Opening Hour Tote · 23 stories

Before the First Order

I write about restaurant visits and everyday meals around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Beauty products · Shopping · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Family-gathering hot pot in Magongnaru: panda decor at J's Pot

J's Pot Magok Branch is a hot pot restaurant on B2 of COEX Magok Tower A, near Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer went looking for a family-gathering restaurant in Magok and had peanut sauce from the self-service bar, spicy broth on a personal induction burner with thinly sliced beef brisket and pork neck, and a side of orange chicken (₩16,000); prices run a little high, but the ingredient quality was good. With solo bar seats through to group tables, J's Pot Magok Branch suits both family gatherings and team dinners.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Mangwon for after-work soju: Dwaejibangatgan

Dwaejibangatgan (돼지방앗간) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of 95 Woldeukeop-ro, near Mangwon Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. After work, the writer and her older sister had pork belly, pork neck and perilla oil Jjapaghetti (instant black bean noodles) with soju. Soft tofu stew came included, side dishes were refilled without asking, and an orange for dessert and a mini bottle of perilla oil came on the house. Dwaejibangatgan is worth recommending for anyone looking for a Mangwon pork BBQ spot that balances taste, atmosphere and value.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hapjeong café with my sister: Narsha Gesha & Sudan Rume, Central Site

Central Site Hapjeong is a specialty roastery café in Mapo, Seoul, about a 30-second walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 2. After work, the writer and her older sister shared two filter coffees at ₩15,000 each, an Ethiopia Gesha Village Narsha 137 Gesha 1931 Natural and a Colombia El Diviso Sudan Rume anaerobic natural, plus a ₩8,500 classic tiramisu. Central Site Hapjeong is a pet-friendly café that is great for premium hand drip coffee paired with an authentic tiramisu.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Pork cutlet spread at Magok Station: cheese katsu, cold udon, Tteudon

Tteudon Magok Branch (뜨돈 마곡점) is a handmade pork cutlet and kongguksu (cold soy milk noodle) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Magok Queens Park 12, near Exits 4 and 5 of Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekend outing to Seoul Botanic Park, the writer ordered the Tteudon cheese cutlet, the Tteudon spicy pork rice bowl and cold udon, then made a pork cutlet burger with bread from the free self-bar. Verdict: Tteudon Magok Branch serves generous portions with a free self-bar, so one dish per person is plenty, making it a good-value pork cutlet spot near Seoul Botanic Park.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi after Dongdaemun shopping, kaisendon: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, on basement level 1 at 178 Sejong-daero, directly connected to Gwanghwamun Station. After shopping in Dongdaemun, the writer shared a 12-piece Elephant Sushi B set and a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) loaded with salmon roe; the set's buckwheat soba was sold out, so Elephant Sushi swapped in regular noodles, which were delicious too. With fresh fish, generous portions and friendly service, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi spot worth a return visit.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno seafood pub with highballs & live octopus: Parang Haenyeojip

Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch (파랑해녀집 종로본점) is a seafood pub about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a cool evening, the writer paired seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup, 12,000 won), live octopus (25,000 won), raw shrimp sashimi (40,000 won), boiled pork and seasoned dried radish with highballs (9,000 won). Thanks to the rich kalguksu broth and the cozy street-tent-bar atmosphere, Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch is a Jongno pub worth revisiting.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Indoor camping with a dog in Hongdae: pork belly, smoking room: TAGE

TAGE Indoor Camping Hongdae Main Branch is a camping-themed indoor activity spot and party room on basement level 1 of Wausan-ro, near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer grilled 2 servings of pork belly at 9,500 won per 150g, ordered beef brisket doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), and checked the dog rules and the smoking room in person. Verdict: TAGE Indoor Camping is a good-value place in Seoul for hot or rainy days with a partner or a dog.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu gyukatsu restaurant that beat Japan's: striploin, Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) and omurice (omelet rice) restaurant on the 2nd floor on Yeonmujang 7ga-gil, near Seongsu Station in Seoul. The writer had the striploin gyukatsu (₩19,000), Brie cheese omurice (₩23,000) and a ramune soda (₩4,000). The thick striploin, finished on a tabletop grill, tasted far better than a gyukatsu the writer once queued hours for in Japan, while the Brie cheese omurice had a slightly muted cheese flavor but a very generous portion. Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a solid Seongsu date lunch where two people share one striploin gyukatsu and one omurice.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiShopping

Gapyeong valley trip butcher: back ribs & pork belly, Ari Chuksan

Ari Chuksan (아리축산) is a butcher shop on Gangbyeon-ro in Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, handy for stocking up before a pension BBQ. On a summer Gapyeong valley trip, the writer bought pork back ribs and pork belly at Ari Chuksan, got minari (water dropwort) free and grilled everything at the pension; the pork belly was juicy and the back ribs big and tender. The visit was sponsored, but Ari Chuksan's meat quality impressed the writer enough to plan a repeat purchase.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok eel restaurant at sunset after Seoul Botanic Park: Una Magok

Una Magok is a newly opened Japanese eel rice bowl restaurant on the ground floor of K Square Magok Tower 2, on the One Grove Mall side of Magok in Gangseo, Seoul. After a weekend outing in Magok, the writer and their partner ate Nagoya-style hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl, 42,000 won) at a window seat at sunset; the price felt steep at first, but the food changed the writer's mind. Una Magok is a good choice for a recharging meal on a draining hot day that also works as an atmospheric date.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan retro izakaya: aged sashimi & minari pancake – Neoul Magok

Neoul Magok (너울 마곡본점) is an 80s-90s retro izakaya specializing in aged sashimi on Balsan Pocha Street in Magok, Gangseo, Seoul. On an after-work visit with a friend, the writer ordered Neoul Magok's signature aged sashimi set (53,000 won) and the webfoot octopus minari pancake (18,000 won), and was impressed by the chewy salt-cured, low-temperature-aged fish and the lively mood. With 3 hours of free parking, Neoul Magok is a recommended spot for a work dinner or a date near Balsan Station.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pub for friends: herbal dakgalbi & somaek at Ttukdak Hongdae

Ttukdak Hongdae is a pub near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, specializing in dak hanmari (whole chicken hot pot), dakjjim (braised chicken) and herbal dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken). After work, the writer and friends ordered 2 servings of herbal dakgalbi (17,000 won per person) with extra rice and somaek (soju mixed with beer), and the staff cooked the dakgalbi at the table, leaving the chicken tender and well seasoned. Ttukdak Hongdae is worth recommending as a Hongdae meetup spot with reasonable prices and good food to go with drinks.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored