Midnight Bookmark · 38 stories

Dinner Bookmark

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Cheonggyecheon bar: oxtail stew and old-style tteokgalbi, Umi Hoegwan

Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch is a Korean bar in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station and close to Cheonggyecheon Stream. Over dinner with her husband, the writer shared a medium oxtail stew (₩48,000), slow-cooked until the meat slips off the bone, and old-style tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties, ₩22,000) served on a hot plate over mushrooms. Both dishes made satisfying drinking food. With refined food and atmosphere, Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch is an easy recommendation for a Korean bar near Cheonggyecheon.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Chinese restaurant: lion's head meatballs at Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a Chinese restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, connected underground to Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2 and run by Chef Jang Bo-won, a third-generation ethnic Chinese chef from Culinary Class Wars 2. On a weekend visit, the XO sauce shrimp fried rice (18,000 won), meat jjamppong (17,000 won), mapo tofu noodles (16,000 won) and lion's head meatballs (28,000 won) came with plenty of shrimp and pork, and the lion's head meatballs, a first for the writer, were mild yet pleasantly tangy. Bobo Sikdang is a Gwanghwamun Chinese restaurant that works for family gatherings, dates and hosting guests alike.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Mala restaurant near Sinchon Station: brisket suan la fen, Mala Yeou

Mala Yeou Sinchon Main Branch is a one-bowl mala tang restaurant on the 2nd floor, a 3-minute walk from Sinchon Station Exit 2 in Seodaemun, Seoul. The writer ordered the Majang mala tang (10,800 won) at medium spice and tried the brisket suan la fen (hot and sour glass noodle soup, 13,800 won) for the first time, falling especially for its tangy Chinese-vinegar broth. With no ingredients to pick, set bowls in the 10,000-won range and one free extra noodle serving per table, Mala Yeou is a solid pick for eating mala tang alone in Sinchon.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Gyo-dong, Daegu BBQ: day drinks & seafood stew, Suyeong Naengsam

Suyeong Naengsam Daegu Direct Store is a frozen pork belly BBQ restaurant in Gyo-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, near Exit 1 of Jungangno Station, known for its flower-shaped frozen pork belly. The writer grilled flash-frozen pork belly at a seat by the wide-open windows, along with bean sprouts and rice cakes from the self-serve bar, then had a ₩5,000 seafood doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and ₩2,000 Suyeong fried rice. For an open-air drinking vibe and good value together, Suyeong Naengsam is a great pick for pork belly BBQ in Daegu.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Family pork galbi BBQ in Jongno, Daegu: spring cabbage salad, Jangjak

Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch is a pork and beef galbi restaurant in Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, a 4-minute walk from Jungangno Station. The writer had 3 servings of pork galbi at 11,000 won per 150g, grilled by the staff, along with a bomdong (spring cabbage) scallion salad, complimentary cypress-steamed beef, a big bowl of rice and spicy ramyeon. Verdict: Jangjak Saenggalbi is a good-value Korean BBQ spot with a pleasant atmosphere, well suited to family gatherings in Jongno, Daegu.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangsu Station rib restaurant: perilla kimchi fried rice, Bongmaruji

Bongmaruji Hapjeong (봉마루집 합정점) is a braised pork rib restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 1. On a weekday evening the writer ordered the bean sprout mountain galbi-jjim (tender spicy braised pork ribs), added glass noodles and quail eggs, and finished with perilla oil kimchi fried rice; the meat was tender enough to need no scissors and the portions were generous. For a spicy but delicious broth and hearty portions near Sangsu Station, Bongmaruji Hapjeong is a reliable pick.

Written Mar 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Cheap pub near Jonggak Station: black garlic chicken, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Jonggak (아리계곡 종각점) is a Korean pub specializing in chicken dishes near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The blogger stopped by for a second round of drinks with an omija liquor highball and a beer, along with black garlic fried chicken (₩13,900) and fluffy potato rice cakes (₩12,900). The two dishes came to under ₩30,000 and the portions were generous. For a cheap, tasty and filling second-round bar near Jonggak Station, Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a good fit.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

China-style hot pot in Yongsan, pork belly on ice: Mamalala Hotpot

Mamalala Hotpot (마마라라훠궈) is a hot pot restaurant near I'Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul, with an interior that feels like a restaurant in China. A hot pot-loving couple ordered a half-and-half pot of Mama spicy red broth and creamy white broth, cooked pork belly served on ice with imitation crab, bunmoja (chewy sweet potato noodles), mushrooms, tofu and napa cabbage, and finished by adding noodles to the spicy broth. With an atmosphere and flavors that both recall China, Mamalala Hotpot is worth recommending as a date spot.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seogyo-dong Korean BBQ worth the wait: whole grilled kimchi at Ijjok

Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal (이쪽김치삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station Exit 3, that grills whole, uncut kimchi on the grill alongside pork belly. The place was full, so after a short wait the writer ordered 180g of fresh pork belly (16,000 won), a 3,000 won doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and 3,000 won finishing fried rice; the thick pork belly grilled by staff and the kimchi grilled in pork fat were the two standouts. With both the kimchi and the pork belly this good, the crowds at Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal make complete sense.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Yeongdeungpo pub with honeycomb makgeolli and whelk bossam: Buchigom

Buchigom Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Branch (부치곰 영등포구청점) is a Korean pub with folding-door patio seating near Exit 4 of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After a 15-minute wait on a Friday evening, the writer had the raw whelk salad bossam set (47,000 won) and Buchigom makgeolli served with a piece of honeycomb (11,500 won), with the moist bossam and deeply savory whelk salad standing out. Buchigom is a Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station pub worth recommending for the food alone, even without the patio atmosphere.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan Korean restaurant: soy-braised pork ribs & ice soju at Jjigaen

Jjigaen Jjukkumi Yongmun Market Branch is a jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) restaurant in Yongsan, Seoul, connected to Yongmun Market near Hyochanggongwonap Station, and it also serves Handon (Korean-raised) pork rib braise, kimchi stew, duruchigi, dak hanmari and spicy chicken stew. On a weekend evening the writer ordered the soy-based Handon pork rib braise (dwaeji galbijjim), with glass noodles and rice cakes in a sweet, salty and spicy sauce, plus ice soju. Verdict: even at an octopus specialist, Jjigaen Jjukkumi's soy-braised pork ribs alone make a drinking snack worth coming back for.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan pan tteokbokki, gimbap ends & liver-free sundae: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) snack bar in Yongsan, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Sinyongsan Station, that began as a street stall in 2004. The writer and her husband ordered the 25,000 won Hyeonseon Combo Set at medium spice: soupy wheat-cake pan tteokbokki, assorted fritters, sundae (Korean blood sausage) served without liver, fish cakes and mini gimbap made from the roll ends. Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a proven, good-value spot for a filling meal near Yongridan-gil.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored