Ilsan Evening Stool · 17 stories

A Stool at Dinner

I write about restaurants I visit around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Fusion date restaurant in Euljiro with parking: octopus at Pyu

Pyu Euljiro is a fusion Korean-Western restaurant on the ground floor of the Cracking Coffee building near Exit 9 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a date with her boyfriend, the writer paired charcoal octopus with romesco (34,000 won), Spanish mackerel pasta (30,000 won) and grilled yuzu chicken thigh (28,000 won) with a First Love Scent canned beer (9,000 won) and a glass of Cuna del Sol Sauvignon Blanc (12,000 won). Pyu Euljiro also sets out your name when you book on Naver. With parking, which is rare in Euljiro, Pyu Euljiro is an easy pick for a blind date or date night.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean beef grill in Nonhyeon: tenderloin and doenjang stew, Hwadain

Hwadain Nonhyeon Main Branch (화다인 논현본점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) grill restaurant on the 4th floor of a building on Hakdong-ro 2-gil, between Nonhyeon Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer ordered the special tenderloin (58,000 won) and hanwoo doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew, 12,000 won); staff grilled the meat at the table, and the soft lighting and roomy table spacing made for a calm meal. Hwadain Nonhyeon Main Branch suits dates, anniversaries and family gatherings when you want quiet conversation over hanwoo.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam burger shop: shrimp burger & sweet potato fries, Downtowner

Downtowner Cheongdam is a handmade burger shop on Dosan-daero 53-gil in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul, near Apgujeongnodeo Station. On a first visit to Downtowner Cheongdam, the writer ordered a shrimp burger with a springy shrimp patty and soft bun, plus crispy, sweet sweet potato fries. Verdict: Downtowner Cheongdam is a generous, relaxed Cheongdam burger shop that suits both solo meals and dates.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeongnodeo salon Kanato clinic for flat-iron damage: Choijin Hair

Choijin Hair Apgujeongnodeo flagship is a hair salon in Gangnam, Seoul, within a 5-minute walk of Apgujeongnodeo Station. The writer's hair had turned dry and broom-like from flat irons and blow-drying, so they got a Kanato clinic treatment and a layered cut that kept the length while framing the face. Thanks to a thorough consultation and a natural layered cut, Choijin Hair suits anyone who wants damaged-hair care and a fresh look in one visit.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo salon men's part + down perm for a flat crown: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon in Gangnam, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Exit 6 of Apgujeongnodeo Station. After a consultation about heavy hair that goes flat on top as it grows, a men's part perm and down perm were done together in under two hours, giving a style that naturally covers a wide forehead and an M-shaped hairline. With fixed prices and 30% off a first visit, Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is worth considering for a men's perm in Apgujeong Rodeo.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Korean BBQ for friends, pork neck trio: Namhang Kkeutjip

Namhang Kkeutjip (남항끝집) is a salt-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 2 of Yangjae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a Saturday afternoon, three friends shared one salt-grilled platter (pork belly, pork neck, braised anchovies, minari and aged kimchi) plus a zucchini sulbap (spicy zucchini rice soup). Staff grilled the meat in a separate area, so there was little smoky smell and nothing burned, and the pork neck was the standout. Namhang Kkeutjip is a Yangjae Station spot for friends' get-togethers and work dinners where one platter fills up three people.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulShopping

Songpa florist: autumn rose-gerbera bouquet for Mom's birthday, Habio

Habio Flower by Su (하비오플라워바이수) is a florist on the ground floor of the Park Habio apartment complex near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer pre-ordered an S-size bouquet in autumn yellow and orange tones for Mom's birthday and also browsed Habio Flower by Su's preserved bouquets, doll bouquets, cash gift boxes and succulents. Even at S size, the bouquet was full, with roses and gerberas as the large blooms, and matched the requested colors exactly.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant, Mom's birthday dinner for 3: Modam

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is a modern Korean restaurant on basement level 1 of Deoksugung The Palace, between Gwanghwamun and Deoksugung Palace in Jongno, Seoul. For Mom's birthday, a family of three ordered one each of the flame-grilled deodeok pork set, the Jindo green onion and crispy bulgogi set and the abalone tteokgalbi set, and used a Naver coupon to get a birthday seaweed soup (miyeokguk) table. The parents were delighted, making Modam Dining Gwanghwamun an easy recommendation for a family celebration dinner.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean pot rice with parents in Sangam: hairtail and dakgalbi, Solsot

Solsot Sangam Branch (솔솥 상암점) is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant in the basement of the building next to the DMC promotion hall in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend evening, the writer took their parents to Solsot Sangam Branch for steak, hairtail and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) pot rice served as one-person trays, finished with nurungji (scorched rice), and the parents loved the meal. Solsot Sangam Branch is a Sangam pot rice spot the writer would 100% revisit whenever a healthy Korean meal is in order.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant for a last pre-diet dinner: SABAL

SABAL is a Korean restaurant on the ground floor of Gyeonghuigung Achim Complex 3, behind the Sejong Center in Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Seoul. After an outing around Seochon and Gwanghwamun, the writer and her boyfriend had dinner at SABAL: SABAL mini tteokbokki (8,000 won), neungi mushroom chicken gomtang (17,000 won) and gamtae perilla oil bibim guksu (17,000 won). From the pumpkin porridge served before the meal to all three dishes, every dish was so good they couldn't pick a favorite, and SABAL suits anyone looking for a hearty, healthy Korean dinner.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan soy crab buffet: 7 teams ahead Sunday, tree-divided lot, Deodeo

Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필) is an all-you-can-eat soy-marinated and spicy marinated crab restaurant on Wondang-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, near Ilsan. The writer arrived at Deodeo at 11:30am on a Sunday, waited about 20 minutes behind 7 teams, and shared soy crab, spicy crab and crab stew with her boyfriend; the crab was not too salty, had no fishy taste, and the crab stew boiled with ramyeon noodles was a highlight. Deodeo's weekend line moves faster than expected, but arriving early or late is still the better bet.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Korean restaurant, Flower set with two grilled fish: Simhaksan

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a ssambap (leaf-wrap rice) Korean set-meal restaurant on Dolgoji-gil in Paju, Gyeonggi, known for its Deul set of spicy stir-fried pork, stir-fried squid, stone-pot rice, gang-doenjang (thick soybean paste) and self-serve wrap greens, and its Flower set, which adds grilled fish. At Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap, which was full even at weekday lunch, the writer ordered the Flower set and had grilled mackerel and Atka mackerel, pumpkin porridge, nurungji (scorched rice) from the stone pot and jeonbyeong (crisp rice crackers) for dessert. Verdict: a hearty meal for a Paju outing with parents or friends.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored