Dim Alley Walker · 22 stories

Dim Alley, Seoul Bars and Restaurants

Writes about Seoul's small bars, cafes, and restaurants, usually the ones tucked down side streets. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Avocado & classic Downtowner burgers in Gasan: Downtown Gasan Public

Downtown Gasan Public is a handmade burger restaurant in Building A of Public Gasan, near Gasan Digital Complex in Geumcheon, Seoul, sharing a collaborative space with Clap Pizza. For lunch, the writer had the Avocado Burger (₩12,700) and the Downtowner Burger (₩9,900), added a ₩4,900 fries-and-drink set upgrade, and liked the metallic silver walls and blue-tiled tables. Downtown Gasan Public is a good pick for a filling, special lunch in Gasan Digital Complex when you're tired of Korean set meals.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Italian restaurant, weekday lunch served in 20 minutes: Romaok

Romaok Magok (로마옥 마곡) is an Italian wine-dining restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul, connected to Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a reserved weekday lunch visit, the writer ordered the cuttlefish ink risotto (25,000 won) and the Napoli mare pomodoro pasta (27,000 won). Even with every table full, Romaok Magok staff warned of a possible delay in advance, and the food arrived in about 20 minutes. Romaok Magok gets the space, service and flavor right, making it a satisfying choice for a booked weekday lunch.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam burger diner, weekend 2-for-1 Stella happy hour: Daily Fix

Daily Fix Gangnam Main Branch is a handmade burger diner on Nonhyeon-ro 85-gil near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul, reportedly run by chefs from Michelin restaurants in New York. On a weekend evening during the 5–7pm happy hour, the writer and a friend paired 2-for-1 Stella Artois draft beer with a Hanwoo-patty bacon cheese burger (12,900 won), a Nashville-style chicken burger (11,900 won) and thick-cut 18 Fries (7,800 won). Because the 2-for-1 beer deal also runs on weekends, Daily Fix Gangnam Main Branch is a great pick for burgers with draft beer.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Gallery-like wine bar in Apgujeong with an open kitchen: Geullodeu

Geullodeu (글로드, glöd) is a charcoal-cooking dining and wine bar on the 2nd floor of 8 Eonju-ro 173-gil, near the south end of Seongsu Bridge in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul. The writer toured Geullodeu's gallery-like space hung with artists' works, its open kitchen and its Wine Spectator-certified wine cellar, then ate white bread (9,000 won), cuttlefish tapenade pasta (30,000 won), Bonghwa duck steak (48,000 won) and chocolate Basque cheesecake (18,000 won). Geullodeu felt upscale yet relaxed, an Apgujeong wine bar well suited to an anniversary date.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Chinese restaurant in Apgujeong seen on Choi Ja Road: Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong is a modern Chinese restaurant with private rooms in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul, run by Chef Jang Bo-won, who appeared on Culinary Class Wars 2 as 'Samdaega Junghwasik' (Three-Generation Chinese Cook). After seeing Bobo Sikdang on Choi Ja Road, the writer visited in the late afternoon and ordered pork butter tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 35,000 won), kkanpung monkfish (38,000 won) and mapo tofu rice (16,000 won); the owner-chef was in the kitchen, and service stayed smooth despite the crowd. Between the two main dishes, the pork butter tangsuyuk is the one that best earns its place as Bobo Sikdang's signature.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Fresh pasta brunch date in Apgujeong: truffle & burrata, Osteria Eden

Osteria Eden is an Italian restaurant with a European terrace feel on Seolleung-ro 152-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, between Apgujeong Rodeo and Cheongdam. On a brunch date the writer had bread, San Pellegrino, French onion soup (₩19,000), truffle cheese wheel tagliatelle (₩36,000) and burrata pomodoro spaghettini (₩28,000), and the rich truffle cream fresh pasta paired perfectly with the bright tomato fresh pasta. Osteria Eden is a can't-miss choice for an anniversary date or a get-together in Cheongdam.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station pork galbi lunch that overflowed the grill: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a pork galbi (marinated pork rib) restaurant near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. While running an errand in Magok, the writer stopped in for lunch and ordered two 300g servings of marinated grilled pork at ₩23,000 each, plus doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth). Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga served more pork than one grill plate could hold, with staff grilling the meat and free pear sorbet to finish, which made for a very satisfying lunch.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Korean restaurant: seafood boyang set and ₩39,000 Chardonnay

Modam Itaewon is a heritage Korean dining restaurant on the ground floor of the Mondrian Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. The writer had the Modam Boyang Set (₩35,000) and the assorted seafood jang with seaweed butter rice set (₩49,000), plus a bottle of Loire Chardonnay on promotion for ₩39,000. The tidy course ran from seasonal porridge to perilla leaf sorbet, and the prices felt reasonable for the hotel setting.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Gongdeok izakaya ₩45,000 7-course Japanese dinner: Orot Robata

Orot Robata is a robatayaki izakaya in Gongdeok, Mapo, Seoul, near the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. On a return visit, the writer tried Orot Robata's new 45,000-won-per-person 7-course dinner at the first dinner seating. The courses included fig and burrata cheese, 5 kinds of sashimi, charcoal-grilled pork, Spanish mackerel kamameshi (pot rice), a handmade hot dog and truffle ice cream. Verdict: the Orot Robata dinner course is a satisfying Japanese course in Gongdeok, with ingredients, variety and portions that justify the price.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk French lunch with beef bourguignon and wine pairing: Le Cochon

Le Cochon is a French fine dining restaurant on the 3rd floor of Arario Museum in Space near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer had the ₩59,000-per-person Parisien Déjeuner lunch course, added French onion soup and beef bourguignon, and paired the meal with wine by the glass; the floor-to-ceiling window view of Changdeokgung Palace, friendly wine explanations and smooth service stood out. Le Cochon is an easygoing pick near Anguk Station for a date or anniversary, even for diners new to French food.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong dessert café with crème brûlée espresso: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a European-style dessert café in a converted house on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Butter & Shelter Yeonnam, the blogger tried the original butter sand (₩3,200), the dine-in-only crème brûlée espresso (₩5,500), a banana chocolate cream cake (₩7,800) and two coffees, and was happy with both the buttery flavor and the balance of the coffee. Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a cozy café worth recommending for a Yeonnam-dong date that pairs a warm space with good desserts.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

City Hall café for choco baguette and heart latte art: Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a three-floor bakery café in Mugyo-dong, between City Hall and Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, and the newest branch after the Seorae Village flagship. At Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun the writer ordered a choco baguette (6,800 won), a pain au chocolat (6,200 won), a hot flat white with heart latte art (6,300 won) and an iced Noir coffee of the day (4,800 won), and named the choco baguette the best of the day. Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a City Hall café that pairs chocolate breads and coffee well, with a memorable 3F Fritz Hansen lounge.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored