Shopfront Lingerer · 12 stories

Quiet Shopfront, Seoul-Gyeonggi-Daejeon/Chungcheong Restaurants, Cafes, Bars and Shopping

Writes about restaurants, cafes, bars and shops across Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Daejeon-Chungcheong. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom bakery café after a run: croissant sandwich set at Stack

Stack Bakery is a croissant and kouign-amann (caramelized, laminated butter pastry) bakery café in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin, Seoul, between Konkuk Univ. and Ttukseom Hangang Park. After a run from Konkuk Univ. to Ttukseom Hangang Park, the writer sat on Stack Bakery's 2nd floor with a croissant sandwich set, a plain croissant, a kouign-amann and a Nutella & peanut pastry, and fell for the crisp-outside, soft-inside croissant and the crunchy, sweet kouign-amann. Stack Bakery is a Konkuk Univ. bakery well worth a stop for croissant lovers and Han River runners.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Bangbae bar: raw brisket sashimi in seaweed wraps, Hampyeong Yukhoe

Hampyeong Yukhoe Sadang Station Branch is a raw beef and seafood pub in Bangbae, Seocho, Seoul, near Sadang Station. It serves mungtigi (thick-cut raw beef) and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) made from hanwoo (Korean beef) slaughtered the same day and served still warm. The writer ordered the Samchongsa Set of raw chadol (brisket) sashimi, raw chadol yukhoe and yukhoe, wrapped them in gamtae (thin green seaweed) and finished with Hampyeong-style hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap. With fresh raw beef and spot-on seasoning, Hampyeong Yukhoe Sadang Station Branch is a solid pick for group dinners and work outings near Sadang Station.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong pizzeria, Peroni and crust dipped in bisque pasta: Pizzeria O

Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is a Neapolitan wood-fired pizza restaurant in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul, from Chef Lee Jin-hyeong, a Pizza World Cup winner. With jalapeño pickles and Peroni beer, the blogger had the staff-recommended Margherita Bufala, the world No. 1 salmon pizza and the bisque-sauce Gamberi Rosé Crema pasta, and wiped the pizza crusts clean through the pasta sauce. Verdict: for a date or group pizza-and-pasta dinner near Hapjeong Station, Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is as good as its reputation.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon Japanese restaurant, seiro-mushi dinner Basic A: Hana Shabu

Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch is a Japanese shabu-shabu and seiro-mushi (cypress-box steamed) restaurant on the first floor of Brownstone Junggye in Junggye-dong, Nowon, Seoul. The writer went for dinner and ordered the Dinner Seiro-mushi Basic A with brisket and sirloin, eating generously from a complimentary beef tataki starter all the way to otonagui. Verdict: Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch has a generous vegetable spread and a pleasant atmosphere, making it a good pick for a date or a family meal.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno 3-ga bakery: soft-crust garlic bread & chewy coffee bun, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-only bakery in Ikseon-dong, near Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. It sells only bread baked that day and donates leftovers to people in need. The writer took Munhwa Bakery's signature garlic bread and coffee bun home in a paper bag. The garlic bread was moist all the way through, with a crust that wasn't hard, and the coffee bun was chewy and packed with mild cream. Both Munhwa Bakery breads were addictive enough to finish every last bite.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gopdori-tang pub at Konkuk Univ. with free beef tartare: Segyegwan

Segyegwan Charcoal Gopdori-tang Konkuk Univ. branch is a new retro-style charcoal gopdori-tang (spicy chicken and beef intestine stew) pub near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Alongside the free flat-iron beef tartare (yukhoe), the meal included a 1-liter ube slush makgeolli, pan-fried flat-iron beef jeon and brisket gopdori-tang, with glass noodles added until the broth was gone. Segyegwan Charcoal Gopdori-tang Konkuk Univ. branch suits group get-togethers and anyone looking for a good-value night of drinks near Konkuk Univ.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Duck bar in Apgujeong with green onion kimchi wraps: Hwaju Yojeong

Hwaju Yojeong Duck Yojeong (화주요정 오리요정) is an open-air-style duck bar in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul, that also serves Hong Kong-style fusion Chinese bar food. The writer grilled one whole domestic marinated duck in a cauldron, wrapped the duck in green onion kimchi, enjoyed a complimentary duck soup and finished with cheese fried rice. With clean-tasting duck, a spicy house gochujang marinade and a spacious room, Hwaju Yojeong Duck Yojeong is a strong pick for team dinners and group gatherings in Apgujeong Rodeo.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

City Hall Station ramen shop: jowl-topped motsu & fried gyoza

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant on Seosomun-ro 11-gil near City Hall Station in Seoul, focusing on chicken broth ramen on the ground floor and tonkotsu ramen in the basement. The writer started with Asahi draft beer, handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and fried gyoza, then had motsu ramen topped with extra sous-vide pork jowl and pork belly chashu, and loved the rich, heavy broth and the smoky, flame-seared meat. With the extra meat toppings, the motsu ramen at Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a highly recommended hangover ramen.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu gukbap, pork cheek seaweed soup & herring roe radish: Dwaeji

Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store Branch (돼지공탕 하우) is a pork-broth gukbap (rice soup) restaurant in the 4th-floor Food Garden of Musinsa Mega Store in Seongsu, Seoul. The order was the seasonal Hau seaweed soup set, the minari and hijiki giant mandu (dumplings) sold only at this branch, and a side of dried radish strips with herring roe. The seaweed soup loaded with pork cheek and potato, the juicy giant mandu and the herring roe radish together made for a clean-emptied bowl at Dwaeji Gomtang House.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga ramen: stone-pot tsukemen and sous-vide chashu, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a Japanese ramen shop near Euljiro 3-ga Station, between Euljiro and Chungmuro in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered tsukemen with extra pork belly chashu and sous-vide chashu, plus a ramune and homemade karaage fried to order. Verdict: the Mentsuru tsukemen was well worth it, with a stone-pot dipping broth that stayed warm to the end, gentle saltiness and a pleasant fish-powder aroma.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken pub with −3°C Cass Extreme Cold draft beer, Goobne

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is an oven-roasted chicken restaurant on Hongdae Red Road (Jandari-ro 2-gil) in Mapo, Seoul, with outdoor street-side seating on the 1st floor and a spacious 2nd-floor hall. The writer ordered Cass Extreme Cold draft beer, said to be served at −3°C, with Volcano boneless chicken, and was delighted with the Cass Extreme Cold on a first try. For an ice-cold draft beer paired with spicy oven-roasted chicken in Hongdae, Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a strong pick.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju diner with Cajun chicken salad and 1L lemonade: Bunnys

Bunnys Restaurant (버니스 레스토랑) is a Western-style restaurant with a 90s American family-restaurant feel on Seongan-gil in Cheongju, behind the old Lotte Cinema. Alongside a 1-liter lemonade, the blogger ordered a Cajun chicken salad, a Monte Cristo, a jumbo Western-style pork cutlet and a pork cutlet Napolitan: the chicken was well fried, the cutlet tender and the Napolitan sauce rich. With soup refills at the self-serve bar and candy for dessert, Bunnys Restaurant is worth recommending for a date or a pork cutlet and pasta lunch on Seongan-gil.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
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