Tin Tray Diarist · 29 stories

A Tin Ashtray in Euljiro

Writes about small bars and drinking spots tucked into Seoul's older neighborhoods. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido poke shop taking group orders for meetings: Singsing Salad

Singsing Salad Yeouido Branch is a healthy salad, poke and pasta shop on Gukjegeumyung-ro 6-gil in Yeouido, Seoul, near IFC Mall and Yeouido Station. The signature dishes are the avocado salmon poke (₩12,500), served with two sauces, miso soy and wasabi mayo, and the sirloin salad rice bowl with multigrain rice (₩12,500). Takeout, delivery and group orders for meetings and events are also available. Singsing Salad Yeouido Branch is worth a spot on the list for Yeouido office lunches, solo meals and meeting catering.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Rice bowl restaurant in Hanam Misa: rice philosophy, groups of 12, Roi

Roi Sikdang Hanam Misa Main Branch is a Japanese home-style rice bowl restaurant near the Mangwolcheon walking path in Misa, Hanam. According to Roi Sikdang, its rice is a blend of Gyeongju Samgwang and Buyeo Sindongjin rice cooked with natural Jirisan bedrock water. The signature Onggi Yuzu Salmon Jang, aged 24 hours in an onggi crock, costs ₩15,900 as a single dish or ₩17,900 as a set, and the mini tempura is ₩8,000. Groups of up to 12 can dine, and opening hours and parking details are covered too. For Japanese home cooking in Misa built on a good bowl of rice, Roi Sikdang Hanam Misa Main Branch is worth shortlisting.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ssambap restaurant in Hanam Misa with 6 set mains: Dolsoe Ssambap

Dolsoe Ssambap (돌쇠쌈밥) is a Korean ssambap (rice wrapped in leafy greens) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Building A, 165 Misagangbyeonhangang-ro, Hanam, Gyeonggi. Diners choose a main of pork galbi, jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), beef bulgogi, thin-sliced pork belly, beef brisket or stir-fried octopus, served as a set for two or more with seasonal wrap greens, 8 side dishes, steamed egg, doenjang stew and an earthenware pot of ssamjang; the Dolsoe jeyuk ssambap set is listed at 14,000 won. The writer gave Dolsoe Ssambap 100 out of 100 as a spot for a hearty Korean spread at family meals, office lunches and dinner get-togethers.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido IFC tteokbokki bar: four-dish Hyeonseonine Set for ₩23,000

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점) is a Korean snack bar on basement level 2 of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul, run directly by Yongsan's Hyeonseonine. The writer centers the review on the 23,000-won Hyeonseonine Set, which brings four dishes together: tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), sundae (Korean blood sausage), fried snacks and mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), along with the menu lineup and location. Verdict: Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is worth a look for Yeouido office workers and IFC Mall shoppers who want several Korean snack-bar classics at one table.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Donhwamun-ro bakery in Jongno: ₩6,800 garlic bread & donations, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a neighborhood bakery at 1F, 65 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the Jongno 3-ga and Ikseon-dong area, that sells only bread baked the same day. Munhwa Bakery lists its signature garlic bread at 6,800 won and its cheese bread at 5,400 won. Bread not sold that day goes to children who skip meals, seniors living alone, free meal centers and others in need. Munhwa Bakery is worth adding to an Ikseon-dong outing for fresh bread that also does some good.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Budget Korean BBQ in Nonhyeon: thin pork ₩4,900–₩7,900, Daepae Market

Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch (대패마켙 강남논현점) is a 24-hour thin-sliced pork Korean BBQ restaurant on the 1st floor of 49 Hakdong-ro 2-gil, Gangnam, Seoul, between Nonhyeon Station and Yeongdong Market. Thin Duroc chestnut-fed pork belly and pork neck cost ₩4,900, chewy thin pork belly and neck ₩5,900, and Jeju Korean pork (Handon) thin skin-on pork belly ₩7,900, plus a ₩2,000-per-person self-bar and an 11 a.m.–2 p.m. lunch special. The writer gave Daepae Market 100 out of 100 and recommends it as a place in Gangnam to eat Korean BBQ without worrying about the bill.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Japanese restaurant for mixed tastes: mazesoba, Myeon Sikdang

Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch is a Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of 104 Wausan-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongdae, where diners can choose from ramen, mazesoba, katsu, rice bowls and rice noodles in one place. This review focuses on the mazesoba (9,400 won), made with the restaurant's own sauce, and the mozza cheese katsu (12,500 won), made with Korean pork and mozzarella, and also covers the set menus, solo seating, opening hours and the weekend break time. The writer gives Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch 100 out of 100 and recommends it as a Hongdae Japanese restaurant for groups with different tastes.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Halal eatery in Sangam, Seoul: NY kebab & burrito prices, Zilhal Bros

Zilhal Bros Sangam is a halal eatery inspired by New York street food, located near Digital Media City in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Zilhal Bros Sangam, the chicken kebab burrito costs 10,800 won, the lamb kebab burrito 11,400 won, the chicken kebab 6,400 won and the lamb kebab 6,900 won. The menu also includes over rice, and the shop is decorated in yellow and red. The writer scored Zilhal Bros Sangam 100 out of 100 and recommends it to anyone looking for a different kind of lunch in Sangam.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno bakery scoring 100/100: garlic & cheese bread, Munhwa Bakery

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a bakery on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul, between Jongno 3-ga Station and Ikseon-dong. Munhwa Bakery's garlic bread (6,500 won) was crisp outside and moist inside with a garlic flavor that wasn't overpowering, and the cheese bread (5,400 won) was rich and nutty. With only same-day bread on sale and leftovers shared with people in need, Munhwa Bakery earned a full 100 out of 100.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu in Seongnae-dong: Sangrosu vs Cheese Katsu, Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Gangdong Office Branch is a Japanese tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant at 1F, 28 Seongnae-ro in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul. Katsu Monster offers the Sangrosu Katsu (₩15,000), a special cut of pork loin with gabrisal (a prized strip of meat along the loin) still attached, and the Cheese Katsu (₩14,000), packed with whole mozzarella, so diners can choose between rich pork flavor and cheese. The writer gave Katsu Monster 100 out of 100 for how distinct the two dishes are.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Jamsil group pub for gabrisal pork noodles, croissant pizza: Wareureu

Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch is a Korean pub serving full meals on Ogeum-ro 11-gil in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, near Jamsil. Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch serves Gabrisal Suyuk Kal-bibim-myeon (boiled pork with spicy knife-cut noodles) for 25,900 won and the Wareureu Emperor Edition Croissant Pizza for 24,000 won. It also runs a 100-won draft beer happy hour early in the day, and after 6pm on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before public holidays it takes only group bookings of 6 to 14 people. Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch suits groups who want food and drinks in one place, from Jamsil day drinking to a second round in Bangi-dong.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station sundaeguk with an open pork-head kitchen: Sinju Okmi

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch (신주옥미 강남점) is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Teheran-ro 10-gil, between Gangnam Station and Yeoksam Station in Seoul, and says it boils domestic pork from same-day slaughter in the restaurant four times a day. Sinju Okmi's signature Myeongin Sundaeguk Suyuk Set (14,500 won) and Gosari (bracken) Myeongin Sundaeguk Suyuk Set (15,500 won) pair a bowl of sundaeguk with freshly boiled pork head meat suyuk on one tray. Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch is a solid pick for Gangnam and Yeoksam office workers who want sundaeguk and suyuk in one meal.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored