Appetite Follower · 74 stories

Follow the Appetite

I write about restaurants I visit in Gyeonggi and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong octopus pub, Friday after-work samhap: Muneo Cheonha

Muneo Cheonha (문어천하) is a live octopus pub that has been in the Bangi-dong food alley near Jamsil, Songpa, Seoul, for over 10 years. On a Friday evening after work, the writer sat in a Japanese-style booth at Muneo Cheonha and ordered the live octopus samhap (octopus, bossam boiled pork and aged kimchi), which came with bean sprout soup and corn cheese and steamed egg both topped with octopus. Eating the samhap dipped in soy sauce, topped with chili and wrapped in aged kimchi made Muneo Cheonha a satisfying Friday night drinking spot.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja-dong Korean BBQ: fresh belly vs frozen pork neck, Eunbakjip

Eunbakjip is a pork belly BBQ restaurant on Jeongjail-ro in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, and it reportedly uses fresh, never-frozen Boseong Nokdon grade 1+ sow pork. At Eunbakjip the writer ordered 1 portion of fresh pork belly and 2 portions of flash-frozen pork neck. The thin frozen pork neck slices were rolled around vegetables as wraps, and the thick fresh pork belly was eaten with namul (seasoned greens) grilled on the same plate. Verdict: Eunbakjip is a good Jeongja-dong Korean BBQ spot when you want to compare fresh pork belly and flash-frozen pork neck at one table.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly bakery café in Gogi-dong, Yongin: 10kg dog rules, Roysa

Roysa is a large dog-friendly bakery café in Gogi-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi. On a weekend evening the writer enjoyed autumn mountain views and the camping-style space over an iced Americano (₩7,000), a black sesame café latte and a warmed pain au chocolat, and checked Roysa's dog rules, which split at 10kg. For autumn foliage, dog-friendly seating and a family outing all in one, Roysa is a café worth returning to.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market Station crab restaurant: roe vs male crab, Gejang Maeul

Gejang Maeul (게장마을) is a soy sauce and spicy marinated crab (gejang) restaurant in Garak-dong, Songpa, Seoul, near Garak Market Station. The Gejang Maeul soy crab course (32,000 won) and set meal (21,000 won) both require 2 or more people, and the main difference is whether you get roe-filled female soy crab or male soy crab. The blogger had the course with roe-filled soy crab, spicy crab, soy-marinated shrimp, fried shrimp, cauldron rice and seafood stew, and recommends Gejang Maeul's connectable private rooms for family meals.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Jeju dessert shop: chocolate-coated Harubangne before 7pm, Today Jeju

Today Jeju (오늘제주) is a dessert shop on the 1st floor of Shilla Duty Free at 69 Noyeon-ro in Jeju City, known for Harubangne, madeleines shaped like Jeju's Dol Hareubang stone statues. Today Jeju's orange-themed shop sells Harubangne in chocolate, matcha, carrot, hallabong and prickly pear flavors, plus chocolate-coated madeleines, and a single Harubangne tasted moist with a rich buttery flavor. For a cute, tasty Jeju souvenir instead of the usual chocolate or tangerine snacks, Today Jeju is a great choice.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Jeju rice cake shop: 4-flavor omegi-tteok Mom wants in Seoul, Suragan

Suragan Tteokbang (수라간떡방) is a rice cake shop on Noyeon-ro in Jeju City that specializes in omegi-tteok (Jeju mugwort rice cakes) and traditional tteok. The blogger packed a 20-piece Suragan Tteokbang gift set with 5 each of tangerine, black sesame, red bean and soybean powder omegi-tteok, and the blogger's mother tried one and wanted to order a delivery to Seoul. With chewy mugwort rice cake and generous red bean filling, Suragan Tteokbang's omegi-tteok is a worthwhile Jeju souvenir or gift for parents.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Quiet brunch café off Aewol café street in Jeju: Aewolbon Café

Aewolbon Café is a red, two-story ocean-view café on Aewolhaean-ro in Aewol-eup, Jeju, set a little apart from the busy Aewol café street, so it is relatively quiet. Looking for a calm break instead of the crowded café street, the writer had brunch at Aewolbon Café with a Bon ham and cheese sandwich, a Jeju matcha latte and an Udo peanut latte while looking at the sea through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Aewolbon Café is a good pick for Jeju travelers who would rather rest quietly by the sea than join crowded tourist spots.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songridan-gil pizzeria, scallion beef & tzatziki: Pizza Never Sleeps

Pizza Never Sleeps Songridan-gil Branch is a basement pizzeria in a Songridan-gil alley near Songpanaru Station in Songpa, Seoul. On a friend's recommendation, the writer ordered a regular Beef Never Sleeps: bulgogi-style beef topped with scallions and jalapeños, with a smoky flame-grilled flavor and a crust that is crisp outside and chewy inside. With its chandeliers and black-toned interior, Pizza Never Sleeps Songridan-gil Branch is a good pick for a date or pizza and beer with friends.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuShopping

Jeju Dongmun Market snack shop: Hallabong yugwa off the airport bus

Cheongchuni Oranda Dongmun Market Main Branch Tapdong (청춘이오란다) is a souvenir shop inside Dongmun Market in Jeju City that makes and sells traditional Korean snacks such as oranda (puffed grain clusters) and yugwa (crispy rice crackers). On the first day of an autumn trip, the writer took a bus from Jeju Airport straight to Dongmun Market, sampled each kind at Cheongchuni Oranda, and picked yuzu oranda, Hallabong yugwa and a 3,500-won square oranda, plus buckwheat, rice and brown rice yugwa for the parents. If you want a Jeju gift that isn't chocolate or tangerines, Cheongchuni Oranda's tasting corner is worth a first stop.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Jeju restaurant near Hotel Nanta for a mild pomodoro dinner: Cultured

Cultured (컬쳐드) is a pasta, risotto and pizza family restaurant on Seungcheon-ro in Ara-dong, Jeju City. During a Jeju trip, the blogger had dinner at Cultured near Hotel Nanta and shared a mild pomodoro pasta (₩18,000), a squid ink special risotto (₩19,000) and a half-and-half gorgonzola and margherita pastry pizza. The blogger also noticed a map at Cultured showing where its ingredients come from. Cultured is a government-designated Good Price Business worth recommending to families, friends and couples who want to share a variety of Western dishes.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ori Station Chinese restaurant: lemon cream shrimp at Palbok Ori

Palbok Ori Branch is an upscale Chinese restaurant on the first floor of Bundang M Tower, near Ori Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The meal opened with green tea brewed at the table, followed by cotton-candy lemon cream shrimp, hongtang gwayuk (sweet-and-sour pork) with beet sauce, matsutake-scented choma (spicy seafood noodle soup, jjamppong) and a mango grapefruit sago dessert. The food, service and atmosphere were all satisfying. With 2 hours of free parking and private rooms assigned on reservation, Palbok Ori Branch is a strong pick for family meals and group dinners.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop in Yongsan I'Park Mall: post-movie date couple set, Menya

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is a ramen restaurant on the 7th-floor restaurant floor of I'Park Mall, directly connected to Yongsan Station in Seoul. After a weekend movie, we had dinner at Menya Seoul: the couple set (dongpo braised pork ramen, a large sweet soy chicken rice bowl and a drink) plus a small karaage (Japanese fried chicken), which the owner recommended in its spicier style. The thick dongpo chashu and the bonito-topped chicken bowl make a filling combination, and Menya Seoul is worth a try for a date meal before or after a movie.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored