Fryer Neighbor · 14 stories

Near the Fryer

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae teppan restaurant: pesto shrimp yakisoba and ebi mayo at UWA

UWA Hongdae Main Branch (우와 홍대본점) is a teppan restaurant near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, that grills okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) from a 100% yam batter. On a Saturday at 12:30 UWA was already full, so after a short wait the writer sat at the bar table and ate tomato pork okonomiyaki, basil pesto shrimp yakisoba and avocado ebi mayo (shrimp in mayo) with two Jameson highballs. The basil pesto shrimp yakisoba was the standout, and UWA Hongdae Main Branch is worth arriving at opening for a date or blind date.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ with English menus and pork skin, Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a Korean BBQ pork restaurant near Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, visited after the writer fell for Chopilsal Pork Grill in Busan. The writer ordered salted ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly), pork skin grilled by staff and Chopilsal mixed cold noodles, and the restaurant had English, Japanese and Chinese menus. Verdict: the chewy, thick pork skin at Chopilsal Pork Grill is still on the writer's mind.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station café, tiramisu & cookie for 4 on 3F: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks is a large tiramisu café near Exit 4 of Gangnam Station in Seoul, with floors from the basement up to a rooftop. Four of us filled a basket with a 3-flavor tiramisu platter and a double chocolate chip cookie, ordered four drinks, and only found a 4-person table on the 3rd floor because every floor was full. The banana tiramisu was the best at Selected Nicks, and it pays to grab a seat before you order.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam burger joint, weekend date lunch: crispy eggplant, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Gangnam Main Branch is a handmade burger restaurant near Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station, between Yeoksam Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a weekend lunch date, a couple ordered the pastrami sandwich set, a bacon cheese burger and fried eggplant, and the eggplant, crispy outside and soft inside, won them over even more than the burgers. With a terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows, Daily Fix Gangnam Main Branch is a Gangnam burger spot that works for dates, solo meals and catch-ups with friends.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Family katsu lunch near Sinsa Station on musical day: Ikki Roll Katsu

Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch is a tonkatsu and roll katsu restaurant on basement level 1 near Exit 8 of Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After picking up musical tickets, a family of four ordered Couple Set B plus a fish roe cheese roll katsu and salmon jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles), and shared a 1-liter apple mango ade with broccoli soup from the self bar. The owner cooks alone, so there was a short wait, but the whole family enjoyed the meal and was glad to have chosen Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang grill near Daerim Station with extra daechang: Gimga-ne

Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui Daerim Station Main Branch is a gopchang (grilled beef small intestine) restaurant and bar near Exit 1 of Daerim Station in Guro, Seoul. On a late weekday evening, the writer and a daechang-loving friend ordered 2 mixed gopchang platters plus 1 daechang (beef large intestine), drank cola instead of alcohol, and finished with free Hangang ramyeon earned by writing a receipt review. Because the staff grill the gopchang and daechang fully for you and the meat has no gamey smell, Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui is satisfying even if you don't drink.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station ramen: pickled ginger and scallion tsukune, Oreno

Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a chicken-broth ramen shop on the 2nd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Returning after a long break, the writer ordered tori paitan (creamy chicken broth ramen) and kara paitan (spicy chicken broth ramen) with 2 soft-boiled eggs, coriander and a zero cola, then dipped the complimentary tsukune chashu (chicken meatball) in the ramen and topped it with scallions. With rich tori paitan, spicy kara paitan and free rice, broth and noodle refills, Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a filling ramen stop near Gangnam Station.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet, 6 plates for two big eaters: steamed roe, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of a building near Exit 2 of Hagye Station in Nowon, Seoul, with a kids' café and group rooms that make it a popular spot for family gatherings and company dinners. The writer booked on Naver and came at weekend opening time with another big eater; together they filled 6 plates with live-fish sushi, steamed algon (fish roe and milt), geotjeori (fresh kimchi), BBQ pork ribs and bead ice cream. Verdict: freshly served food and a wide menu make Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch an easy, stress-free choice for a special-occasion meal from mains to dessert.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Wangsimni Station hair salon for natural summer black dye: Uahan Meori

Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch (우아한머리 왕십리센트라스점) is a hair salon near Wangsimni Station, on the 1st floor of Building H at Wangsimni Centras in Seongdong, Seoul. Uahan Meori toned down the writer's patchy brown hair, left uneven by faded dye, using a mix of Neutral Brown 3-NB and Blue C5-BL, giving a natural rather than artificial-looking black. The care was thorough from consultation to blow-dry, and the writer got the summer black hair she wanted without worrying about damage.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeongdeungpo jokbal restaurant for a Chuseok send-off: Gwihan Jokbal

Gwihan Jokbal Yeongdeungpo is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant near Exit 5 of Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul. For a last dinner before seeing parents off at Yeongdeungpo Station after the Chuseok holiday, the writer ordered the small value 3-item set, bibim makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles) and rice balls. The springy jokbal, moist bossam and spicy fire-grilled jokbal with rice cakes stood out. Gwihan Jokbal Yeongdeungpo is a good place for a hearty family meal before catching a train.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Eyelash perm in Gwanak, Seoul: L-curl and black tint at Yeppeojina

Yeppeojina is an eyelash specialty salon in Gwanak, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Bongcheon Station exit 4 and close to Seoul National University Station and Sillim. After a chart consultation with designer Taerim, Yeppeojina gave an L-curl eyelash perm with black tinting that lifted droopy lashes into a clear, defined line. For thin lashes, adding black tinting at Yeppeojina makes the eyes look sharp even without mascara.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Botanic Park date lunch at a Magok Korean BBQ: Chadol Grill

Chadol Grill Magok is a Korean beef restaurant near Exit 3 of Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul, specializing in Korean beef brisket (chadol) and yukhoe (raw beef tartare). After a date at Seoul Botanic Park, the writer ordered the Korean beef brisket yukhoe wrap, aged brisket and brisket doenjang rice at Chadol Grill Magok, and received a free steamed egg for joining the Naver receipt review event. Wrapping cold yukhoe inside warm grilled brisket was the combination worth coming back for.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored