Jongno Commuter Diner · 46 stories

Dinner Detour

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Seongbuk weekend Korean BBQ for two: flash-frozen pork at Jangheungjip

Jangheungjip Seongshin Women's University branch (장흥집 성신여대점) is an old-school frozen pork belly BBQ restaurant in a Rodeo Street alley near Exit 1 of Seongshin Women's Univ. Station in Seongbuk, Seoul. On a weekend evening, the writer and her husband arrived at opening time and grilled 2 servings each of flash-frozen pork belly and flash-frozen pork neck with minari and bracken, then finished with spicy doenjang stew and minari fried rice. The verdict: odor-free frozen pork paired with bracken and scallion salad was the most memorable part of Jangheungjip Seongshin Women's University branch.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Oksu Chinese restaurant dinner: pork belly ganjjajang rice at Taetae

Taetae is a stylish Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 7 of Oksu Station in Seongdong, Seoul. For dinner with her husband, the writer had the poached-egg pork belly ganjjajang (black bean noodles with stir-fried sauce, ₩18,000) and the black vinegar glutinous rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, ₩31,000), then ordered extra rice because the ganjjajang sauce was so good it deserved a second round as jjajang rice. With large, odor-free tangsuyuk and a ganjjajang loaded with pork belly, Taetae is an Oksu-dong Chinese restaurant that suits everything from a date to a family meal.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong Cathedral restaurant revisit: doenjang pasta, Seventy Four

Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch is a Western restaurant with hall and terrace seating on the first floor of the Familia Chapel at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. The blogger returned to Seventy Four, a Christmas date spot from their dating days, with their husband. In the open-doored hall they shared a Super Combination pizza (₩29,000) and the renewed chamnamul (Korean wild parsley) doenjang pasta (₩20,000). The softly savory chamnamul doenjang pasta is the standout, making Seventy Four a good date stop that pairs Myeongdong shopping with a cathedral walk.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ after a hydrangea walk with my husband: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving hanwoo (Korean beef) and Korean pork, right by Gyeongui Line Forest Park (경의선숲길) in Mapo, Seoul. After a walk among the hydrangeas on Gyeongui Line Forest Park, the writer and her husband had the 600g hanwoo and Korean pork set for two (109,000 won), half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice, and liked that staff grilled the meat and corkage was free. Gogikkun Gimchunbae is worth considering for dinner after a walk or for a group meal in Hongdae or Sinchon.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station weekend shabu-shabu with naengi doenjang broth: Yunseul

Yunseul (윤슬) is a Korean-style shabu-shabu restaurant on the first floor of Grand Central near Exit 4 of Seoul Station, in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekend evening the writer and her husband shared Yunseul's 59,000 won set for two: doenjang-naengi broth (soybean paste with shepherd's purse), prime chuck, a crispy radish jangjorim pancake and bulgogi kimchi fried rice. The broth had a clear naengi aroma without being salty, and the fried rice came sizzling in a small stone pot. For an easy shabu-shabu course at Seoul Station with parking and reservations, Yunseul's set for two is a safe choice.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga weekday lunch burgers at 11:30: BAS Burger Hawaiian set

BAS Burger Euljiro Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 of the Sieoso Hotel (시어소호텔), near Exit 10 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Two of us arrived around 11:30 AM on a weekday and paid 30,100 won for a double bacon cheeseburger set with egg and a Hawaiian burger set with sweet potato fries and ranch, both with sparkling water; within 5 minutes of sitting down every seat was taken and the line ran up the stairs. With unlimited potato chips and add-on toppings, BAS Burger Euljiro Branch suits an office lunch in Euljiro or an after-work beer.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ office lunch at Seoul City Hall: beef galbi set, Geumseong

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 7 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, best known for beef galbi (short ribs) marinated with Naju pear syrup. The writer and a friend who works near City Hall Station ordered two servings of the lunch special marinated beef short rib set (27,900 won each), added grilling vegetables for 3,000 won, and got a free sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) for ordering two or more sets. Verdict: the marinade soaked right through the meat, making the galbi as tender and rich as tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), a slightly special office-worker lunch.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Dongmyo Indian-Nepali restaurant: thick veg curry couple set, Namaste

Namaste Dongmyo Branch is an Indian and Nepali restaurant on the 2nd floor of the building right outside Exit 5 of Dongmyoap Station in Jongno, Seoul. After a weekend browsing the Dongmyo vintage market and Dongdaemun's stationery and toy street, the writer and her husband shared the 50,000-won couple set. The chicken makhani, packed with big chunks of chicken, and the thick, rich mixed veg curry stood out. With samosas, garlic naan and a drink all included, the Namaste Dongmyo Branch couple set is well worth 50,000 won.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jangan-dong Korean BBQ with mozzarella & mushroom dip: Donbyeorak

Donbyeorak Kimchi Samgyeopsal Jangandong Main Branch (돈벼락김치삼겹살 장안동본점) is a kimchi pork belly restaurant near Jangan intersection in Dongdaemun, Seoul, open since 2008. After work, a couple ordered 2 portions of kimchi pork belly, 1 portion of kimchi pork neck, mixed mushrooms, extra mozzarella cheese and doenjang malli-bap (soybean paste rice stew). The master's grilled kimchi and the meat and mushrooms dipped in cheese stood out most, so at Donbyeorak, order the mixed mushrooms and mozzarella together.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Gwangjang Market dessert shop: weekday evening free tasting, Ssuk's

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul (쑥스초코파이 서울) is a chilled dessert shop on Jongno 32-gil in Gwangjang Market, Jongno, Seoul, that specializes in mugwort choco pies. After work on a weekday evening, the writer tried the free samples at Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul and bought the 24,800 won gift set of 6, tasting Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort, sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi, sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean and Jeju Udo peanut. Not overly sweet and filled with fresh cream instead of marshmallow, Ssuk's choco pies make a good Gwangjang Market souvenir or thank-you gift.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Five refills and fresh charcoal at a Seongsu eel buffet: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Seongsu Branch is a charcoal-grilled, all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant on Seongdeokjeong-gil in Seongdong, Seoul. On a Friday evening, a couple paid 32,900 won per person for the adult buffet plus table setting. Over the 2-hour limit they refilled their eel five times and had the charcoal replaced partway through so they could keep grilling to the end. With pork belly and chicken neck served alongside the eel, Songnim Bok Jangeo eased their worries about buffet eel quality and proved a solid local eel spot in Seongsu.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant in Suyu for a birthday date lunch: Iseol Myeonok

Iseol Myeonok Suyu Main Branch is a Hamhung-style naengmyeon (cold noodle) and old-style bulgogi restaurant on 4.19-ro in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk, Seoul. A couple who took a weekday off for a birthday booked on Naver and walked in without waiting at 1:30pm, ordering two servings of Seoul old-style bulgogi (19,000 won per serving) and bibim naengmyeon (12,000 won). The warm, slightly sweet bulgogi paired well with the spicy Hamhung-style bibim naengmyeon, and Iseol Myeonok's own parking lot made driving there easy.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored