Appetite Follower · 77 stories
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
Sujak Katsu Yangjae (수작카츠 양재점) is a tonkatsu restaurant in an alley near Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul. At lunch, the pork loin katsu set came with two fried shrimp and was generous and crisp, while the fillet katsu, rolled into rounds, was tender and juicy. For a filling tonkatsu lunch near Yangjaesiminuisup Station, order the fillet katsu at Sujak Katsu Yangjae first.
Damgeum (담금) is an Italian gelato café in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park. On a date at Damgeum, we ordered an iced americano, a con panna (espresso topped with whipped cream), a gelato tiramisu and a mango panna cotta, and the European-style space, the dessert presentation and the balance of the coffee were all excellent. Damgeum was a satisfying dessert stop to round off a Western-style meal on an Olympic Park date.
The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa is a dog-friendly wood-fired pizza restaurant near Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi. After a weekend walk around Misa Lake Park, the writer ordered tomato marinade pasta, a New York margherita and the Italian arugula pizza boat for dinner, and especially loved the wood-fired dough and the basil pesto aroma. For a wood-fired pizza dinner with your dog near Misa Lake Park or Starfield Hanam, The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa is a great choice.
Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a specialty coffee café in the basement of Seoul Finance Center (SFC Mall) in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Gwanghwamun and City Hall Station, and has received a Blue Ribbon every year from 2018 to 2026. On this visit the order was a Geisha cold brew, an americano and the new Coco Mango: the Geisha cold brew had floral, fruity notes, the americano a rich crema and the Coco Mango pretty layers. Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a good stop for specialty coffee and dessert after a walk along Cheonggyecheon.
Mild High Club Apgujeong Branch (마일드하이클럽 압구정점) is a popular brunch, beer and cocktail spot on Eonju-ro 170-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The blogger visited in May for the warm weather and ordered the sweet pumpkin gnocchi and the jambon cream paccheri pasta, and especially liked the pumpkin cream sauce and the mushrooms roasted crisp on the outside. Open 11:00 to 23:00 with no break time, Mild High Club Apgujeong Branch is an easy pick for anything from daytime brunch to evening drinks.
Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a Chinese restaurant run by Culinary Class Wars chef Jang Bo-won on basement level 1 of the KT Building at Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. The writer took their parents to Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun and ordered three dishes: butter tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour pork), ganpung monkfish (in a sweet, spicy garlic sauce) and the new jisi liangmian (shredded-chicken cold noodles), naming the ganpung monkfish their favorite. Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a good pick when you want special Chinese food beyond the usual jajangmyeon and jjamppong.
Downtowner Cheongdam (다운타우너 청담) is a handmade burger restaurant on Dosan-daero 53-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Downtowner Cheongdam, the writer ordered a classic burger with a double patty, the signature avocado burger and fries, and was pleased with the juicy patties and the thick, crispy fries. With great flavor and good-looking burgers, Downtowner Cheongdam is a handmade burger spot worth recommending for a date.
Ilpum Gwanghwamun is a kaisendon and sashimi Japanese restaurant on basement level 2 near Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. The blogger came to Ilpum Gwanghwamun for a second round and ordered the sashimi moriawase (assorted sashimi without rice), which arrived with thick cuts of uni, fatty tuna belly, salmon, aged white fish and abalone, followed by chawanmushi, tempura udon, crab cream croquette and mango panna cotta. For raw fish lovers, the Ilpum Gwanghwamun sashimi platter makes a very satisfying meal.
World Naengsam Uwa (월드냉삼 우아점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in flash-frozen pork belly on Ua-ro in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju. It is open until midnight, so it works even if you arrive late at Jeonju Station. The writer paired the frozen pork belly with free cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), steamed egg and shrimp soup, added Korean beef brisket, and finished with heart-shaped fried rice. For a late dinner with soju and a generous spread, World Naengsam Uwa is a good fit.
Cafe Ssum is a wood-toned independent dessert café tucked down an alley near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul, known for tomato snow ice bingsu and egg tarts. The blogger ordered the tomato snow ice bingsu, an iced Americano and an egg tart; the sweet-tart tomato sauce over milk snow ice came with an extra cup of sauce on the side. For an unusual summer bingsu at a quiet window seat, Cafe Ssum is a good fit.
Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang Jeonju Hanok Village Main Branch (한자매간장게장) is a restaurant specializing in ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab) and other soy-marinated seafood on Gyeonggijeon-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village. The writer ordered the A. Soy Mixed Set and the C. Crab Set (soy), tasting roe-filled May female crab, soy-marinated abalone, shrimp and salmon, plus spicy marinated shrimp the owner served for free. With mildly sweet soy crab that has no fishy taste and a crab-shell bibimbap to finish, Hanjamae is well worth a return visit.
Yeryedam Galbi (위례예담갈비) is a pork and beef galbi (Korean BBQ ribs) restaurant on Wiryegwangjang-ro in Songpa, Seoul. The writer arrived around 6 pm and grilled 2 servings of scored unmarinated pork galbi at 19,000 won per serving, with side dishes that included marinated raw crab, then finished with doenjang sulbap (rice in soybean paste broth) and the 1,000 won promotional mul naengmyeon (cold noodles). For a Wirye pork galbi spot with generous side dishes, Yeryedam Galbi's unmarinated pork galbi and 1,000 won cold noodles make a satisfying combination.
