Lunch Hour Crosser · 47 stories

Across the Lunch Hour

I write about restaurant meals in Seoul and Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping

PlaceGyeyang, IncheonBars

Karaoke pub in Gyeyang, Incheon with free snacks: Dongking Noraetaun

Dongking Noraetaun Gyeyang Branch is a noraetaun (karaoke pub with private rooms) on the 6th floor of the building across from CGV in the Gyesan residential district of Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, and it is new, bright, clean and free of cigarette smell. On a weekday visit for two, we ordered seafood nurungji-tang (scorched rice soup) for 29,000 won and soju, and free basic snacks such as Jin Ramen, old-style patbingsu (shaved ice with red beans) and a giant Americano came with it. Dongking Noraetaun Gyeyang Branch is a good-value, tidy spot in Gyesan for singing and drinking together.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Korean bar in Sadang, amberjack with barley doenjang: Sadang Heonsang

Sadang Heonsang is a Korean dining bar near Exit 11 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, serving Korean food and drinks from lunch through dinner. Over a lunchtime drink, the writer had the 2-person Heonsang set (₩66,000) with chestnut makgeolli (₩6,000), trying bossam (boiled pork), amberjack sashimi with gosiraegi seaweed and barley doenjang, braised pork kimchi, namul pot rice and a scallion pancake. Sadang Heonsang proves that purely Korean dishes can make a truly delicious drinking table.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan hot pot with minari barley shrimp broth: Mamalala Hotpot

Mamalala Hotpot is a modern hot pot and mala restaurant serving hot pot and Chinese dishes on the 2nd floor of Episode Yongsan 241 on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul. On a weekend, the writer ordered the ₩53,000 lunch value set with ripe tomato broth and spicy minari (water dropwort) barley shrimp broth, then added flying fish roe shrimp balls and brown sugar ciba. The savory minari barley shrimp broth and a seafood dipping sauce made with black vinegar and soy sauce made this lunch at Mamalala Hotpot stand out.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Holiday sushi lunch in Gwanghwamun, black sesame salad: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun (코끼리초밥 광화문점) is a sushi platter restaurant on the B1 floor of the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno, Seoul. The writer returned around 1pm on a public holiday for the Elephant Sushi B set (₩28,000) and futomaki; every table was taken, but turnover was fast enough to get a seat quickly, and the tuna sushi was the standout. Right in front of Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is an easy pick for sushi in Jongno.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo Indian restaurant: butter chicken, curry pasta, Manokamana

Manokamana Triple Street Branch 2 is an Indian curry restaurant in the basement of Building C at Triple Street in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. Two friends, one trying Indian curry for the first time, ordered butter chicken curry, chicken curry pasta, sweet naan and butter naan, Korean-grown rice, and plain and mango lassi, and the naan was so much bigger than expected that it filled the table. One 3,000-won naan is plenty on its own, making Manokamana Triple Street Branch 2 an easy, affordable place to try authentic Indian food.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Gyeyang burger joint for a solo triple-patty lunch: Bas Burger

Bas Burger Incheon Gyeyang District Office Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on Gyeyangmunhwa-ro near Gyeyang District Office in Gyeyang, Incheon. For a solo lunch, the writer ordered the Triple Bas Burger set (18,700 won), mozzarella chicken bites (12,500 won), a Cinnamon Toast Crunch milkshake (6,000 won) and a truffle mayo dip (1,500 won), enjoyed free potato chips from the self-bar and was offered takeout for the leftovers by the owner. The writer rates Bas Burger Incheon Gyeyang District Office Branch as the tastiest burger place in the area.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Bar-vibe Korean BBQ room in Jonggak: which cut to grill first, Yukrab

Yukrab Jongno is a beef and lamb grill restaurant on Jongno Youth Street, near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Seoul. In a dimly lit room with black interiors, the writer ordered the Yukrab set for 2 (₩67,000) and grilled the cuts in the order staff suggested: jingalbisal (beef rib meat), then toshisal (hanger steak), then lamb chops. Yukrab Jongno is a Jonggak Korean BBQ spot with a bar-like mood where picking the right sauce for each cut is half the fun.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongridan-gil burger shop, no weekend wait: jalapeño BLT, Deombeogeo

Deombeogeo Yongsan is a handmade burger restaurant on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul, that grills its patties and fries its chicken in-house, cooking each order as soon as it comes in. On a weekend evening there was no wait at Deombeogeo Yongsan, and the B.L.T chicken burger set and bacon cheeseburger set, ₩15,900 each, were eaten on a terrace overlooking Yongridan-gil with a relaxed yajang (outdoor street-dining) feel. Deombeogeo Yongsan is a good pick when you want terrace atmosphere on busy Yongridan-gil without queuing.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Thai lunch: chili sea bass on fried rice, Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a Thai restaurant on B1 of Mecenatpolis, connected directly to Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a booked weekend lunch with a friend, the blogger ordered the signature 1kg chili sea bass (36,000 won) and shrimp crab fried rice (16,000 won), and flaking the sea bass onto the fried rice turned out to be an especially good pairing. For chili sea bass in Seoul, Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae sashimi restaurant for reserved haesintang stew: Eosa Chulto

Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch (어사출또 홍대점) is a live sashimi restaurant and pub in Donggyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about 6 minutes on foot from Hongik Univ. Station, that serves haesintang (seafood and chicken stew) by reservation at least a day ahead. The writer shared a small haesintang for 70,000 won with a friend recovering from a cold: a whole chicken with pen shell, scallops, abalone, shrimp and live octopus in a rich yet clean broth, finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). The haesintang at Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch made a hearty summer stamina meal.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Gongdeok izakaya for a birthday sashimi course: Sarang gwa Pyeonghwa

Sarang gwa Pyeonghwa (사랑과평화) is a seasonal-fish izakaya on the ground floor of the Gongdeok Park Xi shopping arcade in Mapo, Seoul, facing Gyeongui Line Forest Park between Gongdeok Station and Daeheung Station. For a birthday, the writer ordered the Sarang Course (₩58,000 per person) for two, which included mackerel bar sushi, live mackerel sashimi, croaker, herring, steamed abalone and spicy fish stew. A window seat overlooking Gyeongui Line Forest Park and a course built around that day's seasonal fish made Sarang gwa Pyeonghwa a satisfying choice for a special-occasion dinner.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant in Euljiro 3-ga: butter and shrimp curry, Hurato

Hurato Sikdang Euljiro (후라토식당 을지로점) is a gyukatsu and Japanese set-meal restaurant in the basement of Tower 107 Building, between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekday visit around 6 p.m., the writer ordered the ₩38,000 SET2 (gyukatsu, Yamagata minced curry and two drinks), added Isigny butter and grilled the gyukatsu on a mini tabletop grill. Hurato Sikdang Euljiro delivers both the fun of grilling your own gyukatsu and a filling curry topped with a big fried shrimp.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored