Counter Neighbor · 17 stories

Across the Counter

I write about restaurant meals and small dining moments around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Burger lunch near Seonyudo Park: Double Bacon Cheese & coleslaw, BAS

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger shop right outside Exit 4 of Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where dine-in guests get unlimited refills from a potato chip self-bar. Before a Seonyudo Park outing, the writer ordered a Double Bacon Cheese Burger set with the fries swapped for coleslaw, a BAS Chicken Combo and extra French fries, and enjoyed the thick, juicy patty, the chicken thigh burger and the crispy potato chips. For a filling handmade burger before a trip to Seonyudo Park or Yanghwa Hangang Park, BAS Burger Seonyudo is a good fit.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seongsa-dong grilled fish spot with robot-served pot rice: Min Cook

Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa (민쿡앞바당 성사) is a grilled fish restaurant in Seongsa-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang. On a late lunch with a baby before a trip to IKEA Goyang, the blogger ordered the weekday special: grilled flounder, cutlassfish and bottom cod with flame-grilled bulgogi, plus pot rice (sotbap) delivered to the table by a serving robot. With baby chairs and plenty of parking, Min Cook Apbadang Seongsa is an easy grilled fish restaurant for meals with a baby or with parents.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup Italian brunch after a pop-up, puttanesca: Billadeubeulleu

Billadeubeulleu Seongsu (빌라드블루 성수) is a southern European-style Italian restaurant in Seongsu-dong, near Seoulsup in Seoul. After visiting the Jirisan Sum Station pop-up store in Seoulsup, the writer had Sicilian puttanesca pasta, polbo mambo (an octopus dish) and lemonade for brunch at Billadeubeulleu Seongsu. The octopus was moist rather than tough and the pasta was cooked just right. If you want a bright pasta brunch spot near Seoulsup, Billadeubeulleu Seongsu is worth adding to your route.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Noodle shop with parking at Seongsu Station: solo dinner, Ranchalguksu

Ranchalguksu is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant near Exit 1 of Seongsu Station in Seongdong, Seoul, with parking. After browsing the pop-up stores in Seongsu, the writer stopped in alone for dinner and ordered a double-portion kalguksu (+₩1,000) and a seafood chive jeon (savory pancake) packed with squid. Ranchalguksu is easy to visit by car, draws plenty of solo diners, and is a good stop when you want a hot bowl of broth near Seongsu Station.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday octopus rice bowl lunch in Balsan: Gwangju Ttoksuni Agujjim

Gwangju Ttoksuni Agujjim (광주똑순이아구찜) is a braised monkfish and seafood stew restaurant near Exit 1 of Balsan Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Before visiting Seoul Botanic Park, the blogger stopped at Gwangju Ttoksuni Agujjim with a baby in a stroller and ordered the weekday lunch special nakji deopbap (spicy stir-fried octopus over rice). The dish came with smoky, spicy octopus and generous sides, including a buckwheat pancake and seaweed soup. With an easy entrance and a spacious dining room, Gwangju Ttoksuni Agujjim is a good-value lunch spot for families with a baby.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok pasta spot after Seoul Botanic Park with a baby: Oneul Pasta

Oneul Pasta Magok Branch is a pasta and pizza restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Magokjungang-ro, near Magok Station Exit 3 in Gangseo, Seoul. After visiting Seoul Botanic Park, the blogger had dinner at Oneul Pasta with a baby, ordering smoky seafood arrabbiata pasta, margherita pizza and gorgonzola pizza, and found the high chairs, stroller access and self-serve salad bar convenient. Oneul Pasta Magok Branch offers reasonable prices and a pleasant atmosphere, making it a solid pick for a family meal or a date in Magok.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Stroller-friendly Insa-dong noodle house: lunch with a baby, Goshine

Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a hanok-style makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant near Ssamzigil in Insa-dong, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 6. The writer brought a baby in a stroller and ordered mul makguksu (cold noodles in broth), pollock sikhae bibim makguksu, flying fish roe stone-pot bibimbap, and salad and avocado buckwheat gimbap. The wide seat spacing made bringing the stroller inside easy, and the house-made buckwheat noodles were cool and chewy. Goshine Donghae Makguksu is an easy lunch stop with a baby during an Insa-dong outing.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Baby- and vegan-friendly Korean restaurant near Gyeongbokgung: SABAL

SABAL is a Korean restaurant in the Gyeonghuigung Achim (경희궁의아침) Complex 3, near Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno, Seoul. After a visit to Gyeongbokgung, the writer stopped at SABAL with a baby and a vegan mom and ordered tangtang octopus with deodeok gochujang rice and mini noodles, spicy dakgyejang (chicken soup) and the chef's choice tteokbokki; when the baby fell asleep, staff showed the family to a quiet room. SABAL is an easy Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant for family meals with a baby or with a vegan companion.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong wood-fired pizzeria, crusts worth finishing: Pizzeria Snug

Pizzeria Snug is an Italian wood-fired pizzeria in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. After a stop at Haneul Park, the writer ordered two pizzas, a truffle funghi and a margherita, and the thin, chewy dough was good enough that even the crust ends, usually left behind, were eaten. For wood-fired pizza with great dough in Sangam-dong, Pizzeria Snug is a strong pick.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju café for warming baby food, with German potato bread: Brick Rouge

Brick Rouge is a large four-story bakery café on Jimok-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi. On a drive with a baby, the writer used Brick Rouge's 3rd-floor floor-seating kids care zone and 2nd-floor nursing room, and tried German-style potato bread, rice campagne and scallion cream cheese laugen with three drinks. With parking, an elevator and a microwave for warming baby food, Brick Rouge is an easy Paju café for families with babies and for couples on a date.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Korean restaurant for a mom who eats less meat: Eomma-ui Ttuksim

Eomma-ui Ttuksim (엄마의뚝심) is a Korean set-meal restaurant near Yadang Station in Paju, serving stir-fried jjukkumi (webfoot octopus), pork bulgogi and bossam (boiled pork wraps). A family of three, a mom who rarely eats meat, a baby and the writer, shared 2 servings of the Ttuksim Jjukkumi set and 1 serving of the Bossam set, which can be ordered for one, and the smoky stir-fried jjukkumi was the standout. With parking out front and a cushioned baby chair, Eomma-ui Ttuksim is a good pick for families with different tastes.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongchang, GangwonRestaurants

Bongpyeong buckwheat restaurant, perilla oil noodles & juice: Migayeon

Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon (봉평메밀미가연) is a Korean restaurant on Gipung-ro in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, Gangwon, specializing in 100% buckwheat noodles. On a Pyeongchang trip, the writer ordered migamyeon (buckwheat noodles in broth), bibimguksu (mixed noodles), buckwheat jelly salad and buckwheat juice, tasting nutty perilla oil and ground perilla seeds, a tangy kick from kelp vinegar and a buckwheat juice that resembles yogurt. Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon is recommended for anyone who wants buckwheat noodles in a different style from the usual.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored