Hanok Wanderer · 17 stories

A Noon Griddle in Gunpo

Writes about small restaurants and lunch spots around Gyeonggi, one visit at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Stays

PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Naebang Station café: after-dinner pies & hibiscus tea, Hodukkakki

Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch is a walnut pie café near Exit 8 of Naebang Station in Seocho, Seoul, known for healthy sweetness made without sugar. After dinner, the writer and a younger sibling ordered a milk cream walnut pie, a macadamia cheese pie, a hazelnut americano and a blueberry hibiscus tea for ₩18,900 in total and ate in. Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch has only two 4-person tables, but it is a good Naebang Station café for a quiet chat over a slice of pie.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Western restaurant, 3 QR-ordered dishes for ₩68,000: Nonchalant

Nonchalant Lounge is a European-style Western restaurant on Jeongjo-ro in central Haenggung-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon. After browsing the gift shops along Haeng-ri-dan-gil with her husband, the writer ordered by QR code: chuck flap steak (₩34,000), bisque rosé pasta (₩19,000) and carbonara (₩15,000), ₩68,000 in total. The tender prime-grade chuck flap steak and friendly service stood out, making Nonchalant Lounge a recommended stylish meal after a Haenggung-dong stroll.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon burger dinner with buffalo wings and San Pellegrino: Burgiz

Burgiz Daeheung is a handmade burger restaurant in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, near the Sungsimdang main bakery. On a Daejeon trip, after stopping at Sungsimdang, the writer had dinner at Burgiz Daeheung: a Hangover burger, a Mushroom burger, buffalo wings and an unsweetened San Pellegrino sparkling water, for 30,900 won in total. With a clean new space, a hand-washing station and friendly service, Burgiz Daeheung is a filling meal worth recommending before or after Sungsimdang.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Banpo Shopping Town: owner's grilling order at Ugojip

Ugojip (우고집) is a Korean BBQ beef restaurant in the basement of Banpo Shopping Town Building 5, near Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. After shopping at Express Bus Terminal with a younger sibling, the writer ordered the Ugojip couple set (woosamgyeop sliced brisket, galbisal rib finger meat, tosisal hanger steak and chadol doenjang stew) plus a bowl of rice for ₩50,500 in total, and grilled the cuts in the owner's recommended order: woosamgyeop, then tosisal, then galbisal. All three cuts were tender, making Ugojip a good pick when two people want to try several beef cuts in a clean, tidy restaurant.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon Haenglidan-gil café with London Fog milk tea: Jeong Ji-young

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Jangan-mun branch is a three-story café in a remodeled old house on the fortress wall road beside Jangan-mun Gate, in the Haenglidan-gil area of Haenggung-dong, Suwon. On a weekday afternoon the coconut coffee (7,000 won) and London Fog milk tea (6,500 won) came with an exposed-concrete interior, second-floor window bar seats and a third-floor rooftop. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Jangan-mun branch leaves nothing to be desired if you want good coffee and a hip space in one Haenglidan-gil café.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gapyeong dakgalbi lunch for two women with mustard makguksu: Anbanji

Namiseom Anbanji Dakgalbi is a charcoal-grilled dakgalbi (marinated chicken) restaurant on Bukhangangbyeon-ro in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, near Nami Island. Two women ordered 2 servings of marinated dakgalbi, added a third, and also had buckwheat makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and cheese fondue for 67,000 won in total; staff grilled the pre-seared chicken until tender, and the mixed makguksu with mustard was the best the writer had eaten in a while. Namiseom Anbanji Dakgalbi is a good lunch stop before or after Nami Island for charcoal dakgalbi and makguksu together.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Thai family meal: Set A plus basil pork rice, Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a Thai restaurant on the B1 level of Mecenatpolis, by Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer, her mother and her younger sibling ordered Set A (₩59,000: tod man kung shrimp cakes, king prawn pad thai and poo pad pong crab curry), adding a basil pork rice bowl and a Stella beer for ₩83,000 in total, and found the spices mild and easy to enjoy. Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a comfortable Thai restaurant at Hapjeong Station even for diners who struggle with strong spices.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae café after an escape room with mom & sibling: Chimney Mansion

Chimney Mansion (침니맨션) is a chimney bread bakery café on Jandari-ro in Mapo, Seoul, between Hapjeong Station and Hongik Univ. Station. After an escape room game in Hongdae with the writer's mom and younger sibling, the family stopped at Chimney Mansion for 3 drinks and 3 chimney breads (Double Pistachio, Scallion Bacon and Peanuts House) and took more home in a 4-piece box. With its two-floor brick interior and chimney breads at ₩4,000-₩8,000, Chimney Mansion made a satisfying sweet-treat stop after a day out in Hongdae.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongjong, IncheonCafés

Yongyudo café with a string-lit waterside terrace: Pink Wall Cafe

Pink Wall Cafe is a bakery café near Yongyudo Beach in Yeongjong, Incheon, that bakes its own bagels. After a grilled clam meal at Wangsan Beach, the visit to Pink Wall Cafe included a hot hibiscus tea and a black matcha roll, enjoyed while gazing at the water from the outdoor terrace under string lights. With its moist black matcha roll and calm terrace, Pink Wall Cafe is an easy addition to a Yongyudo and Eulwang-ri drive.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Namyangju riverside restaurant, cloudy-day masala pork jowl: Romaok

Romaok Riverside is a Western-style restaurant with Han River views in Mieumnaru, Suseok-dong, Namyangju, right next to Namyangju Hangang Sports Park. On a cloudy monsoon-season day, the writer's third visit to Romaok Riverside, they ordered sous vide pork jowl with masala sauce and cuttlefish ink risotto for 62,000 won in total. Romaok Riverside is a good pick for a moody Han River meal even when the sky isn't clear.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulBars

Balsan Station chicken pub: boneless Sriracha chicken, Daily Beer

Daily Beer (Saenghwal Maekju) Balsan Station Branch is a fried chicken and draft beer pub on Magokjungang 6-ro in Gangseo, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Balsan Station. On the evening of Jungbok, the second of Korea's summer dog days, the writer ordered the boneless Angry Bird half-and-half (original fried plus Sriracha), fried rice cakes and an OB beer 500 for 32,500 won in total, and the crispy boneless thigh meat and free butter popcorn stood out most. Daily Beer Balsan Station Branch is a no-regret choice for chimaek (chicken and beer) after work or on a dog day.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Haenggung-dong, Suwon pasta pub for a ₩57,000 date dinner: Ryu-eun

Ryu-eun is a Korean gastropub (yorijujeom) on Haengridan-gil in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, best known for its gamtae (fine seaweed) pasta and also serving traditional Korean liquor and cocktails. For a date dinner, the writer and her husband ordered kelp-aged salmon sashimi, gamtae pasta and a non-alcoholic lemon squash for ₩57,000 in total, and Ryu-eun's cozy lighting and well-spaced tables set a pleasant mood. Ryu-eun in Haenggung-dong, Suwon made a satisfying date-night dinner, even on a day they drove.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored