Filter Hour Drifter · 47 stories

The Filter Hour

I write about cafés I visit around Seoul, from drinks to the small details of each stop. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Season-change hot pot, Euljiro 3-ga: beef shank & spicy gukbap, Paldal

Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch (팔팔너구리해장 을지로3가역점) is a beef shank hot pot and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant right outside Exit 8 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. As a restorative meal for the change of seasons, the writer and friends ate the Paldal Beef Jeongol (beef shank hot pot) and the spicy Salsal Boneless Gukbap, then added udon noodles and porridge. With a clean yet deep broth and chewy beef shank in a ₩38,000 medium hot pot, Paldal Neoguri Haejang is a good-value spot for hearty comfort food.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Quirky Jonggak monastery bar: gratin, tiramisu after dinner, Sudowonui

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고) is a gastropub themed on a medieval European monastery, on basement level 1 near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer stopped by Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo after dinner, ordered the gratin and the tiramisu, and found both delicious despite already being full. Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is worth a stop for a second round near Jonggak Station if you want both a fun concept and good food.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae izakaya with udon hotpot and upside-down soju: Gyepan-ui Bam

Gyepan-ui Bam Hongdae (계판의 밤) is a chicken-focused izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on the bar street near Sangsang Madang in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul. On a spring night with the doors and windows wide open, the blogger paired dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), udon hotpot and takoyaki with soju at ₩5,500, and tried a playful order that brings the soju bottle sideways or upside down. With a long menu and varied seating, Gyepan-ui Bam Hongdae is one of the good bars in Hongdae for friends, couples and groups alike.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Spring-night udon shop by Seokchon Lake: thin chili udon, big cutlet

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Seokchon Lake Branch (행복한우동가게 석촌호수점) is a 24-hour udon and Korean snack restaurant, open every day of the year, between Seokchongobun Station and the west side of Seokchon Lake in Songpa, Seoul. On a cool spring night the writer ordered chili udon, with noodles thinner than regular udon and a clean, refreshing broth, plus an old-style pork cutlet so large it seemed endless no matter how much was cut. Haengbokhan Udon Gage is an easy stop for solo meals, late-night eats or a light drink, with no need to watch the clock.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Bar in Gangnam, Seoul: herb butter clams and ume highball at Kishun

Kishun is a Japanese izakaya serving seasonal small plates on the 2nd floor of a building midway between Sinsa Station and Apgujeong Station in Gangnam, Seoul, near the Gangnam Eulji Hospital intersection. The writer sat with a friend at the far-left bar seat and ordered Kishun's clams steamed in butter and sake with herb butter (₩29,000), a Suntory Kakubin highball and a non-alcoholic ume (Japanese plum) highball, scraping up every last drop of the broth. Kishun's food is good, but its atmosphere is the real draw, making it a strong pick for a date or an early-romance night out.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Blue Ribbon Korean BBQ in Sinsa: galbi & cold noodles, Sinsa Hwaro

Sinsa Hwaro Sinsa Main Branch is a Blue Ribbon-listed yakiniku-style Korean BBQ restaurant at the start of Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in marinated Hanwoo (Korean beef) galbi and flower galbi. On a return visit with friends, the writer ordered marinated Hanwoo galbi, pork kkodeul-sal (chewy pork neck-fat cut), Hanwoo doenjang stew and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), and loved the juicy water-aged beef, the chewy kkodeul-sal and the myeoljeot ssamjang (anchovy-sauce dipping paste). Verdict: Sinsa Hwaro satisfies on both beef and pork, best enjoyed as Hanwoo galbi with doenjang stew and kkodeul-sal with bibim naengmyeon.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Apgujeong Rodeo Peking duck bar with open kitchen: Mirim Yangjang

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is a Hong Kong-style Peking duck restaurant and bar on the first basement floor near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After work, the writer and a friend shared half a Peking duck, Hong Kong-style egg noodles and duck fried rice while watching roasted, freshly carved duck pile up like a mountain in the open kitchen along one wall. Because Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong lets you order a half duck, it's an easy Peking duck spot for adding several other dishes.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

New Hapjeong Korean pub for king shrimp chive pancake: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) is a new Korean pub specializing in makgeolli and traditional Korean liquor, tucked in an alley between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer and a friend shared a crispy chive pancake with king shrimp (16,000 won) and a cabbage roll hot pot of pork and enoki mushrooms wrapped in napa cabbage (22,000 won), and found that the soft lighting suits a date or a night out with friends. For Korean food paired with traditional liquor, Dambaek Jujeom is a safe choice among Hapjeong's new pubs.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday Hongdae pasta dinner for 3: upsized Special Black, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Hongdae Branch is a budget-friendly pasta restaurant in Hongdae (Mapo, Seoul), a 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 6 on the Gyeongui Line Book Street side. On a weekday evening, three friends ordered upsized Special Black oil pasta, hot rosé chicken pasta and aglio olio at Pasta Go Hongdae Branch and finished all three plates. With the 20% discount, pastas cost ₩10,800–12,720, and year-end Christmas tree decorations make the room cozy: a solid pick for a friends' meetup or a Hongdae date.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jongno alley wine bar where you pick a ₩23,000 bottle: Dongmyo Market

Dongmyo Market (동묘마케트) is a wine bar and pub styled like an American market, hidden at the end of a narrow alley near Dongmyoap Station in Jongno, Seoul. At Dongmyo Market the writer picked a ₩23,000 bottle from the wine cellar at the back and paired it with a ₩6,800 glass of wine, seafood butter pasta, bacon kimchi fried rice and Cajun fries. Dongmyo Market is a good fit if you want alley atmosphere and affordable wine in one place.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Nonhyeon seafood pub: steamed roe crab & abalone aglio olio, Sanhocho

Sanhocho Nonhyeon is a retro-themed seafood pub in the Nonhyeon food alley between Nonhyeon Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The blogger had two new May-season dishes with soju: roe-filled steamed female crab (4 crabs, ₩65,000) and abalone maesaengi seaweed aglio e olio (₩25,000). The crab meat was sweet and packed with roe, and the clams were fresh. The seasonal crab is good, but Sanhocho Nonhyeon's real strength is sashimi with soju, and it is popular enough that you should book ahead.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

City Hall ramen shop for Lantern Festival night: abura soba, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen shop in Jung-gu, Seoul, near City Hall Station Exit 10 and right next to Deoksugung Palace. On the evening of the May Lotus Lantern Festival at Jogyesa Temple, the writer had tori paitan (creamy chicken-broth ramen, 12,000 won), abura soba (brothless oil ramen, 12,000 won), chicken skin gyoza (5,000 won) and ramune Japanese soda (5,500 won); the rich chicken broth and the non-greasy abura soba stood out. Dinner at Mentsuru City Hall Branch followed by Deoksugung's night opening and Jogyesa Temple makes a recommended evening route.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored