Dusk Side Dish · 102 stories

Banchan at Dusk

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese spot at Balsan Station for blind dates & Kirin beer: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building right by Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekday evening, two people ordered the Ichigyu gyukatsu set and the Ichigyu steki (steak) set, 19,500 won each, with a 200ml Kirin draft beer and a Zero Coke. Many diners at Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch were eating solo or on blind dates, and the rice came heaped. Verdict: the meat quality makes Ichigyu a Balsan Station Japanese restaurant well worth a return visit.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Korean restaurant: beef seaweed soup & soy cockles, Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a new Korean set-meal restaurant specialising in seaweed soup and cockles, near Exit 4 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The blogger shared the Hansang Gadeuk set for 2 (₩46,000), choosing beef seaweed soup, soy-sauce cockle bibim and beef jeon (pan-fried beef). The set filled the table with grilled fish, spicy stir-fried pork and namul (seasoned vegetables), and the side dishes could be refilled via kiosk. Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a good-value pick for family birthdays or taking parents out for a meal.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok dessert shop: egg tart that beat Hong Kong, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is an egg tart and baked-goods dessert shop near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer took home a classic egg tart (₩3,800), a vanilla canelé, chocolate and Earl Grey madeleines, and vanilla and caramel financiers, and found the crisp, rich classic egg tart more satisfying than a famous egg tart eaten in Hong Kong. Fluffy Bake Shop is close to Gongdeok Station and offers 1 hour of free parking, making it an easy stop for dessert gifts.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Pasta and pizza lunch with beer near Balsan Station: Oneul Pasta

Oneul Pasta Magok Branch (오늘파스타 마곡점) is a budget pasta and pizza restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Nonghyup building between Magok Station and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. At lunch the writer had pollock roe aglio olio pasta (₩12,900) and a margherita pizza (₩12,500) with two Stella Artois draft beers, plus the unlimited salad self-bar and a leafy green window view. The pollock roe aglio olio, with no fishy taste at all, is the must-order dish at Oneul Pasta Magok Branch.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Mokdong gopchang restaurant: bull gopchang for 2 & fire show, Omokgyo

Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a 30-year-old gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in Mokdong, Seoul, specializing in handmade garlic gopchang and green onion kimchi, a 3-minute walk from Omokgyo Station Exit 2 and facing the Anyangcheon walking path. At Omokgyo Gopchang, 2 servings of bull gopchang (₩27,900) came with a staff fire show and green onion kimchi grilled alongside until crisp; the gopchang was packed with gop (creamy marrow-like fat) and had no smell at all. With free soft tofu stew, vitamins and hotgae sticks thrown in by friendly staff, Omokgyo Gopchang is a great Mokdong spot for gopchang and soju.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon bulgogi restaurant for 70th & 80th birthdays: Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi (동추원불고기) is a traditional bulgogi restaurant near Singi Market in Hagik-dong, Michuhol, Incheon, where the writer's family often gathers with their grandparents. This time the writer ordered the hanwoo (Korean beef) bulgogi set, 28,900 won per person, for 2, which runs from shabu-shabu vegetables and brisket to dessert naengmyeon (cold noodles) and omija (five-flavor berry) tea. The beef at Dongchuwon Bulgogi is tender, so it is a good choice for a 70th or 80th birthday family meal with elders.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Hwagok sashimi: ₩42,000 platter & crab leg fritters, Eochongye 1beonji

Eochongye 1beonji (어촌계1번지) is a live fish sashimi restaurant near Exit 7 of Hwagok Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Two people ordered the small value seasonal mixed sashimi platter (₩42,000) and 8 crab leg fritters (₩13,000), and got a generous stone-plated spread of rockfish, mullet, flounder, salmon and olive flounder, with the mullet and the salmon, which had no fishy taste, standing out. Verdict: Eochongye 1beonji is a good-value sashimi restaurant at Hwagok Station that satisfies on freshness, portion and price.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station blind-date sukiyaki: ₩20,900 jeongak set at Okso Ban

Okso Ban Magok Main Branch (옥소반 마곡본점) is a shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant near Magok and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. At a weekend lunch, the Set A jeongak sukiyaki cost 20,900 won per person and came with unlimited vegetable refills, an egg-yolk sauce and kimchi fried rice to finish, with a neat spread and attentive service. Okso Ban Magok Main Branch is a strong pick for a blind date, a meeting between two families or a family gathering, and well worth a return visit.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulBars

Hwagok Station Chinese bar with a mala hot pot set: Chwiring Chwiring

Chwiring Chwiring (취링취링) Hwagok Station main branch is a Hong Kong-style Chinese bar near Hwagok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two diners, one of them a mala beginner, shared the 2-person set of mala hot pot with lemon cream shrimp (an extra 4,500 won) and a Yantai highball at 8,000 won, and liked the clean, refreshing broth, the subway-themed seating zone and the group room. Chwiring Chwiring is an easy pick for mala first-timers and for group dinners and drinks near Hwagok Station.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamCafés

Cheonan bakery café's Basque cheesecake: Steel Green Bakery

Steel Green Bakery is a bakery café with a very large parking lot in Seonggeo-eup, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. The writer ordered salt bread (2,800 won), a mochi bagel (3,500 won), chestnut bread (5,500 won), Basque cheesecake (8,000 won) and a vanilla toffee nut Einspänner (7,300 won), warmed the bread in the in-store oven, and called the Basque cheesecake the most satisfying one they have ever had. Steel Green Bakery is a big Cheonan café where you can enjoy bread and desserts with kids without worrying about parking.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamCafés

Asan brunch café date: pork neck steak in pepper cream, When You Bite

When You Bite (웬유바이트) is a European-style brunch café in Tangjeong-myeon, Asan, Chungnam, where a chef with 15 years of experience reportedly makes every dish in-house. On a weekend lunch date, the writer and her boyfriend ordered the pork neck steak with pepper cream sauce (25,000 won) and the jambon tomato pasta (19,000 won), and both the tender steak and the pasta loaded with house-made jambon were satisfying. With easy parking and a pleasant atmosphere, When You Bite is a brunch date spot in Tangjeong, Asan, worth recommending.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Buldang-dong, Cheonan BBQ date: dwitgogi and pork skirt at Euljiro

Euljiro Yeontan Gui Cheonan Buldang Branch is a retro coal briquette Korean BBQ restaurant on the first floor of Lee&City in Buldang-dong, Cheonan. On an evening date with her boyfriend, the writer ordered 200g of fresh galmaegisal (pork skirt meat) for 14,800 won, 200g of dwitgogi (pork head trimmings) for 14,800 won, a plate of cheese king scallops for 8,900 won and a Cass beer for 5,000 won; the briquette-smoked meat and the icy radish salad stood out. Since cuts can be added 100g at a time and seafood is on the menu too, Euljiro Yeontan Gui is worth recommending for a Buldang-dong date or an evening of drinks.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored