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I write about restaurant visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Black pork BBQ in Ruwon City, Incheon: cut-thickness check, Heukdwaeji

Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul Gajeong Ruwon City Main Branch is a briquette-grilled black pork BBQ restaurant near Gajeong Station in Ruwon City, Seo-gu, Incheon. Two people ordered the Yukbaek-i set and a fresh black pork gochujang stew (gochujang-jjigae); the owner showed the meat's thickness before grilling it at the table, and muksabal (acorn jelly in chilled broth) and steamed egg came as free sides. With group seating and private rooms, Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul suits anyone looking for a company dinner or get-together spot in Ruwon City.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Quiet Cheongna beef BBQ, boyfriend's birthday eve: Suksung Myeongjak

Suksung Myeongjak Cheongna (숙성명작 청라) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) BBQ restaurant with a restaurant-style atmosphere in Cheongna, Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer booked a table the night before her boyfriend's birthday. They had tenderloin for 2 grilled by the staff, truffle & hanwoo yukhoe (beef tartare), sea urchin roe, spicy hanwoo haejang noodles made with corn noodles, and Pyongyang bibim naengmyeon, and they also received the restaurant's lettering service. Suksung Myeongjak Cheongna suits a celebration when you want an anniversary mood without a noisy room.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta to share: truffle fries dipped in cheese sauce, Brivit

Brivit Hongdae Yeonnam is a pasta and Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on the walk from Hongik Univ. Station toward Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the melting cheese chicken pasta, the spicy vongole oil pasta and truffle fries, alternating between rich, savory and spicy bites, and kept reaching for the truffle fries dipped in the melting cheese sauce. If you can't pick just one dish, Brivit Hongdae Yeonnam is a good place to share two different styles of pasta.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon City Hall date-night abalone set, nurungji soup: Jeonbokchon

Jeonbokchon is an abalone Korean set-meal restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, near Incheon City Hall and Yesulhoegwan Station. On a couple's date, the writer ordered the abalone set for 2 and got a full table: abalone innards porridge, nurungji-tang (scorched rice soup), live abalone sashimi, abalone chohoe (abalone with vinegared sauce), steamed abalone, abalone sushi, kodari gangjeong (glazed fried half-dried pollack), beef bulgogi, abalone seaweed soup and maesil (green plum) tea. The verdict: Jeonbokchon's nurungji soup is the best the writer has ever eaten.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Hagik-dong hanwoo bulgogi restaurant: two rounds of beef, Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi (동추원불고기) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) bulgogi restaurant near the courthouse in Hagik-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. The hanwoo bulgogi set at Dongchuwon Bulgogi covered grilling, shabu-shabu in broth, a bulgogi burger and dessert cold noodles, and the portion was so generous that half the beef was still left after the first big batch, while the broth grew richer as the meal went on. For a family meal or group gathering in Hagik-dong with plenty of hanwoo bulgogi, Dongchuwon Bulgogi is a good fit.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gyukatsu spot in Sampyeong-dong for a date: mentaiko udon, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Avenue France in Sampyeong-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, where diners finish the cutlets themselves on a mini grill. At Ichigyu the writer ordered Set 4 (sirloin gyukatsu, sirloin steaki and 2 drinks) plus mentaiko (pollack roe) cream udon, searing the sirloin gyukatsu for just 7–8 seconds, alongside batter-free sirloin steaki and a thick, rich mentaiko cream udon. With good atmosphere, taste and easy access, Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a safe pick for a Sampyeong-dong date or a casual meal out.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong Korean restaurant, combo with gyoza and fries: Boksakkot

Boksakkot Pineun Jip Incheon Branch (복사꽃피는집 인천점) is a Korean restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, known for fire-grilled jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) stir-fry and fire-grilled spicy pork stir-fry. For a weekend lunch, the writer ordered the jjukkumi and pork combo set, added gyoza and fries, and enjoyed the set's seasonal arugula pizza, muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup) and after-meal coffee. Tasting smoky jjukkumi and pork in one order made Boksakkot Pineun Jip a hearty, satisfying lunch.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo Italian: burrata basil pesto pasta & lasagna to share, Cenacolo

Cenacolo Artfore (체나콜로 아트포레) is an Italian restaurant on the 2nd floor of Building C in the Artfore shopping complex, near Central Park in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. The writer shared three dishes at Cenacolo Artfore: burrata basil pesto pasta, aglio e olio and lasagna. From the bread served before the meal to the mains, each dish had its own flavor and character, which made taking turns between them fun. For an atmospheric pasta restaurant in Songdo, Cenacolo Artfore is a good choice, including for a date.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon bulgogi restaurant: course-style hanwoo set for 2, Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi (동추원불고기) is a bulgogi restaurant in Hagik-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. The hanwoo bulgogi set for 2 brought hanwoo (Korean beef) bulgogi simmered in broth with glass noodles and morning buns for a DIY bulgogi burger, then naengmyeon (cold noodles) and omija tea to finish. Dongchuwon Bulgogi serves the meal in order from beef to cold noodles to tea, so it feels like being properly treated to a full course.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna shabu-shabu salad bar, smoked salmon & mild broth: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and salad bar restaurant on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza in Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer started at Shabuway with salmon salad, smoked salmon and soup, then loaded vegetables into a half-and-half broth and finished with porridge and ice cream, finding the basic broth more to their taste than the spicy one. With a spacious, comfortable dining room and tender meat, Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is a dependable choice for family meals and group gatherings.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Seogyo-dong bar for instant tteokbokki, mango cream shrimp: Kkoko Land

Kkoko Land is a Korean pub with an outdoor street-tent feel in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, between Hongdae and Sangsu. At Kkoko Land we ordered sweet mango cream shrimp, Halmui Sonmat (Grandma's Touch) Seogyo-dong-style instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes cooked at the table) and sauced charcoal-grilled chicken BBQ, switching between sweet, spicy and smoky bites. Kkoko Land is one of the good bars in Hongdae for groups who want different styles of bar food at one table.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon duck restaurant for a date: special course for two, Keunsawi

Keunsawi Ori Jip Bucheon Okgil Main Branch is a Korean duck restaurant in Okgil-dong, Sosa-gu, Bucheon, near Starfield Bucheon. On a date with a duck-loving boyfriend, the writer ordered the Keunsawi Special Course for 2: perilla-seed baeksuk (slow-boiled soup), cypress-steamed duck, duck dori-tang (spicy braised stew) and fried rice, plus gondeure (Korean thistle) and shiitake rice from the self-serve bar. Keunsawi Ori Jip Bucheon Okgil Main Branch is worth recommending for dates as well as family meals with parents.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored