Spare Hours Planner · 12 stories

Free Hours, Seoul

I write about simple things to do in Seoul when there is time to spare. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Date lunch at a floral Hyehwa katsu restaurant: soda ade, Maison Akai

Maison Akai Hyehwa is a tonkatsu and pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Daemyeong-gil, close to Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. For a date lunch, the blogger ordered the premium loin tonkatsu set, truffle white ragu pasta, a soda ade and a grapefruit Akai ade. With its bright, flower-decorated dining room and short walk from the station, Maison Akai Hyehwa is an easy lunch stop before a play in Daehak-ro.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju Korean restaurant for family meals & nurungji: Surelsil Bonga

Surelsil Bonga (수레실본가) is a Korean restaurant on Suresil-gil in Neungpyeong-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, serving straw-seared black pork belly, beef makchang (intestines) and pot-lid dakbokkeumtang (braised spicy chicken). After a family errand, we ordered the Bonga family set (free-range chicken stew, shredded potato pancake and ramen noodles) plus cauldron rice, and the big drumsticks, crispy potato pancake and nurungji (scorched rice) were all satisfying. With open views and plenty of parking and seating, Surelsil Bonga is a good place for a family gathering in Neungpyeong-dong.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ lunch where older locals eat: Simin Sikdang

Simin Sikdang Main Branch (시민식당 본점) is a pork belly and Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 1 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul, right behind McDonald's. On a sunny day the writer came for lunch and ordered the Simin Samgyeop Half Set: pork belly, three-color kimchi, kimchi stew and Gujeolpan cheese fried rice. The staff grilling the meat at the table and the crispy nurungji (scorched rice) at the bottom of the fried rice stood out. Verdict: Jongno's rule that restaurants popular with older diners guarantee solid flavor held true at Simin Sikdang Main Branch.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Korean BBQ lunch: 1++ sirloin set & yukhoe, Deo Bareun

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch (더바른정육식당 강남신논현역본점) is a beef and pork Korean BBQ restaurant on Gangnam-daero, right outside Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. The writer ordered the hanwoo special lunch set (1++ sirloin with hanwoo doenjang stew), served only from 12:00 to 14:00, plus hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), and staff grilled the meat at the table so the meal stayed relaxed and chatty. With comfortable sofa seating and excellent meat quality, Deo Bareun is worth a visit for a beef meal near Gangnam Station.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeongnodeo hair salon high layered cut + black dye: Choijin Hair

Choijin Hair Apgujeongnodeo flagship is a hair salon near Exit 5 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer, who has thin, fine hair, got a high layered cut that added layers without thinning, plus a natural black dye that matched faded, patchy color to the grown-out roots. Verdict: if thin hair has made you hesitate about a high layered cut, Choijin Hair Apgujeongnodeo flagship is a good choice.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok sandwich spot: fig jambon-beurre & brie baguette at HUG HAUS

HUG HAUS is a second-floor brunch restaurant near Exit 3 of Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul, looking out over Gyeongui Line Forest Park. On a clear day with the windows thrown open, the writer and a friend shared a fig jam jambon-beurre, an apple cinnamon brie baguette and a shio kombu & pecan oil pasta, and the sandwiches were so good that ordering two of them was no regret at all. HUG HAUS is a great Gongdeok brunch spot for sandwiches and pasta with a leafy forest-park view and a stylish interior.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Seo-gu, Daejeon sushi omakase: black stone bar lunch course – Sori

Sori is a sushi omakase restaurant on Daedeok-daero 234beon-gil in Seo-gu, Daejeon. The reviewer booked Sori's second lunch seating at 12:30 and had a full course of sakizuke, hassun, wanmono, dry-aged sashimi and sushi, yakimono with pot rice, and dessert, priced in the ₩50,000 range. Sori's lunch omakase is generous, fun to watch and an easy, low-pressure sushi omakase pick in Daejeon.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam pufferfish restaurant: 5-dish set with parents, Bokdeurim

Bokdeurim Bokguk (복드림 복국 콩나물국) is a Korean pufferfish restaurant near Exit 5 of Samseongjungang Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer took their parents to Bokdeurim Bokguk for dinner and ordered the pufferfish set meal (bokjeongsik), which comes with five dishes: fried pufferfish, pufferfish skin salad, pufferfish bulgogi, braised pufferfish and pufferfish soup. The writer found the portions of pufferfish generous and the prices reasonable. For a Korean meal to treat older family members near Samseongjungang Station, the Bokdeurim pufferfish set is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sinnonhyeon jazz bar: anniversary flowers and carbonara, Flat Nine

Flat Nine is a jazz and dining bar in Seocho, Seoul, between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station. For an anniversary date, the writer booked a weekday 7pm table, ate the Classic Course with scallion carbonara and Jeju black pork tenderloin steak, and stayed for the 8pm live jazz set. The course, the dim lighting and the live jazz were all satisfying, which makes Flat Nine a strong pick for a quiet anniversary date in Gangnam.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Marinated Hanwoo galbi BBQ near Sinsa Station: Sinsa Hwaro

Sinsa Hwaro Sinsa Main Branch (신사화로 신사본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving water-aged meat near Exit 13 of Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer visited with a group of 4, ate marinated Hanwoo beef ribs (yangnyeom galbi) with a range of sauces and side dishes, and was pleased with the tender meat, the clean dining room and the good ventilation. Sinsa Hwaro Sinsa Main Branch is worth recommending to anyone looking for a Korean BBQ spot near Sinsa Station for a team dinner or group get-together.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. Japanese diner: Fukuoka udon & cold udon sets, Hekbap

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점) is a second-floor Japanese home-style restaurant less than a 5-minute walk from Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Having lost their appetite in the summer heat, the writer and a friend walked in without a wait just after the lunch rush and ordered a salmon and soy-marinated shrimp rice bowl set with cold bukkake udon and a Fukuoka udon set with fried chicken; most dishes are priced in the ₩10,000 range, and the sets come with sides that make the meal filling. Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a good-value pick for anyone who wants a light summer meal of cold udon.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
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