Notebook Rambler · 5 stories

Open Notebook, Seoul and Gyeonggi Rounds

Writes about restaurants, cafes, bars, and things to do around Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gwangju-Jeolla. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Jungnang, Seoul jokbal restaurant boiling trotters daily: Samo Jokbal

Samo Jokbal Sangbong Branch is a newly opened jokbal (braised pork trotters) and bossam restaurant in the Sangbong food alley in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered a medium half-and-half of regular jokbal and spicy bul-jokbal (fire jokbal) for 50,000 won plus makguksu (buckwheat noodles) for 7,000 won. The medium was plenty, the regular jokbal at Samo Jokbal was tender with no gamey smell, and the bul-jokbal was spicy but addictive. Verdict: Samo Jokbal Sangbong Branch is an easy walk from Sangbong Station and a good pick when a jokbal craving hits.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu late-night café: Dior view from the 3rd floor, LOOOP bear roll

LOOOP Bakery (루프) is a large bakery café that fills a whole building on Yeonmujang 5-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, near Seongsu Station Exit 4. After dinner with a friend, the writer sat by a 3rd-floor window overlooking the Dior store lit up at night and had an iced Americano, a grapefruit natural juice and a bear-face New York bear roll (₩8,000). With the New York bear roll packed with matcha cream and a 1st floor open until 2 a.m., LOOOP Bakery is a good café for a late dessert in Seongsu.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu pasta & omurice for 2 at ₩55,000, secret door: Seongsu Darak

Seongsu Darak (성수다락) is a cozy, attic-like Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of 20 Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. After a walk from Seongsu Station past Daerim Warehouse and along Yeonmujang-gil, two of us stepped through a secret-door entrance and shared Darak Omurice (17,000 won), Corn Gnocchi (19,000 won) and Spicy Cream Pasta (19,000 won). Seongsu Darak gets atmosphere, value and flavor right, making it a no-fail Seongsu pasta spot.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong shabu-shabu with a 5-second kirimochi tip: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul, on the second basement floor of Delight Square 1, directly connected to Hapjeong Station Exit 8. For dinner, two people had the Prime Angus chuck eye shabu set (25,000 won per person) and a side of kirimochi (rice cake, 3,500 won) in clear mushroom broth, finishing with egg porridge and omija tea. Remember to pull the kirimochi out within 5 seconds so it stays chewy, and Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a dependable shabu-shabu pick in Hapjeong.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Kyung Hee Univ. burger spot, top 2 burgers: 1986 Shibuya Burger

1986 Shibuya Burger is a Japanese retro-style burger restaurant in an alley between Hoegi Station and the front gate of Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun, Seoul. On a walk with a friend, the writer tried 1986 Shibuya Burger's two best-sellers, the Golden Hash Burger and the Jambon Wagyu Burger, with a whole mozzarella cheese bar and Shibuya sweet potato fries, plus unlimited welcome chip refills and a well-stocked self-serve bar. With city pop playing and a Shibuya vibe, 1986 Shibuya Burger is an easy pick for both solo meals and dates.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored
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