Lane Lunchbox · 21 stories

Lunch in the Alley

Writes about restaurant meals found around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Korean restaurant: bori gulbi set for two with Mom at Tteurak

Simhaksan Tteurak Paju Main Branch (뜨락 파주본점) is a bori gulbi (barley-dried yellow croaker) set-meal restaurant near Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi, seating up to 200 with private rooms and its own bori gulbi shop. To suit Mom's taste, the bori gulbi set for two (60,000 won) came with iron-pot rice, doenjang stew, namul sides and a large deboned bori gulbi, eaten with cool green tea water. The salty bori gulbi and nutty green tea water pair well, making Simhaksan Tteurak Paju Main Branch a good pick for a family meal.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju brunch café with salmon avocado brunch and rooftop tent: Barirus

Barirus is a large brunch and bakery café on Bongseosan-ro in Paju-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi, within easy reach of Seoul. At Barirus the writer had the salmon avocado brunch (22,900 won), an iced café latte, castella cream bread and mozzarella cheese sausage bread; the brunch filled the whole plate and the latte's milk tasted rich and nutty. For a date or get-together near Seoul with brunch and bread in a spacious setting, Barirus is a solid pick.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Dangsan Han River restaurant with hanwoo tartare: Hangangview Dangsan

Hangangview Dangsan is a Han River view pasta and steak restaurant on the 10th floor of the metro29 building in front of Dangsan Station, Seoul. With a reserved window seat, the writer had hanwoo (Korean beef) beef tartare for 27,000 won and shrimp Toowoomba risotto for 29,000 won, with red wine and Stella beer. With its sweeping Han River view and rich egg-yolk and poached-egg dishes, Hangangview Dangsan is well worth booking for a date, an anniversary or a group dinner.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Burger shop date by Changdeokgung: Double & spicy pickles, Downtowner

Downtowner Anguk is a hanok-style craft burger shop on Bukchon-ro near Anguk Station and Changdeokgung in Jongno, Seoul. On a date, two people ordered a Downtowner Double (13,900 won) and an Avocado burger (12,700 won), one as a set and one on its own, with thick-cut fries and spicy pickles from the self-serve bar, and finished everything despite being full. Downtowner Anguk is an Anguk Station burger shop that works well for a date or a solo meal.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Chinese pub at Dangsan Station: basic-size mala hot pot, Yongyong

Yongyong Seonsaeng (용용선생) Dangsan Station branch is a mala-focused Chinese pub near Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Even at the basic size, the signature Volcano Mala Hot Pot (₩24,900) overflowed with beef brisket, bean sprouts, bunmoja (potato starch noodles) and fuzhu (tofu skin), and the writer added soy sauce egg fried rice (₩5,900) and soju on the side. For mala lovers, Yongyong Seonsaeng Dangsan Station branch works as both a first-round dinner and a second-round drinking spot.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan dumpling restaurant: weekend barley bibimbap with Mom, Arirang

Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch (아리랑개성손만두 식사점) is a Korean restaurant in Siksa-dong, Ilsan (Goyang) serving mandu (Korean dumpling) hot pot and shabu-shabu. Over a weekend lunch with Mom, the writer ordered the mandu hot pot + barley rice set for 2 (24,000 won), mixing the barley rice with young radish kimchi and eating kimchi and meat mandu in a clear broth piled with bean sprouts. The barley rice set at Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch was generous and tasty, and Mom left happy.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Bukchon perfume class for couples: wild grape & muguet, Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원 북촌향수공방) is a perfume workshop in Bukchon near Anguk Station, Seoul, running one-day classes where you make your own perfume (EDP 12%), car freshener or diffuser. Blogger Meokttuttu and partner Yun went through a tablet survey, a mood check and a perfumer consultation before three blend rounds, and Meokttuttu finished a 6g perfume after dropping raspberry for wild grape (sanmeoru) and muguet. Verdict: the elegant space and Korean scent ingredients make Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop a satisfying, unusual date idea in Bukchon.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonBars

Group dinner pub by Cheongna Canalway, Incheon: Ppalgan-mat Pocha

Ppalgan-mat Pocha Incheon Luwon Cheongna main branch is a clam hotpot pub on the Canalway waterside park side of Cheongna, Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer ordered the medium mussel, scallop and hard clam hotpot (45,000 won) and a cheese rolled omelet (13,000 won); the hotpot came with a mountain of scallops in a clean broth, and song requests and events kept the mood fun. With a spacious dining room and a beam projector, Ppalgan-mat Pocha is a good fit for company dinners and group drinks in Cheongna.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonBars

Geomdan wine bar May course for three: Korean melon jamón, Matgim

Matgim (맡김) is an omakase wine bar and Korean pub in Geomdan New Town, Seo-gu, Incheon, with a course menu that changes every month. Three friends booked Matgim's 4-person table for the May course (₩35,000 or ₩50,000, one drink per person required). The course ran from Korean melon jamón salad and grilled napa cabbage to shrimp tacos, truffle mushroom pasta, sous-vide pork tenderloin steak and coconut chip ice cream. Verdict: Matgim is a good Geomdan bar for an anniversary with a light course and drinks.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gapyeong octopus restaurant: spicy bowl and hangover soup, Paldang

Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi is a family restaurant in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, serving fire-grilled baby octopus rice bowls, hot-plate baby octopus and pork cutlets. The writer ordered the 13,000 won fire-grilled baby octopus rice bowl at the spicy level and the fire-grilled baby octopus and pork belly rice bowl, with self-serve side dishes and bean sprout soup, and found the smoky fire flavor and heat strong and the portions generous. For spice lovers who need a filling hangover meal the morning after drinking, Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi is a good fit.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly café in Paju Unjeong: dog-walk takeout, Pound Coffee

Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is a dog-friendly bakery café near Unjeong Health Park in Paju, Gyeonggi. Before a walk in Unjeong Health Park with their dog Kong-i, the writer took out an iced americano (4,500 won), an iced latte made with the acidic beans (5,000 won), and hazelnut choco (3,500 won) and salty choco (3,200 won) financiers to eat in the park. For a nutty latte and sweet-salty financiers on a dog walk, Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is a good fit.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dog-friendly Unjeong Chinese spot: salt-dip tangsuyuk, Mimi China

Mimi China is a dog-friendly Chinese restaurant on Cheonjeonggu-ro in Unjeong, Paju, and its original location is said to be Yongmun Gaekjan in Icheon. The writer brought their dog Kongi and ordered the Mimi Set for Two jjamjjamyeon (jjamppong and jjajangmyeon, 24,000 won) and Korean pork loin tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 20,000 won). The handmade fried dumplings at Mimi China were large and well filled, and the Sinmi jjamppong with dried pollack made a refreshing hangover soup. Bring a carrier or stroller, and Mimi China is a great place to share a jjajangmyeon and jjamppong meal with your dog.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored