Cocktail Lister · 63 stories

The Drinks List

I write about visits to bars in Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Food & snacks · Things to do

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Daechang hotpot after offal BBQ at Dangsan Station: Chodaechang

Chodaechang Dangsan Station is a daechang (beef large intestine) BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 11 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. At Chodaechang Dangsan Station the writer ordered one original and one spicy hanwoo (Korean beef) daechang BBQ plus daechang jeongol (spicy hotpot); staff did all the grilling, and a strong hood kept the smoke away. The verdict: nutty, chewy daechang followed by a spicy hotpot is a combo worth coming back to Dangsan Station for over drinks.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Sinyongsan hot pot, peanut sesame sauce & happy hour: Mamalala Hotpot

Mamalala Hotpot (마마라라 훠궈) is a hot pot restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in Yongsan, Seoul, about 600m from Exit 2 of Sinyongsan Station. The writer mixed a peanut-heavy sesame sauce at the Mamalala Hotpot sauce bar, cooked meat and vegetables in a split pot of spicy Mamahong broth and cream white broth, and added guobaorou (sweet and sour fried pork) during the 5–6 PM happy hour. Mamalala Hotpot is a fun Yongsan hot pot spot for anyone who enjoys mixing broth and sauce to taste.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Seogwipo horse meat restaurant to try instead of black pork: Marijoa

Marijoa Seogwipo Jungmun Branch is a horse meat restaurant on Ieodo-ro in Seogwipo, Jeju. The writer had eaten black pork, hairtail and abalone in Jeju many times but never horse meat, and Marijoa's Joa Course (sashimi, yukhoe, sushi, makkaseu, galbijjim, grilled horse meat and shabu-shabu) had none of the feared fishy or gamey smell, tasting clean like lean beef. For Jeju travelers who want something special beyond black pork and seafood, the Marijoa horse meat course is worth trying at least once.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Hamdeok black pork BBQ in a lit stone-wall garden: Jeju Samchun

Jeju Samchun (제주삼춘) is a charcoal-grill Jeju black pork restaurant near Hamdeok Beach in Jocheon-eup, Jeju. For dinner, the writer ordered the 500g Jocha Set (neck and pork belly), which staff grilled at the table, and ate the thick-cut pork with a king oyster mushroom carved with the Jeju Samchun name, plus seaweed, pollock roe and wasabi. Jeju Samchun is a recommended pick for easy, thick-cut Jeju black pork near Hamdeok Beach.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung tofu restaurant, mild aged-kimchi hot pot: Jeong Eunsuk

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu (정은숙초당순두부) is a chodang soft tofu (sundubu) Korean restaurant on Nanseolheon-ro in Gangneung, Gangwon. The writer ordered the Premium Table, which comes with a sundubu hot pot, tofu samhap (a tofu, pork and kimchi wrap trio) and seasoned grilled kodari (half-dried pollock). The mild sundubu hot pot, chosen for a companion who can't eat spicy food, was the most memorable dish thanks to rinsed aged kimchi that made the broth nutty and deep. Even diners who avoid spicy food should be well satisfied with the mild Premium Table at Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Ocean-view Gangneung noodle lunch after Ojukheon & Gyeongpo, Gossi's

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch is a three-floor makguksu (buckwheat noodle) and sundubu kalguksu (soft tofu noodle soup) restaurant right in front of the beach on Changhae-ro in Gangneung. After visiting Ojukheon and walking from Gyeongpo Beach to Gangmun Beach, the writer had lunch at a 2nd-floor floor-to-ceiling ocean-view window seat: pollock bibim makguksu, mul makguksu (buckwheat noodles in cold broth), buckwheat jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe roll) and salad buckwheat gimbap. Gossi's is worth remembering for Gangneung travelers who want to try several buckwheat dishes while looking at the sea.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Abalone short rib set near Chodang Tofu Village, Gangneung: Ojukheon

Ojukheon Sogalbijjim (오죽헌소갈비찜) is a braised short rib restaurant at the entrance to Chodang Soft Tofu Village on Nanseolheon-ro in Gangneung. On a Gangneung trip, the writer had the 2-person braised short rib set topped with two abalone at medium spice for lunch, served with sprout ginseng and mild Chodang soft tofu. With ribs bigger than a hand and plenty of meat, Ojukheon Sogalbijjim made a hearty, filling lunch for two.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Udo abalone restaurant, abalone rice & stew lunch: Soseom Jeonbok

Soseom Jeonbok (소섬전복) is an abalone restaurant on the Udo coastal road near Geomeolle Beach on Udo Island, Jeju. Soseom Jeonbok's butter-grilled abalone set comes with two single dishes of your choice; this lunch paired it with abalone rice and abalone ttukbaegi (stew served in an earthenware pot), eaten with a view of the Udo sea through floor-to-ceiling windows. Every dish at Soseom Jeonbok came with plenty of abalone, so both the portions and the value were satisfying.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Dog-friendly hanok café in Gangneung: sunny window seat, Cafe Giwa

Cafe Giwa is a hanok (traditional Korean house) café in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, set in an old tile-roofed house where a stone-path garden meets a vintage interior. On a sunny day at a Cafe Giwa window seat, the visit included an iced americano, the signature Giwa Black Latte and a slice of Green Bean Triangle cake, and dogs were welcome too. For Gangneung travelers who want a quiet break instead of a big ocean-view café, Cafe Giwa is a good choice.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuThings to do

Autumn dry-hair helmet sea walk in Gimnyeong, Jeju: Underwater Play

Underwater Play Bada Sea Walking is an underwater walking experience at Gimnyeong Port in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, inside the Gimnyeong Fisheries Culture Complex. On an autumn Jeju trip, the writer finished QR check-in and a safety briefing, walked the Gimnyeong seabed in a dedicated helmet, met large black sea bream and other fish up close, and found their face and hair completely dry afterwards. Underwater Play sea walking is a worthwhile offbeat east Jeju activity, even for people who can't swim.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Jeju Western restaurant in Ara-dong, a break from black pork: Cultured

Cultured is a Western restaurant on Seungcheon-ro in Ara-dong, Jeju City, serving pasta, pizza, risotto and fried rice. Instead of black pork and seafood on a Jeju trip, the writer ordered pollock roe cream pasta (18,000 won), the Cultured fresh-dough pizza (20,000 won) and beef fried rice (11,000 won) on a table tablet to share, and remembered the clam-packed pasta, the long cheese pull on the pizza and the very generous fried rice. Cultured is a good option in Jeju City when you want pasta and pizza in one meal.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuShopping

Souvenir shop in Jeju Dongmun Market: bagged oranda over tangerines

Cheongchuni Oranda Dongmun Market Main Branch Tapdong is a handmade oranda (puffed grain bars bound with syrup) and gwajul (Korean puffed rice cracker) shop inside Dongmun Market in Jeju. At the Cheongchuni Oranda sample counter, the writer compared gamtae (seaweed), Udo peanut and garlic flavors, looked over the 3,500-won donut oranda and the 23,000-won 4-flavor oranda set, and bought bagged oranda to share with family. If you want a Jeju Dongmun Market souvenir that is easier to carry home than tangerines, with no storage worries, Cheongchuni Oranda is a safe choice.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored