Second Round Local · 14 stories
Writes about small bars tucked into Seoul's side streets and what happens over a second round. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping
Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe is a 24-hour auto brew café near Exit 1 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. Looking for a café to use late, the writer had a quick meal of a chicken sandwich and a Mocha Blend iced Americano at Selecto Coffee, and the study-room-style seats were all taken. Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon suits anyone who wants coffee, a meal and a place to study with no time limit.
Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-only bakery in the Ikseon-dong area on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul, where a line forms even on weekdays. The writer queued on a weekday for the onion bagel (5,500 won) and the signature garlic bread (6,500 won), which Munhwa Bakery slices for easy eating. Munhwa Bakery doesn't have a long menu, but its signature breads are polished enough to make it an Ikseon-dong bakery worth the wait.
Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack shop on Hangang-daero 39-gil near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. After a wait of about 30 minutes, three people shared the ₩25,000 Hyeonseon Combo Set: tteokbokki, assorted fritters, mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), sundae (Korean blood sausage) and 3 skewers of long fish cake. The sweet-and-spicy broth tteokbokki, crispy fritters and generous portions made it a good-value Korean snack spread that is worth the wait.
Yujinok Gangnam (유진옥 강남점) is a Korean chicken noodle restaurant near Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul, which relocated from City Hall Station. We ordered chicken noodles, stir-fried chicken noodles and tangpadak (fried chicken). The stir-fried chicken noodles were addictive, much like stir-fried udon, and the ₩12,000 tangpadak came with about 10 pieces. Yujinok Gangnam is a great-value lunch spot near Gangnam Station, offering both portion size and quality for just over ₩10,000.
Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe (셀렉토커피 신논현점) is a 24-hour bakery café near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul, staffed during the day and unmanned at night. The writer ordered a ricotta sandwich and 2 Geisha-bean blended iced americanos and worked on a laptop, finding the solo seats, library-style partitioned spaces and plentiful outlets comfortable for a long stay. Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon is a good-value choice for anyone who wants to study or work in a café instead of a paid study café.
Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is an izakaya on Mullae-ro in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The writer went alone, sat at the bar seats, ordered beef tataki and Shin Ramyun risotto, and drank Singha soda water instead of alcohol. Verdict: thanks to its bar seats, Nani Byeolgwan Yeongdeungpo Branch is an easy, comfortable place to enjoy the atmosphere and bar food on your own.
Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi (약수참숯불닭갈비) is a charcoal-grilled dakgalbi (Korean grilled chicken) restaurant near Exit 10 of Yaksu Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi we ordered 1 portion each of herb salt dakgalbi, salt chicken neck and soy chicken neck, plus mul makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth); the meat arrived pre-seared so it was easy to grill, and the same chicken neck tasted clearly different with salt and with soy. If you love charcoal-grilled chicken, Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi is worth a visit to order both chicken neck versions side by side.
Yahwa Honsulbar Seoul Euljiro 2nd Branch is a cocktail bar built around solo drinking (honsul) on Mareunnae-ro 2-gil in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer went alone, sat at the bar, ordered a Sex on the Beach and a cheesecake, and checked out the darts and balance games. Verdict: Yahwa Honsulbar Seoul Euljiro 2nd Branch is an Euljiro bar where you can wind down the day alone without feeling awkward.
Huhugwan (후후관) City Hall branch is a modern Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Seosomun-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, near Exit 10 of City Hall Station. On a weekday evening, the writer ate alone at an outdoor terrace counter seat at Huhugwan, ordering charcoal-grilled cumin lamb ribs and North Korean-style boiled dumplings (mulmandu), and got free mini menbosha (shrimp toast) through a Naver review event. Huhugwan City Hall branch suits a solo meal on a nice day or lamb ribs with a light after-work drink.
Yahwa Honsul Bar Seoul Itaewon Branch is a cocktail and solo-drinking bar on the 3rd floor of 6 Itaewon-ro 23-gil in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. On a weekday evening with a friend, the writer ordered a Dohwa cocktail, a Midori Sour, chocolate and truffle potato chips, and found that the soft lighting and moderate music volume at Yahwa Honsul Bar made conversation easy. For anyone looking for a comfortable, moody Itaewon bar rather than a packed one, Yahwa Honsul Bar is a good fit.
Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점) is a tori paitan (creamy chicken broth) ramen shop on Bulgwangcheon-gil in Eunpyeong, Seoul. At a counter seat facing the open kitchen, the writer ordered tori paitan ramen with extra tsukune chashu and an extra egg. The writer also used Oreno Ramen's free refills of noodles, broth and rice to top up the broth. Rich chicken broth, chewy straight noodles and three meatball-style tsukune made Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong a satisfying meal.
Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro is a softly lit solo-drinking and cocktail bar on Mareunnae-ro in Euljiro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. Visiting with a friend on a weekday evening meant queuing before getting a seat, then sharing the free chicken drumstick side dish, a slice of cheesecake, a Kahlua Milk and a Sex on the Beach. Despite the solo-drinking name, Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro turned out to be an easy place to sit and talk over drinks with a friend.
