After-Work Tea · 8 stories

Late Kettle, Seoul Restaurants and Cafes

Writes about small restaurants and cafes tucked into Seoul's older neighborhoods. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

Seoul eel restaurant in Sangam-dong: chewy soy-glazed eel, Ryeok

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점) is a freshwater eel grill restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. On a visit with her eel-loving husband, a regular at Ryeok, the writer ordered the soy-glazed grilled eel. It came out unusually chewy and springy, with banchan (side dishes), a complimentary pollack stew, scallops and mushrooms filling the table. For anyone who loves a chewy eel texture, Ryeok is a memorable Sangam-dong eel spot.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk Station Italian restaurant: solo lasagna, cheesy salad, Low Five

Low Five Anguk is a casual Italian restaurant serving pizza, pasta and lasagna on Bukchon-ro in Jongno, Seoul, right in front of Anguk Station. On a weekday visit, the writer ordered lasagna, a salad heaped with cheese and a Perrier, and was satisfied enough to finish almost both dishes. With a spacious wood-toned dining room and friendly service, Low Five Anguk is a solid pick for an unhurried Western meal in Bukchon.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae noodle restaurant: solo summer cold soba set, Myeon Sikdang

Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch (면식당 홍익대점) is a Japanese noodle and tonkatsu restaurant on Wausan-ro in Hongdae (Seogyo-dong), Mapo, Seoul. After a hair salon visit, the writer came alone on a weekday in the quiet hours after lunch, ordered the cold soba set at the kiosk, and enjoyed the pairing of bonito-scented cold soba with stretchy cheese katsu. With bar seating and many solo diners, Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch is an easy, comfortable spot for eating alone in Hongdae.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Italian pasta course: shrimp ricotta ravioli & short rib, Noju

Noju (NOJU) is an Italian course restaurant on the 2nd floor at 56 Donggyo-ro 9-gil in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The writer had Noju's 89,000-won Signature Chef's Choice course: 10 dishes running from focaccia and ravioli through lobster tail, uni chitarra and truffle gnocchi to beef short rib and cheesecake. Noju is good-value fine dining in Mangwon-dong, where you can try a wide range of Italian dishes for under 100,000 won.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong Korean BBQ: naengi pickle wraps, kimchi stew at Gatgalbi

Gatgalbi Mapo Sangam DMC (갓갈비 마포상암DMC점) is a pork galbi (marinated pork rib) restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. On a weekend revisit, a couple ordered the 3-serving galbi set and a pork kimchi stew, and were especially pleased by a marinade that is neither too sweet nor too salty, lettuce wraps topped with pickled naengi (shepherd's purse), and staff who looked after the table before being asked. With its spacious dining room, Gatgalbi Mapo Sangam DMC is a galbi house worth recommending for family meals or company dinners in Sangam-dong.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

City Hall ramen shop with open kitchen: shoyu and karaage at Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen shop on Seosomun-ro near City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a spacious dining room on the ground floor and basement and an open kitchen. The writer visited solo and ordered the signature shoyu ramen, karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and a peach soda, and was very happy with the thick chashu, the soy-based broth that starts clean and grows richer, and the springy noodles. Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen shop the writer would 100% revisit for a solo meal at City Hall or before or after a walk around Deoksugung Palace.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Pistachio white choco chimney bread at Hongdae café Chimney Mansion

Chimney Mansion is a large two-floor chimney bread bakery café on Jandari-ro in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongdae and Hapjeong. After once arriving too late and finding the popular items sold out, the writer returned with her husband right after opening and tried the pistachio white choco chimney bread, a brownie and the signature Mansion Coffee, an Einspänner topped with pepper. To choose from every kind of chimney bread at Chimney Mansion, going early is the answer.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Halal restaurant in Hongdae: combo platter two ways at Halal Steaks

Halal Steaks is a halal food restaurant on the second floor on Yanghwa-ro 16-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station; the shop took the Halal Steaks name when the Halal Guys store relocated. On a first visit, the writer ordered the Halal Steaks combo platter and ate it two ways: wrapped in a tortilla like a kebab, and with rice like taco rice. The roomy dining room and bar seats made eating alone easy. For a different, comfortable solo meal in Hongdae, the Halal Steaks combo platter is a filling choice.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored

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