Neon Corner Loiterer · 12 stories

Neon Corner, Eulji-ro

Notes from an evening spent finding a seat at small bars around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants

Bangi Korean pub round two: mixed bugak and persimmon roll, Jojomomo

Jojomomo (조조모모) is a Korean gastropub on basement level 1, tucked inside the Bangi food alley in Songpa, Seoul. After a first round elsewhere, the writer came to Jojomomo for round two on a weekday evening and had a Jirisan Gangsoeju welcome drink, mixed bugak (crispy fried seaweed and vegetable chips), spicy bulgogi kimchi jeon (savory pancake) and nurungji (toasted rice) ice cream, and was given a complimentary dried persimmon cream cheese roll after moving to the bar to free up a table for waiting guests. Jojomomo is a Bangi-dong bar where a vintage atmosphere and thoughtful service come together.

Written Nov 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo restaurant in Gongdeok: peanut-allergy anniversary lunch, Usu

Usu is a hanwoo (Korean beef) course restaurant on the B2 level of Lotte Castle President by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, where every seat is in a private room. For an anniversary, the writer had the Lunch C course (79,000 won per person). The kitchen swapped a sauce for a peanut allergy, and the meal ran smoothly in a quiet room from 1++ sirloin grilled on a personal brazier to a Korean melon sorbet. Usu Gongdeok is a safe choice for a private anniversary or date lunch where you can focus on conversation.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Gudi Station after-work bar for beef tendon odeng soup: Eulji Pocha

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is a retro indoor street-stall bar (pocha) near Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station (Gudi Station) in Guro, Seoul. After work, two people shared suji odeng-tang (beef tendon and fish cake soup, 25,000 won) and Hanmaek draft beer. They traded the Eulji Stationery coins earned by ordering for nostalgic snacks and won an ugly doll and a Kuromi nail clipper from the claw machine. Eulji Pocha is a fun, unusual Gudi bar for couples or company dinners who want to play while they drink.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market fish shop, spring flounder & stew kit: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan (영재수산) is a live-fish sashimi shop on the 1st floor of Garak Mall's Panmae-dong building in Songpa, Seoul, offering takeout sashimi and maeuntang (spicy fish stew) kits. In spring flounder season, the writer took home the small flounder, halibut and red sea bream platter (65,000 won) with the flounder in regular slices, and was pleased with the thickness, freshness, generous sauces and stew kit. For spring flounder sashimi to go from Garak Market with the stew taken care of too, Yeongjae Susan is a great fit.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Affordable Apgujeong Western restaurant: DIY cream rosé, Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Apgujeong Dosan Park (을지다락 도산) is a casual Western restaurant on the second floor of a building in an alley near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Eulji Darak the writer had the Darak rosé pasta and the spicy crab risotto (₩18,000 each) plus a katsu sando (₩12,000), and liked the conversation-friendly noise level, the warm lighting and prices that feel gentle for Apgujeong. Eulji Darak is a good Apgujeong pasta restaurant for anyone who wants atmosphere at a fair price, from brunch to a dinner date.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Sindorim Station izakaya: jjamppong soup & tsukune, Sindorim Mungyun

Sindorim Mungyun (신도림문균) is a Japanese-style izakaya near Exit 2 of Sindorim Station in Guro, Seoul. For a second round, two people ordered seafood jjamppong soup (spicy seafood broth), tsukune and pork neck skewers and Cass draft beer for a bill of about ₩40,000. The warm yellow lighting and fairly quiet room made conversation easy. For a calm date bar in Sindorim with skewers and a hot soup, Sindorim Mungyun is a solid choice.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Quiet Sindorim Korean bar for a date: Jeju Spanish mackerel, Mugeunji

Korean Suljip Mugeunji (한국술집 무근지) is a wood-toned Korean pub in the Sindorim food alley in Guro, Seoul. Over Jipyeong makgeolli and Jinro soju, Korean Suljip Mugeunji served squid kimchi jeon (18,900 won) that stayed crispy right to the center and Jeju grilled Spanish mackerel (21,000 won) that was crisp outside and moist inside, closer to restaurant cooking than bar snacks. For a quiet date bar in Sindorim, Korean Suljip Mugeunji is a good fit.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Eel restaurant near Yeoksam Station: eel inari & kabayaki, Yangsando

Yangsando Yeoksam (양산도 역삼점) is a freshwater eel rice bowl restaurant specializing in hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice), about a 6–7 minute walk from Yeoksam Station Exit 3 in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer had hitsumabushi (27,000 won), 2 pieces of eel inari sushi (9,000 won) and kabayaki grilled freshwater eel in sauce (21,000 won) for lunch. The writer was impressed by eel that was lightly crisp outside and moist inside, the mild sauce, and the counter seats with power outlets. Yangsando Yeoksam is a dependable choice for an office-worker lunch or a solo eel rice bowl near Yeoksam Station.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Gunja Station pub for wedding invites: level-1 bone grill, Saechamjip

Saechamjip (새참집) Gunja branch is a Korean pub near Exit 5 of Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer went with friends to hand out wedding invitations and ordered the 48-hour boiled aged white kimchi stone-plate bone grill (₩24,900) at level 1 spice, whole shrimp and minari jeon (₩18,900), Jangsu makgeolli (₩5,000) and stone-plate fried rice (₩5,900). With a relaxed atmosphere for long conversations and the aged white kimchi bone grill, Saechamjip was a satisfying spot for a group get-together.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceNamhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Namhae-eup noodle shop for green spinach jjamppong: Barun Jjamppong

Barun Jjamppong is an independent jjamppong (Korean-Chinese spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant in Namhae-eup, Namhae County, Gyeongnam, run for 8 years and known for green noodles made with Namhae's local spinach. On a Namhae trip, the writer ordered the signature Barun Jjamppong (9,000 won), stir-fried jjamppong (9,500 won) and fried dumplings (5,000 won); there was a line, but Catch Table remote queuing and fast turnover kept the wait short. Barun Jjamppong is a good, affordable pick in Namhae when you crave a bowl of spicy, hearty soup.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon pizzeria lunch with a friend, crisp-chewy dough: The European

The European Haenggung Main Branch (더유로피언 행궁본점) is an authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, about a 5-minute walk from Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. On a day out in Haenggung-dong with a friend, the signature steak burrata pizza (31,000 won) arrived for lunch, pairing tender steak with burrata alongside tangy pickled shredded radish. The European's dough, crisp outside and chewy inside, was the highlight, making it a solid pick for a Haenggung-dong date or outing.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Guro izakaya 11-skewer platter and grilled sea bass: Robatayaki Sodam

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch is an izakaya on the second floor of an alley building within walking distance of Guro Digital Complex Station in Guro, Seoul. On this repeat visit, the counter seat came with an 11-type mixed skewer platter (13 pieces) for 24,000 won and grilled Chilean sea bass for 29,000 won, both clean-tasting with no fishy or gamey edge, plus beer and a free fried-egg starter. Watching the skewers and fish grill right in front of you makes Robatayaki Sodam a Guro bar worth booking again.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored

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