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

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station pho spot: pineapple fried rice and A.F.C wings, Anan

Anan Gangnam Direct Store is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on Gangnam-daero 92-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. After leaving work on time, the writer and her husband shared rich beef pho, smoky wok-fired pineapple fried rice and A.F.C wings topped with crushed peanuts, and liked the deep broth, the spacious, stylish mint-toned dining room and the parking, which is rare in Gangnam. Anan Gangnam Direct Store is a good Gangnam Station pho pick for a date or a wedding invitation meetup when both atmosphere and parking matter.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Hapjeong sukiyaki restaurant: prime chuck flap date at Oksoban

Oksoban Hapjeong is a Kansai-style sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant in an alley near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a date with her husband, the writer ordered the prime chuck flap sukiyaki, cooked it with unlimited vegetable refills, and finished with udon and dessert. Oksoban Hapjeong pairs a quiet, wood-toned room with good value, making it an easy pick for a Hapjeong date.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sukiyaki shabu-shabu with yakiudon finish in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1, near Hapjeong Station Exit 8 in Mapo, Seoul. The writer had dinner at Shabu in Seoul with her husband, who had a headache: black pork neck cooked in sukiyaki broth, finished with yakiudon (stir-fried udon) that a staff member made at the table. Verdict: the sweet, rich sukiyaki broth and the yakiudon finish were more satisfying than the clear mushroom course she had tried before.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Chinese dinner after work: clear-sauce tangsuyuk at Maeranbang

Maeranbang Gyodae Branch (매란방 교대점) is a Chinese restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, on basement level 1 of 24 Seocho-daero 50-gil, about a 1-minute walk from Gyodae Station, with private rooms for 4 to 30 people. On a rushed first visit right after leaving work on time, the writer ordered handmade xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), old-style tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, medium) coated in a piping-hot clear house sauce, and handmade ganjajang (black bean noodles) on hand-pulled potato noodles. Verdict: Maeranbang Gyodae Branch delivers both an upscale atmosphere and high-quality food, making it a satisfying Chinese restaurant for gatherings near Gyodae Station.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Post-shopping Korean meal in Yeongdeungpo: perilla noodles, Gangmun

Gangmun Times Square Branch is a fusion Korean restaurant in the basement (B1) food court of Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After weekend clothes shopping, the writer ordered perilla oil soy sauce noodles, grilled seasoned gabrisal (pork neck) and yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl), and named the mild perilla noodles eaten in turns with the boldly seasoned gabrisal as the best part of the meal. Gangmun Times Square Branch is a good pick when you want a filling, not-too-spicy Korean meal while shopping.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station poke with 100g salmon and butterhead lettuce: Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke restaurant on the first basement level of a building on Teheran-ro 4-gil, near Gangnam Station Exit 4 in Seoul. On a solo lunch visit, the best-selling salmon poke came with 100g of raw salmon, European greens and an oat and brown rice base, and it felt light but filling. For a quiet, healthy solo meal near Gangnam Station, the salmon poke at Ola Poke Gangnam is a good fit.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station hair salon S-curl perm before a big event: Heeol

Heeol Hair Gangnam Flagship Store is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. With hair gone dry and frizzy in winter, the writer swapped her usual C-curl for a fuller-looking S-curl perm, and the stylist went through face shape, hair type and styling habits in detail before cutting and teaching a blow-dry routine. For a natural S-curl that flatters the face line without looking overdone, Heeol Hair Gangnam Flagship Store is a good fit.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Post-movie burger date in Hapjeong, Seoul: New York Apartment

New York Apartment (뉴욕아파트먼트) is an American-style handmade burger restaurant on Woldeukeop-ro 3-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station Exits 8 and 9. After a movie, the writer ordered New York Apartment's signature Diet Handmade Burger, which has a rich flavor from three juicy patties, plus the classic, clean-tasting New York Cheese Burger and a milkshake. With vintage decor and generous portions, New York Apartment is a satisfying burger stop for a Hapjeong date.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yangjae pie shop, sugar-free pecan pie wins: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a takeout-only shop selling sugar-free handmade walnut pies near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station, on the border of Dogok-dong and Yangjae-dong in Gangnam, Seoul. Catching up with a younger sibling, the writer chose the Premium Assorted Pie (whole) to taste the signature walnut, original pecan, hazelnut cacao and macadamia cheese pies, and ranked the pecan pie as the best. For a healthy dessert that isn't too sweet and finishes clean, the Hodu Kkakki Brothers assorted pie is a good choice.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Date-night teppanyaki bar in Mullae: yakisoba & pork jowl, Akai Teppan

Akai Teppan (아카이테판) is a Hiroshima-style teppanyaki bar in Mullae Arts Village, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Mullae Arts Village date with her husband, the writer ordered seafood yakisoba, teppan-grilled pork jowl and draft beer, and found the spicy yakisoba and smoky pork jowl not greasy at all together. Akai Teppan is a good pick in Mullae for a date over griddle-cooked bar snacks and drinks.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeongdeungpo bossam restaurant with kimchi stew and egg: Daemanjok

Daemanjok Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Dangsan Main Branch is a bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant on Gukhoe-daero 36-gil, near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. A large bossam order at Daemanjok came as a full spread with wrap vegetables, makguksu (buckwheat noodles), kimchi, steamed egg and a kimchi stew with big chunks of tofu, and the pork was tender with no gamey smell. Daemanjok is filling enough that no extra dishes are needed, making it a 100% return visit for family meals or group dinners.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Hongdae, early-summer pork neck date: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) and Korean pork BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park between Hongik Univ. Station and Sinchon, where staff grill the meat for you. With early-summer hydrangeas and green forest-path views, the writer and her husband shared the 600g hanwoo/pork set for two (109,000 won), half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice, and loved the juicy pork neck, icy broth and nutty fried rice. Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a corkage-free, dog-friendly Hongdae date spot for Korean BBQ.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored