Counter Cup Collector · 66 stories

Cups and Counter Seats

I write about cafes and restaurants I visit in Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Bars

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Insa-dong hanok restaurant, 13-seat bar, peppercorn pork: Wolhadong

Wolhadong (월하동) is a hanok restaurant on Insa-dong 8-gil in Jongno, Seoul, serving clear pork gomtang (pork soup) and neatly prepared Korean dishes. At Wolhadong's 13-seat bar wrapped around the kitchen, the writer had the Wolha gomtang (12,000 won) and a half plate of naengjeyuk (cold boiled pork slices, 80g, 10,000 won) topped with crushed peppercorn. The naengjeyuk had no porky smell, and the broth was skimmed of fat and completely clear. Wolhadong is worth recommending to anyone looking for a mild, easy-on-the-stomach lunch in Insa-dong.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Burger restaurant in Gwanghwamun: salad instead of fries at Downtowner

Downtowner Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on the B1 floor of SFC Mall near Gwanghwamun Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the Avocado Burger set with a cup salad instead of fries and Seagram's Lemon sparkling water, added Original Chicken Bites, and was happy with the fresh toppings, the clean shop and the drink refills. Downtowner Gwanghwamun suits Gwanghwamun office workers who want a light, balanced handmade burger lunch.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu café with pomegranate yuja ade and apple mango cake: La Avenue

La Avenue Seongsu is a premium dessert café with a 'California lounge Cafe' concept on Seongsuil-ro 10-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The writer stopped by after a Hanyang University festival performance for the apple mango cake and a pomegranate yuja ade, and was struck by the clean taste of the dairy-cream cake and the plant-filled lounge. With 1 hour of parking for one drink per person, La Avenue Seongsu is an easy Seongsu dessert café for a good conversation, even if you come by car.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

High-protein brunch spot in Mangwon: 1.5x chicken salad, Green & Fini

Green & Fini Mangwon is a salad and healthy-food brunch restaurant on the 2nd floor of 92 Poeun-ro in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the moist sous vide chicken breast salad in the 1.5x large size, adding sweet potato mousse and avocado, and was happy with the chicken (not dry at all), the variety of toppings and the view of Mangwon's alleys through the big windows. For a filling, high-protein brunch in Mangwon, Green & Fini Mangwon is well worth a visit.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Mangridan-gil bakery full menu prices & 7pm sale: Boulangerie Copain

Boulangerie Copain is a French-style bakery on Huiujeong-ro in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, featured on SBS's Master of Living (생활의 달인) as a baguette and croissant master. This guide lists Boulangerie Copain's baguettes, croissants, desserts and baked treats with prices, plus bread-out times, the baguette cutting service, the daily 7pm time sale of 20–30% off and four breads taken home. Boulangerie Copain in Mangwon-dong is a bakery you'll enjoy more if you know the prices and sale times before choosing.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station brunch café, double-topping chicken sandwich: Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a baguette sandwich brunch shop on the B3 level of Grand Central at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. For a diet-friendly meal, the blogger ordered the chicken breast sandwich with double toppings and a Vinamilk coconut water. The box was packed to bursting with chicken breast and red cabbage, but the coconut water turned out to be sweetened with added sugar. Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station makes a satisfying high-protein meal, though anyone wanting an unsweetened drink should check the ingredient list first.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon Thai restaurant: beef pho & pineapple fried rice, Fong Thai

Fong Thai Sinchon Main Branch is a Thai restaurant specializing in pu phat phong kari (stir-fried crab curry), on the 2nd floor of a building on Baekbeom-ro near Sinchon Station in Mapo, Seoul. After watching a dance club performance at Sinchon Star Plaza in front of Yonsei University, the writer stopped by Fong Thai Sinchon Main Branch and ordered the beef noodle soup and the pineapple fried rice. The rich soy-based broth, thick slices of beef and the sweet, curry-scented fried rice made Fong Thai a Thai restaurant near Sinchon Station worth returning to.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonsinnae tonkatsu: wasabi loin katsu & katsuo udon, Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant near Exit 4 of Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. At lunch the order was loin katsu (rosu katsu) for 12,000 won, chicken karaage for 8,000 won and katsuo udon (bonito-broth udon) for 10,000 won; the standouts were the crisp, coarse-crumb loin topped with fresh wasabi and the udon loaded with tenkasu (tempura flakes) and chikuwa (fish cake). With kiosk ordering and bamboo-screened window bar seats, Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is an easy spot for a solo lunch.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Station seafood restaurant, solo monkfish plate: Haemul

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch (해물특별시 부천역본점) is a stone-plate monkfish and seafood stew restaurant in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, a 5–6 minute walk from Bucheon Station on Line 1. On the way to a Seoul Theological University festival performance, the writer ate alone, ordering a single-serving plate of monkfish stew (₩28,000) with octopus (₩10,000) and shrimp (₩5,000) toppings, and enjoyed generous monkfish meat, roe, sea squirt and sizzling corn cheese. Haemul Teukbyeolsi lets you enjoy monkfish stew, usually a group dish, comfortably on your own.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Jamsil play café how-to: OTT room remote and chicken set, One Play

One Play Jamsil Branch is a manga, board game and OTT (streaming) play café on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building on Baekjegobun-ro 7-gil in Songpa, Seoul. The writer changed into slippers, chose a plan at the 3rd-floor counter, ordered the chicken set (chicken, tteokbokki and popcorn chicken) and spent 2 hours watching Netflix in a 2nd-floor OTT room. Verdict: when you need to pass a couple of hours on a weekend, One Play Jamsil Branch is a good alternative to a PC bang.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongridan-gil snack bar under retro bulbs, weekend combo: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a traditional bunsik (Korean snack food) restaurant known for tteokbokki, on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit, the Hyeonseonine Combo Set arrived on one tray with tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fried snacks, sundae (Korean blood sausage), mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and fish cake. The retro room with its wooden truss ceiling and bulb lights, the offal with no off-odor and the chewy wheat rice cakes stood out. Verdict: Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a must-stop on Yongridan-gil that fills you up on carbs, protein and atmosphere.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Saejeol Station ramen shop: firm hosomen tori paitan, Oreno Ramen

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점) is a chicken paitan ramen shop on Bulgwangcheon-gil in Eunpyeong, Seoul, a walk along Bulgwangcheon Stream from Saejeol Station Exit 1. The signature tori paitan ramen at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong comes with a blender-foamed chicken broth, sous-vide chicken breast chashu, tsukune (chicken meatballs) and thin noodles with a slight bite, rich yet clean on the finish. With free refills of noodles, broth, rice and kimchi plus beet pickles, Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong serves a satisfying bowl for anyone who loves rich ramen broth.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored