Third Seat Holder · 14 stories

Third Stool, Seoul-Gangwon-Gyeonggi Bars

Writes about restaurants, cafes, and bars across Seoul, Gangwon, and Gyeonggi, one visit at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceHadong, GyeongnamRestaurants

Hadong chicken shop: half fried, half soy with a tea-field view, Jadam

Jadam Chicken Hadong Hwagaejangteo (자담치킨 하동화개장터점) is a fried chicken shop in the shopping row right beside Hwagae Market in Hwagae-myeon, Hadong, Gyeongnam, where you can watch a chicken-cooking robot fry orders behind a transparent wall. For dinner at a stay overlooking green tea fields, the writer took out half fried, half soy sauce chicken with cheese balls, alternating crispy fried pieces and salty soy sauce chicken while taking in the tea-field view. For an easy chicken-and-beer dinner at your lodging on a Hadong trip, takeout from Jadam Chicken Hadong Hwagaejangteo fits well.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongchang, GangwonRestaurants

Bongpyeong buckwheat noodle house, back after 10 years: Migayeon

Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon (봉평메밀미가연) is a buckwheat noodle restaurant certified as a 100-Year Store (Baengnyeon Gage) on Gipung-ro in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, Gangwon. The writer first visited more than 10 years ago and returned with Mom and a younger sibling around 3 p.m. on a weekday, sharing buckwheat beef tartare bibim noodles, Memil Miga noodles (cold broth makguksu), buckwheat bibim noodles and memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe rolls). Thanks to chewy house-made buckwheat noodles and gentle seasoning and broth, Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon made for a happy, satisfying return visit.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung café with family: cream latte & Geisha drip, Coffee Dripper

Coffee Dripper is a roastery café inside Chodang Sundubu Village in Gangneung, Gangwon, which hand-dripped coffee from its own roasted beans in Gyo-dong, Gangneung, from 2012 before moving to its current spot. On day one of a 2-day Gangneung and Pyeongchang trip, after lunch, the writer visited Coffee Dripper with Mom and a younger sibling, sharing a Dripper Signature Cream Latte, the Dripper House Blend, Geisha specialty coffee and a financier, then finishing with complimentary pine needle tea. Coffee Dripper was a backup choice that beat expectations for coffee, atmosphere and location.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung café: spotting the original sand & autumn box—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is the original Gangneung Sand shop and dessert café on Seonggokgoyang-gil in Gangneung, Gangwon. The writer learned how to tell the original Gangneung Sand from similarly named shops, then bought the autumn maple edition package in Chodang corn and dried persimmon flavors. Gangneung Sand cookies are not overly sweet and have a rich butter flavor, making them a souvenir worth recommending on a Gangneung trip.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Braised short rib restaurant in Gangneung, no gamey smell: Ojukheon

Ojukheon Sogalbijjim (오죽헌소갈비찜) is a Korean restaurant on Nanseolheon-ro in Chodang, Gangneung, specializing in sogalbijjim (braised beef short ribs) and soft tofu stew. For the first meal of a 2-day Gangneung and Pyeongchang trip with Mom and a younger sibling, the writer ordered the 3-person short rib set in the mild flavor with spicy soft tofu; staff pulled the meat off the bones and cut it, and the imported beef had no gamey smell, which surprised even smell-sensitive Mom. Ojukheon Sogalbijjim is a satisfying pick for families who want mild braised ribs and spicy soft tofu on one table.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ, holiday window seat with autumn views: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼김춘배) is a hanok-fronted Korean BBQ restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, near Ttaengttaeng-geori on the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, where staff grill the meat for you from start to finish. Booking for opening time on a holiday, the writer sat by the window with autumn views and ate a hanwoo (Korean beef) and Korean pork set for two, half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice. Gogikkun Gimchunbae was empty at first, but the window seats were full by the end of the meal, so book ahead if you want a window table.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Brazier gyukatsu lunch at Seoul Station after Bottle Bunker: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu and steak restaurant on the B1 floor of the LG Seoul Station Building, right by Exit 10 of Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After browsing wine at Bottle Bunker in Lotte Mart Seoul Station, the writer ordered one Ichigyu gyukatsu set and one steki (steak) set at Ichigyu and grilled both on the tabletop brazier, with generous portions of meat and rice. Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch was nearly full even at an early lunch, so it is best to book on Naver before visiting.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro tteokbokki shop: family combo warm after 40 min, Hyeonseoni-ne

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) is a company-run tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack shop near Exit 3 of Euljiro 1-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer picked up a Hyeonseoni-ne combo set of tteokbokki, sundae (Korean blood sausage), fritters, fish cakes and mini gimbap on the way back from downtown and shared it with family at home, 40 minutes away; the food was still warm and the broth did not leak. Verdict: the Hyeonseoni-ne tteokbokki and the other snacks all beat expectations.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Tiny Gongdeok Station dessert café: heart madeleines, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a baked-goods dessert café in the Gongdeok SK Leaders View shopping arcade near Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. In the cozy 5-seat shop, the writer looked over canelés, financiers, madeleines, salt bread and egg tarts, picked several, and was surprised by madeleines decorated with smiley faces, hearts and carrots. The writer's favorite at Fluffy Bake Shop was the egg tart, crisp outside and moist inside.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Renewed Hapjeong sushi izakaya, Seoul: same chef at Sushi Sakaba

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a sushi izakaya (Japanese pub) near Hapjeong Station Exit 3 in Mapo, Seoul, and the renewed reopening of the former Hapjeong Chobapjip (합정초밥집), which the blogger visited earlier this year. Told the chef and atmosphere were unchanged, the blogger returned for dinner, ordered one Jeong sushi set and one Hap sushi set, and compared them using the note served with them. Only the name has changed at Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong, with the same chef and the same taste, and the ankimo (monkfish liver) sushi was again the best.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok salad takeout with leak-proof sauces, Beef Light: Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a healthy-food restaurant specializing in protein boxes, located in the basement arcade of Lotte Castle President at Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer took a Beef Light protein box (teriyaki sauce) and a Chicken Pasta protein box (wasabi mayo sauce) home to share with a housemate, and the sauce cups were sealed in plastic wrap, so nothing leaked. Why Starve Diet is worth recommending to anyone who wants a healthy meal, even if they are not on a diet.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station eel rice bowl restaurant, a heatwave revisit: Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel rice bowl restaurant near the food alley by Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Remembering the eel rice bowl first tried last spring after a walk around Seonjeongneung, the writer returned to Manmok on a draining heatwave day and ordered two whole-eel bowls; the matsutake mushroom soup, seasoned radish salad and matcha or black tea ice cream made the whole tray satisfying. For an eel rice bowl around Seolleung Station or Daechi, Manmok is a confident recommendation.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored