljip Mugeunji is a good fit.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Date-night snack bar in Samcheong-dong: perilla soba at Snack Seoul

Snack Seoul is a modern Korean snack bar (bunsik) on the second floor of a building on Palpan-gil in Samcheong-dong, Jongno, Seoul. On a cool evening date with her husband, the writer ordered Snack Seoul's signature cheese nurungji (scorched rice) pollack roe tteokbokki, perilla oil bibim buckwheat noodles, a pollack egg roll and french fries, paired with the house-made draft makgeolli (rice wine). Snack Seoul is a satisfying date-night dinner spot for anyone in Samcheong-dong who wants both atmosphere and good food.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored