Jung-gu Fourth Seat · 8 stories

The Fourth Stool

I write about meals at restaurants around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Shopping · Stays

Vintage Levi's store in Dongdaemun with self-checkout: Seoul Denim

Seoul Denim (서울데님) is a vintage Levi's specialist store in a residential area near Cheongnyangni Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul. The writer, who knew little about vintage Levi's, tried on jeans sorted by size in the Seoul Denim fitting room, then used the self-checkout system to buy a pair of men's jeans: cut off the tag, leave it on the desk and pay directly. For vintage Levi's first-timers who want to try jeans on and choose for themselves, Seoul Denim is worth a stop.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam noodle spot for squid bomb pancake & jang kalguksu: Kkeutjang

Kkeutjang Yeoksam (끝장 역삼) is a jang kalguksu (spicy knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant between Yeoksam Station and Eonju Station in Gangnam, Seoul, that also serves jeon (savory pancakes) and makgeolli (Korean rice wine). On a Friday evening near closing time, the writer ordered the signature jang kalguksu (11,000 won), the squid bomb seafood pancake (22,000 won) and the sweet-and-sour Bokmaksa, a bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) makgeolli (16,000 won), then mixed a radish salad barley rice bowl at the self-serve bar. Kkeutjang Yeoksam works for anything from a quick bowl of kalguksu to an evening of pancakes and makgeolli with friends.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Sadang izakaya for a rainy night: Terra beer and karaage at Cheonjan

Cheonjan (천잔) is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) between Exits 8 and 9 of Sadang Station in Seoul. On a rainy Monday night, the writer stopped by Cheonjan for a second round and sat by the window with Terra beer, followed by yurinchi (Chinese-style fried chicken), tako wasabi (raw octopus with wasabi) and karaage (Japanese fried chicken); soju costs ₩6,000 and beer ₩7,000. Cheonjan is a dim, cozy second-round bar near Sadang Station where you can talk without shouting over the noise.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Last-minute Monday izakaya by Sadang Station: furikake rice, Susan

Susan Sadang Main Branch is an izakaya near Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul, serving aged sashimi and beef sashimi (yuksashimi). On a last-minute Monday meetup, the group arrived a little before dinner and ordered gwangban-yuksa (half flounder, half beef sashimi), the review-event muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup) and furikake rice. Adding sashimi to the muksabal turned it into something like mulhoe (cold raw fish soup). Everyone in the group, all fans of raw dishes with drinks, said they want to come back to Susan Sadang Main Branch.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Sungshin Women's Univ. pho restaurant after an escape room: Mibundang

Mibundang Sungshin Women's University Branch is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on Bomun-ro 32-gil in Seongbuk, Seoul, with a house rule of quiet dining. After an escape room near Sungshin Women's University, the writer and a friend with an upset stomach wanted a gentle dinner and ordered brisket pho, brisket-and-tendon pho and a mixed fried platter at the kiosk. Mibundang Sungshin Women's University Branch is clean, and its portions are so generous that extra noodles were out of the question.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Korean BBQ with friends: 4-cut pork meat cake, Beefjeong

Beefjeong Gogi Jip is a beef and pork Korean BBQ restaurant at the start of an alley near Exits 7 and 8 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. A group of friends ordered one serving each of pork jowl, gabrisal (pork cheek-collar cut), pork belly and pork neck, which earned the meat cake Beefjeong makes free for orders of 4 or more servings. They also had garlic scape bibimbap, pa-kimchi jjagyechi (green onion kimchi jjapagetti with egg and cheese) and an extra order of naengsam (frozen pork belly). With wide table spacing, 11 side dishes and plenty of small fun touches, Beefjeong Gogi Jip was a satisfying Sindang BBQ spot for a night out with friends.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJungnang, SeoulBars

Skewer bar near Sangbong Station CGV for dinner after a movie: Kkamuri

Kkamuri Sangbong Station Main Branch (까무리) is a skewer and fish cake soup bar near the CGV at Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul, serving both izakaya dishes and Korean pocha (street-tent bar) dishes. After a movie, the writer had the Owner's Home Run Set (10 skewers + fish cake soup + random side) for ₩52,000 for dinner and especially liked the mool-tteok (soft rice cake) in the Kansai-style fish cake soup and the teriyaki-sauce skewers. Kkamuri's random side can be hit or miss, so ordering the side you want separately may be the better choice.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsilsaenae, Seoul ₩18,900 pork buffet, perilla oil rice: Muhan Paldo

Muhan Paldo Daepae Jamsilsaenae Branch is an all-you-can-eat shaved pork restaurant near Exit 3 of Jamsilsaenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer grilled daepae samgyeopsal, kkotsamgyeop daepae and usamgyeop daepae with kimchi and bean sprouts, then went through three bowls of rice topped with the self-bar's roasted seaweed flakes and perilla oil sauce. All that for ₩18,900 meant a 200% return-visit intention.

Written Sep 7, 2026Sponsored

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