Round Tumbler Tripper · 17 stories

Round Tumbler, Gyeonggi/Gangwon and Busan/Gyeongnam Cafes and Restaurants

Writes about cafes and small restaurants found while traveling between Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Seoul, and Busan/Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Daeyeon-dong pork belly BBQ: two Jirisan plates, 720g at Donnamu Jip

Donnamu Jip (돈나무집) is a small Korean BBQ restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, near Kyungsung University and Bugyeongdae Station, serving Jirisan pork belly. The writer started with a 360g plate of Jirisan pork belly, added a second for 720g in total, dipped the meat in sesame and salt ground by hand in the mini mortar on every table, and finished with yeolmu-mari guksu (young radish kimchi noodles). For quality pork in a relaxed, neighborhood-regular atmosphere, Donnamu Jip is well worth a visit.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Songjeong tea house, warm Bommulgyeol and tea to buy: Suwolgyeonghwa

Suwolgyeonghwa (수월경화) is an East Asian-style ocean-view tea house on the 3rd and 4th floors of a building at the entrance to Gudeokpo in Songjeong, Haeundae, Busan. Through Suwolgyeonghwa's floor-to-ceiling windows the writer watched Songjeong Beach and the Beach Train while trying the Dalbodeure box of 5 Korean desserts, warm Bommulgyeol tea, Hoji Gabe and Gabe au Lait, and teas they liked could be bought right in the shop. Suwolgyeonghwa suits anyone who wants sea and Beach Train views with carefully made desserts.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae Western restaurant date: mushroom salad & lasagna, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is a European-style Western restaurant on Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae, Busan. The writer booked an 11:30 a.m. table for a date and ordered a set menu with pumpkin soup, grilled mushroom salad, shrimp rosé pasta, classic lasagna and basil margherita pizza, and recommended the classic lasagna above everything else. With easy parking and free corkage for up to 3 bottles, Bueokgan Haeundae Branch suits both dates and family gatherings on Dalmaji-gil.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Korean restaurant at the Sunday 11am opening: Moa

Moa Gangnam is a restaurant serving modern takes on Korean food on Teheran-ro 5-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. The writer booked a table for the 11am Sunday opening and tried vongole kalguksu (knife-cut noodles with clams), spicy flounder buckwheat noodles and ggwari dakgangjeong (crispy sweet fried chicken with shishito peppers), and Moa Gangnam felt roomy and comfortable even on a busy weekend. Moa Gangnam suits a date or group meal for anyone who wants to start the weekend slowly with neatly prepared Korean food.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Isu Station udon spot: lemon tsuyu toriten udon and inari sushi, Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch (코시 이수점) is a Japanese restaurant near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul, that specializes in house-made udon. On a hot day the writer ordered the cold toriten bukkake udon and was satisfied with every part of it: chewy, springy noodles, tsuyu brightened with lemon juice, fried chicken that was crispy outside and juicy inside, and perfectly seasoned inari sushi (sweet tofu-pocket rice). Kosi Isu Branch is worth recommending when summer heat kills your appetite or when you need a place to eat alone near Isu Station.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam pastry café, corn pie & Basque cheesecake: Upper and Under

Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더) is a three-floor dessert café between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. After weighing the cakes and baked goods (canelés, financiers, scones and madeleines) in the second-floor showcase, the writer ordered an einspänner, an americano, a Chodang corn pie (sweet corn pie) and a Basque cheesecake. The atmosphere, coffee and desserts were all satisfying, which makes Upper and Under a recommended dessert café in Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Five dishes by tablet at a Marine City Chinese restaurant: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch is an ocean-view modern Chinese restaurant in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan. Using the table tablet, the writer ordered a spicy poached-egg octopus rice bowl, poached-egg pork belly ganjajang (black bean sauce noodles), jalapeño cream shrimp, pyogosha (shiitake mushroom dumplings) and beef brisket jjamppong (spicy noodle soup), enjoying both the daytime sea view and the dim, moody lighting. With its sea view, atmosphere and well-executed cooking, Bueokgan Chinese is a Haeundae Chinese restaurant worth recommending for a meal with parents or an anniversary.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli dessert café with gelato and acai bowl: Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is an Australian-style brunch and dessert café in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, near Gwangalli Beach. On the 2nd floor of Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch, the writer tried an iced Americano, an acai bowl, yogurt granola gelato and vanilla crumble gelato, and the nutty coffee beans and natural sweetness of the fruit stood out. For coffee and a dessert brunch in Gwangalli, Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a good fit.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli pot rice restaurant: a Sunday booking for three pots, Solsot

Solsot Gwangalli (솔솥 광안리점) is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant within walking distance of Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong, Busan. With an 11:30 Sunday booking, the writer ordered lobster shrimp, sea bream and scallop, and steak pot rice plus a side of yurinki (fried chicken in tangy soy sauce), then finished with nurungji sungnyung (scorched-rice tea). Neatly presented food and a calm wood-toned room make Solsot Gwangalli a recommended spot for a date or a family meal.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung restaurant: tofu gamjatang and octopus stir-fry at Matdeurin

Matdeurin Sundubu Haejangguk & Gamjatang (강릉맛드린) is a Korean restaurant specialising in sundubu (soft tofu) and gamjatang (spicy pork spine stew) on Jukheon-gil near Ojukheon in Gangneung. On this visit, a small sundubu gamjatang topped with soft tofu made daily from domestic soybeans came alongside a smoky nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus). With early-morning opening hours and easy parking, Matdeurin is a good stop for breakfast or a hangover meal while travelling in Gangneung.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung charcoal BBQ: pork galbi and icy naengmyeon, Gangneungok

Gangneungok Hongje Branch (강릉옥 홍제점) is a hanok-style charcoal grill restaurant on Toseong-ro in Hongje-dong, Gangneung. The writer ordered seasoned pork galbi (marinated pork ribs) grilled over real hardwood charcoal alongside naengmyeon (cold noodles) with slushy ice on top; the neat side dishes and the complimentary sikhye (sweet rice drink) at the end left nothing to fault. For proper charcoal-grilled Korean BBQ on a Gangneung trip, Gangneungok Hongje Branch is a good choice.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho noodle restaurant with tablet ordering: brisket seafood shabu

Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu is a seafood-shabu jangkalguksu (spicy soybean-paste noodle soup) restaurant in Joyang-dong, Sokcho. Diners park in the private spaces in front of Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu, order from a tablet at the table, and simmer blue crab, scallops, shrimp, abalone, clams, beef brisket and a whole octopus in the jang broth before finishing with fresh noodles. The jang broth is spicy without turning heavy, and it gets deeper with every piece of seafood added.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored