Umbrella Wanderer · 11 stories

Loose Umbrella, Seoul and Gyeonggi Outings

Writes about weekend outings and everyday restaurants around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do

PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Shabu-shabu buffet in Namwirye after a 30-min Saturday wait: Dadam

Dadam Shabu Shabu & Wolnamssam Wirye Branch (다담샤브샤브&월남쌈 위례점) is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and wolnamssam (Vietnamese-style rice paper wrap) restaurant in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, a 7-minute walk from Namwirye Station and right in front of Wirye Prugio Apartments. The writer and her mom waited about 30 minutes after 6 p.m. on a Saturday, then ate beef chuck in half clear, half spicy broth, rice paper wraps, porridge and affogato; adult lunch is ₩17,900 and dinner ₩21,900. Thanks to fresh vegetables sourced by an owner with a Garak Market background and beef chuck with no gamey smell, Dadam Shabu Shabu is a great-value spot for a family meal.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong Korean BBQ: LA galbi, broth richer than gomtang, Hantiok

Hantiok (한티옥) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Korean pork and Hanwoo beef in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, right in front of Olympic Park. A Jamsil office worker ordered Hantiok's LA galbi set (600g of marinated LA galbi plus brisket broth, 70,000 won) and finished with bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles). The staff-grilled LA galbi was tender with no gamey smell, and the brisket broth tasted better than at a gomtang (beef soup) specialist. Hantiok is a solid pick when you want grilled meat and a hearty soup in one filling meal.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja Station lamb restaurant: bone meat grilled with minari, Nokji

Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch (녹지 분당정자점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 3 of Jeongja Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, where servers grill aged chilled lamb and beef at your table. We ordered 2 portions of lamb French rack (200g, 34,000 won per person) and beef jangteo-guk (market-style beef soup). The French rack came grilled medium with truffle and basil cheese sauces, and the meat left on the bones was grilled with minari (water dropwort) at the end. Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch was a satisfying lamb omakase near Jeongja Station, with excellent grilling and well-matched side dishes.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong pub with parking and aged kimchi sprout soup: Muneo Cheonha

Muneo Cheonha (문어천하) is an old-school pub in the Bangi-dong food alley near Jamsil Station in Songpa, Seoul, serving octopus samhap made with live octopus delivered daily from Yeosu. The writer paired the ₩55,000 live octopus samhap (octopus, bossam pork and aged kimchi) with soju and the free starters of aged kimchi bean sprout soup, corn cheese and octopus steamed egg, and found the 1 hour of underground parking and group seating handy for a work dinner. If you want an old-school soju spot in Bangi-dong without parking worries, Muneo Cheonha is the answer.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Late-night gopchang grill in Songpa, Seoul till midnight: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship (진성한우곱창 가락본점) is a Korean beef intestine grill in Songpa, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Garak Market Station Exit 1. The order was 2 servings of hanwoo gopchang (grilled Korean beef small intestine), 1 serving of hanwoo makchang, kkakdugi yangbap (radish kimchi fried rice with tripe) and soju, and the three house-made kimchis and pickled minari garlic sauce cut through the richness of the gopchang. With servings around 19,000 won and hours until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang is a recommended Garak-dong gopchang spot for a second round.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sunae Station BBQ date: staff-grilled black pork belly, Jeju Monteurak

Jeju Monteurak Bundang Sunae Branch (제주몬트락 분당수내점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Sunae Station Exit 1 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, serving both Jeju black pork and white pork. A couple ordered black pork belly for 2 and a seafood doenjang (soybean paste) stew, then added 1 serving of raw black pork galbi because the belly was so good. Staff grill the thick cuts for you at Jeju Monteurak, so it works well for team dinners, dates and family meals.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiThings to do

Uijeongbu couple ring workshop: each other's Serena rings at Ring Plus

Ring Plus Uijeongbu Branch is a silver 925 ring-making one-day class workshop near Exit 4 of Uijeongbu Station, by Uijeongbu Rodeo Street in Gyeonggi. The writer and her boyfriend each made the other's couple ring, the Serena men's design with a diamond-cut finish, in a private room, then waited 1–2 hours to receive the finished rings in a case and small bag. Ring Plus Uijeongbu Branch is a memorable, unusual date for anniversary couple rings or friendship rings.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

After-work Korean BBQ in Bangi-dong, Seoul: Chowon Salt Grill samhap

Chowon Salt Grill (초원소금구이) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul, serving samhap (a three-way combination) of hanwoo brisket, pen shell scallop and Haenam aged kimchi. Around 5pm on a weekday, the samhap for two (56,000 won) was followed by brisket doenjang stew and fried rice. Upjinsal (beef flank) was the standout special cut and Haenam aged kimchi the best side. Chowon Salt Grill is a solid pick for a first round after work or a good place for food with drinks, but expect a wait after 6–7pm.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon rib restaurant: Buldak-hot beef, perilla wraps, Gimcheongja

Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim (김청자매운갈비찜) Seohyeon Station Branch is a spicy galbijjim (braised short rib) restaurant near Exit 6 of Seohyeon Station and Megabox in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. It serves only spicy galbijjim and is a favourite with locals. The writer ordered the beef spicy galbijjim for two (38,000 won) at medium heat, which is hotter than Buldak noodles, plus steamed egg (5,000 won) and fried rice (3,000 won). Gimcheongja's garlicky sauce and tender rib meat make it a great pick when you want to burn off stress with fiery food.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo date-night gyukatsu, butter-grilled on a brazier: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a Japanese set-meal-style gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Avenuefrance, a 3-minute walk from Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered both tenderloin and striploin gyukatsu, grilled them in melted butter on a personal tabletop brazier, and added karaage, fried shrimp and mini curry on the side. With 1 free rice refill and a salt-and-wasabi pairing, Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a Pangyo date restaurant that is both fun and delicious.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jokbal restaurant of 13 years near Sunae Station Exit 4: Wangchang

Wangchang Jokbal is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant in Sunae-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, a 2-minute walk from Sunae Station Exit 4 near Rodeo Street, serving jokbal for 13 years. The half-and-half order of original and spicy jokbal (medium) costs 46,000 won, with jaengban makguksu (chilled buckwheat noodles) at 15,000 won and salted oysters added for 9,000 won; the spicy jokbal carries a strong smoky heat that spice-sensitive eaters may want to skip. With movable partitions around the group tables, Wangchang Jokbal works well for a team dinner.

Written Aug 16, 2026Sponsored
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