Daylight Cupper · 34 stories

Daylight Coffee

I write about cafés and coffee breaks around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Things to do · Stays

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonsinnae jokbal restaurant with seafood pajeon for Dad: Gwihanjokbal

Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae (귀한족발 연신내점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant in the food alley near Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. For a family dinner with a dad whose favorite food is jokbal, the family ordered the half-and-half jokbal (original plus spicy fire-grilled) for 45,000 won, seafood pajeon (savory pancake) for 9,900 won, makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and flying fish roe rice balls, and both the chewy jokbal and the crispy pajeon were satisfying. Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae, long a delivery favorite for this family, proved just as good eaten in its clean dining room for a family meal out.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gyeongbokgung pork grill lunch: squid bulgogi sets for 4, Eom Yongbaek

Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch (엄용백돼지구이 광화문점) is a pork grill restaurant on Yulgok-ro 4-gil in Jongno, Seoul, close to Anguk, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun. After touring Gyeongbokgung, the blogger ordered two coal briquette bulgogi sets and two squid briquette bulgogi sets (₩16,000 each) for lunch, served with generous side dishes such as gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste stew) and meljorim (braised salted anchovies), plus one pot of rice per two people. Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch is a solid pick for anyone after a hearty lunch near Gyeongbokgung.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Year-end Myeongdong BBQ: pork belly & cucumber pickles, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a charcoal BBQ restaurant serving omija-aged black pork on Myeongdong 8na-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, reportedly featured on episode 74 of tvN's Wednesday Food Talk as one of Seoul's top three pork belly spots. After a stroll through year-end Myeongdong, the writer waited about 10 minutes for a late dinner of Gwanggaeto pork belly (32,000 won), handmade pork galbi (36,000 won) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles, 8,000 won), with staff grilling everything to the end. Verdict: Yuktongnyeong is an easy Myeongdong dinner pick; eat the pork belly with cucumber pickles and the pork galbi with bibim naengmyeon.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukStays

Jeonju hanok stay with late checkout and a hanbok date: Haetsalgadeuk

Haetsalgadeuk (햇살가득) is a hanok guesthouse on Hyanggyo-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju. The writer and her husband stayed one night in the Mongnyeon (Magnolia) ondol room, had coffee in the courtyard, then used Haetsalgadeuk's own hanbok rental at ₩10,000 per person, choosing a scarlet skirt and a sky-blue hanbok to explore Jeonju Hanok Village. Haetsalgadeuk is a good hanok stay for travelers on foot who want lodging and a hanbok experience in one place.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukCafés

Jeonju foot bath café with a changing room for stockings: Jeonmang

Anma Jogyok Cafe Jeonmang is a foot bath and massage café on the 2nd floor above Pungnyeon Bakery in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju. Tired legs from exploring on foot with her husband led the writer to the 11,000 won aroma foot bath (drink included), where the couple used hand and shoulder massagers while gazing at the hanok view outside. A changing room and lockers made arriving in stockings easy. Anma Jogyok Cafe Jeonmang is a great place for weary Jeonju Hanok Village travelers to rest their whole body.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno Korean BBQ with no glass doors after renovation: Chowon

Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch (초원식당) is an outdoor-style Korean BBQ restaurant near Tapgol Park in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, known for flash-frozen pork belly served in a clay pot. After the renovation removed the glass doors and opened up the dining room, the writer took an inner seat and ordered 4 servings of flash-frozen pork belly (18,000 won on the menu), steamed egg and soju, then finished with self-made fried rice. Verdict: Chowon Restaurant lets a breeze reach even the indoor seats for a true outdoor-BBQ feel, and even the restroom is clean.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Ikseon-dong hanok Korean BBQ lunch, thick kimchi stew: Meongseokjip

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch (멍석집) is a hanok-style Korean BBQ restaurant in an alley between Jongno 3-ga and Ikseon-dong, Seoul. Over lunch with her husband, the writer had 2 servings of aged pork belly (₩18,000), pork kimchi stew (₩9,000), kimchi fried rice and steamed egg. The thick, rich pork kimchi stew was even more memorable than the pork belly, which was grilled over high heat until crispy outside and chewy inside. Meongseokjip is famous for outdoor evening dining, but a daytime visit still delivers both hanok charm and great flavor.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno 3-ga bakery, husband's go-to: walnut & coffee buns, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a bakery with a hanok (traditional Korean house) exterior on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul, between Ikseon-dong and Jongno 3-ga. The writer had only known Munhwa Bakery through the onion bagels her husband brought home. On her first visit, she picked four breads: a coffee bun (5,800 won), a walnut bun (3,500 won), garlic bread (6,800 won) and a maple cream cheese bun (4,900 won). Verdict: the soft coffee bun and the walnut-packed walnut bun were the standouts.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean set lunch in Hapjeong with family: boneless mackerel at Deogiwa

Deogiwa Hapjeong (더기와 합정점) is a Korean pub with a traditional tiled-roof interior in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongik Univ. Station and Hapjeong Station, serving lunch sets from ₩10,000. On a family lunch, the blogger tried all four Deogiwa Hapjeong sets (Deogiwa baekban, jeyuk ssam, mackerel and bossam), added pot rice and a cup of makgeolli, and found the boneless mackerel and siraegi (dried radish greens) soup especially satisfying. Deogiwa Hapjeong is a recommended Hapjeong family lunch spot for both atmosphere and value.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hwajeong Korean meal for 4 with parents, yard coffee: Kim Myeongju

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch (김명주뜰안채밥상 원당역점) is a Korean set meal restaurant (hanjeongsik) with a tiled-roof, traditional-house exterior right in front of Wondang Station in Goyang, close to Hwajeong and Samsong. Dining with parents, the writer ordered the Tteuranchae Bapsang set for 4 plus a single bori gulbi (barley-aged dried yellow croaker) and enjoyed 12 self-bar side dishes, freshly made cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), stone-pot rice nurungji (scorched rice) and after-meal coffee in the front yard. Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang is a satisfying place to take parents, and its value breaks the idea that hanjeongsik is expensive.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Pork rib restaurant in Yeonsinnae: 4-person family set at Seongil

Seongil Sikdang is a braised pork rib (deunggalbi-jjim) and gondre rice (rice cooked with Korean thistle) restaurant on Galhyeon-ro in Eunpyeong, Seoul, near Yeonsinnae Station. A family of four ordered the 4-person set with soy-braised and spicy braised pork ribs, gondre rice and a buckwheat pancake, and also got the drinks event where money comes tucked in with your bottle and the review rice-donation event. Seongil Sikdang delivered on both food and events, and it is a place worth returning to for gatherings and group dinners.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Black pork Korean BBQ in Yeonsinnae with parents: Golmokjip

Golmokjip Galbisal Yeonsinnae Main Branch (골목집갈비살 연신내본점) is a retro-style Korean BBQ restaurant tucked into an alley near Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a return visit with her parents, the writer skipped the beef galbisal and ordered the Special Pork Platter (Korean Handon black pork assortment with Golmok doenjang sulbap, a soybean paste rice soup), then added Baehongdong bibim noodles, Buldak stir-fried noodles and 2 extra portions of pork belly, all while soju and beer were 50% off Monday to Thursday in June. Golmokjip Galbisal is a satisfying pick for drinkers and family dinners alike.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored