Detour Sipper · 33 stories

Cupside Detours

I write about cafés and restaurants I visit in Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Food & snacks · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Aged sashimi bar by Sadang Station: beef & amberjack, Sadang Gwanganri

Sadang Gwanganri Sadang Main Branch is a retro pocha-style aged sashimi restaurant near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul. After work, the writer booked a table with a high school friend and ordered the Yukban Bangban (60,000 won), a platter of half beef sashimi and half seasonal greater amberjack, with beer. The thick amberjack and moderately sliced beef sashimi were fresh with no off smell, making Sadang Gwanganri Sadang Main Branch a reliable pick for raw fish and beef sashimi in one sitting near Sadang Station.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Family lunch of 5 Vietnamese dishes near Ajou Univ, Suwon: Madam Hao

Madam Hao (마담하오) is a Vietnamese restaurant in Woncheon-dong, near Ajou University in Suwon. At a weekend lunch, a family of four shared 5 dishes at Madam Hao: 2 bowls of pho (rice noodle soup), pad thai with extra noodles, banh mi and bun cha, and the smoky bun cha and deep pho broth stood out most. Madam Hao suits diners who prefer authentic Vietnamese flavor over milder, Korean-style versions.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sister lunch at a Pangyo Indian restaurant: shrimp curry, Bombay Broy

Bombay Broy Pangyo (봄베이브로이 판교점) is an Indian restaurant on the Baekhyeon-dong café street in Pangyo, Seongnam. The writer and her younger sister came for a weekday lunch and ordered the 17,900 won Lunch Set B, choosing shrimp curry and butter chicken curry to go with tandoori chicken, naan and rice. The Bombay Broy tandoori chicken was moist rather than dry, and alternating naan and rice kept the meal interesting to the last bite, making Bombay Broy Pangyo a good spot for a lunch date in Pangyo too.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sunae Station BBQ with limited chadol samgyeopsal: Jeju Monteurak

Jeju Monteurak Bundang Sunae Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in Jeju pork, about a 10-minute walk from Sunae Station in Bundang, Seongnam. Visiting with her parents right after opening, the writer ordered the black pork bansang (set meal) with the limited chadol samgyeopsal (thin-sliced pork belly) add-on, and staff grilled and cut the meat so no one in the family had to man the grill. Finished with meat noodle soup and minari fried rice, Jeju Monteurak Bundang Sunae Branch made a satisfying spot for a family meal out.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju BBQ lunch of aged pork belly and beef brisket: Gogup Yeonguso

Gogup Yeonguso (고굽연구소) is an aged and smoked Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyeongan Market in Gyeongan-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. At Gogup Yeonguso, a couple had lunch of 500g aged pork belly (ogyeopsal) and thin-sliced beef brisket with mung bean sprouts (woosamgyeop sukju). The oak-smoked, pre-grilled meat came with crunchy sprouts and sides of myeoljeot (fermented anchovy sauce), green onion salad and herb salt. Gogup Yeonguso is a good choice for aged meat without the hassle of grilling at home.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo Station Korean restaurant lunch: minari gomtang at Useum

Useum Pangyo Branch is a Korean restaurant and tavern near Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, serving Korean beef gomtang (clear beef soup), yukhoe bibimbap and yukjeon. Two sisters arrived right as lunch service opened and ordered Korean beef minari gomtang for 14,000 won, Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap for 14,000 won and yukjeon for 27,000 won, finishing the whole spread comfortably between them. Because Useum Pangyo Branch lets each person pick a soup or a rice dish, it works well as a lunch meeting spot near Pangyo Station.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam lunch for two: crab risotto, steak and Eulji Ade — Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a casual Western restaurant on Gangnam-daero 96-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. Two friends ordered spicy crab risotto at 19,000 won, chewy pork neck steak at 24,000 won and an Eulji Ade at 6,900 won for lunch, and the portions and the pairing worked well for two. Eulji Darak Gangnam Station also held up as a candidate venue for a small wedding invitation meetup.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Pangyo brunch restaurant weekday reservation, free bingsu: Meolmeol

Meolmeol Pangyo is a brunch restaurant tucked inside the Baekhyeon-dong café street in Pangyo, Seongnam. With a weekday lunch reservation, the writer and her cousin shared Grandma's Lasagna (23,000 won), White Truffle Cream Pasta (23,000 won) and a Raspberry Endive Salad (19,000 won), then finished with a complimentary americano and bingsu (shaved ice dessert). Because Meolmeol Pangyo takes reservations, it is an easy place to enjoy lasagna and pasta at a relaxed pace in a sunlit room, with no waiting.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored
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