Spare Napkin · 150 stories

The Extra Napkin

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping · Stays

PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

One-person pizza shop in Mokdong: truffle mushroom set, Pizza Meokda

Pizza Meokda Mokdong is a one-person pizza restaurant on Omok-ro in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, where solo diners can enjoy pizza and chicken together. At the kiosk the writer ordered the Amazing Set (Truffle Mushroom) for 12,900 won, cheese balls for 2,500 won and meat oven pasta for 5,500 won; the portions were too generous to finish alone, and the meat oven pasta was the most memorable dish. For a good-value pizza place in Mokdong where eating alone is easy, Pizza Meokda Mokdong is a solid choice.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Frozen pork belly BBQ in Cheongju for a weekend meal with kids: Woosam

Woosam Bunpyeong Direct Branch (웃삼 분평직영점) is a frozen pork belly (naengsam) restaurant serving Korean Handon pork in Bunpyeong-dong, Seowon-gu, Cheongju. On a weekend, the writer's family, kids included, ate flash-frozen pork belly dipped in shio-yaki sauce before grilling and finished with self-made fried rice, and everyone loved the generous free sides, which even included fish cake skewer soup and shrimp tempura. For an easygoing family meal with kids in Cheongju, Woosam Bunpyeong Direct Branch is a very satisfying choice.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung room izakaya with my brother: hanwoo garlic tataki, Momiji

Momiji Seolleung Branch is an upscale izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, where most of the seating is in private rooms. Over dinner with a younger brother who works near Seolleung Station, the writer ordered the seasonal sashimi platter and the hanwoo (Korean beef) sirloin garlic tataki: the sashimi was thick and fresh, and the tataki came with a house special sauce. Momiji Seolleung Branch is a good fit for family get-togethers or business dinners where you want a long, quiet conversation in a private room.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Seolleung Chinese bar for a second round: crispy Peking duck, Mirim

Mirim Yangjang Seolleung Branch (미림양장 선릉점) is a Chinese bar near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, known for Peking duck as its signature dish. Remembering a first visit last year, the writer returned there for a second round of drinks, ordered the Peking duck by QR code, and enjoyed the crispy duck skin wrapped with scallion, cucumber and sauce. With its red-lit, Hong Kong-style interior, Mirim Yangjang Seolleung Branch suits Seolleung Station office groups who want a proper meal and drinking food in one stop.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonCafés

Weekend café in Sutonggol, Daejeon: quiet 1st-floor seats at Luonto

Luonto Sutonggol Branch is a three-story café in Sutonggol, Yuseong, Daejeon, famous for chimney bread baked fresh as soon as you order. On a weekend when the 2nd floor was full and the 3rd floor more than half full, the writer, a regular, sat on the quiet 1st floor with a best friend over cinnamon chimney bread and an iced Americano and iced Einspänner made with acidic beans. Verdict: if Luonto Sutonggol Branch is packed on a weekend, head for a 1st-floor seat.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Post-screen-golf eel buffet in Jijok-dong, Daejeon: Songrimbok

Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store is an all-you-can-eat grilled eel restaurant in Jijok-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, serving freshwater eel, pork belly and jumulleok (seasoned pork) for ₩29,900 per person. After 18 holes at a screen golf room in the same building, the writer and a friend ordered for two, received a free bottle of bokbunja (Korean black raspberry wine), and paired the eel with minced ginger and spicy scallion salad. Two plates later they were full before the 2-hour limit was up. For a post-workout stamina meal or a group dinner in Jijok-dong, Songrimbok's spacious seating and fresh eel make it well worth the trip.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Flame-grilled burger dinner near Gongdeok Station: Quokka Bite

Quokka Bite (쿼카바이트) is a handmade burger restaurant on Baekbeom-ro 24-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Gongdeok Station and Daeheung Station. After running errands near Gongdeok Station, the writer had dinner at Quokka Bite: the Grilled Quokka Burger set (16,400 won, with a milkshake swap for 2,500 won extra) and the Avocado Smash Quokka Burger (12,900 won), with the juicy flame-grilled patty and generous avocado standing out. Quokka Bite is a Gongdeok burger spot that works for anything from a solo meal to a date along Gyeongui Line Forest Park.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon sushi omakase in Dunsan-dong: 1-hour chef's bar lunch at Sori

Sori is a sushi omakase izakaya in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. At lunch, the writer and a sashimi-loving friend sat at the bar in front of the chef for a course of about 1 hour, running from welcome tea, sakizuke and hassun to dry-aged sashimi and sushi, irori-grilled yellow croaker, pot rice and dessert. Sori's lunch omakase in Dunsan-dong suits anyone who wants an elegant atmosphere and a carefully prepared course.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Seafood restaurant by Mokdong Station, hijiki sides: Jumak Haemulchon

Jumak Haemulchon (주막해물촌) is a seafood restaurant at 16 Mokdongjungangseo-ro 1-gil in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, run by a husband-and-wife team from Samcheok. After a satisfying first visit last year, the writer returned to Jumak Haemulchon and ordered the small haemuljjim (spicy steamed seafood). The neat side dishes, especially the hijiki, and the fresh seafood with no fishy taste stood out. With its freshness, generous portions and warm atmosphere, Jumak Haemulchon is a Mokdong seafood spot well worth a repeat visit.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ early dinner: jowl, chive sul-bap, Deo Bareun

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang (더바른정육식당) Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch is a Blue Ribbon-listed Korean BBQ restaurant on Gangnam-daero near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving hanwoo 1++ beef and Jeju black pork. On an early dinner with a friend, the writer had staff-grilled Jeju black pork five-layer belly and Jeju pork jowl with cheese steamed egg, then finished with hanwoo chive sul-bap (rice dish). Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang gets busy enough for a wait, but the meat quality and service make it well worth it.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon café, private white-curtain seats: Something About Coffee

Something About Coffee (썸띵어바웃커피) is a large three-floor café on Gangnam-daero 102-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Something About Coffee, the writer sat in a seat screened off by white curtains and tried a black sesame latte, a matcha chocolate latte, a sweet corn cream cheese scone and a lemon yogurt cake, and was impressed by the different mood on each floor, the outdoor tables and the dessert display case. Something About Coffee is a Sinnonhyeon Station café worth recommending to anyone who wants space, flavor and atmosphere together.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon café with a big tree: Shine Muscat ade, Upper and Under

Upper and Under is a large café on Gangnam-daero 102-gil in Seoul, between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station, with a different atmosphere on each floor. The visit covered the big tree at the entrance and the green plants around the outdoor tables, plus a raspberry cake, matcha canelé, Shine Muscat ade and matcha cream oat latte. If you want a spacious coffee shop in Seoul with a wide dessert selection, Upper and Under is worth a stop at least once.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored