One More Glass · 5 stories

Second Pour, Seoul Bars and Restaurants

Writes about small restaurants and bars around Seoul, usually the ones tucked past the first turn. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Early-evening izakaya near Gyodae Station: cumin wings at Siseon

Siseon Gyodae Branch (시선 교대점) is a retro-style izakaya in a basement near Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On an early evening, the writer sat in a sunken half-level room and ate spicy cream jjamppong (Korean-Chinese noodles), cumin chicken wings, Kansai-style oden soup and Okinawa-style scored pork belly. The cumin wings showed off Siseon's skill with chicken. Siseon Gyodae Branch suits a quiet, tucked-away after-work drink near Gyodae Station.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho chicken spot for potato liquor and dakhanmari: Seocho Jeonggye

Seocho Jeonggye (서초정계) is a Korean chicken restaurant in an alley near Exit 8 of Seocho Station in Seoul. After eating dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) there in spring, the writer returned with a coworker for dakhanmari (whole chicken in broth), a potato pancake topped with shredded potato and gamja sul (traditional potato liquor), finishing with a juk (rice porridge) add-on. The verdict: Seocho Jeonggye's dakhanmari has a rich yet clean broth, the potato pancake beat expectations, and the potato liquor is easy for anyone to drink.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station Chinese restaurant: sea cucumber yusanseul, Maeranbang

Maeranbang Gyodae Branch (매란방 교대점) is a casual Chinese restaurant themed on the Peking opera Farewell My Concubine, tucked into a side street near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. In a 4-person private room, we shared yusanseul (stir-fried seafood in a glossy sauce), old-style tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), three dim sum (chive cheung fun, truffle crystal dumplings and xiaolongbao) and hand-pulled ganjajang noodles; the fragrant truffle crystal dumplings and the yusanseul loaded with sea cucumber stood out most. Maeranbang Gyodae Branch is a solid pick for a group meal near Gyodae Station when you want both atmosphere and good food.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Korean pub for coworkers: chili clam soup and noodles, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch (다선칼국수 교대직영점) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant and Korean pub in a converted two-story house near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. After work, the writer and a colleague drank soju with bossam (boiled pork wraps) and ttaengcho bajirak-tang (spicy chili clam soup), then finished by adding kalguksu noodles to the clam soup and ordering half-and-half meat and kimchi dumplings. Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch is a good pick for kalguksu at lunch and a relaxed drink in the evening.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Station poke restaurant: duck wrap & Buldak salmon, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a poke and salad restaurant in a basement between Seocho and Gyodae stations in Seoul. The writer had a smoked duck wrap with mushroom soup, and at dinner a raw salmon poke with Buldak (fiery chicken) sauce on a buckwheat noodle base that paired well with the heat. With self-serve coffee for a free iced Americano, Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a place worth returning to for a healthy meal.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
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