Gwangjang Twin Stools · 15 stories

Two Stools at Gwangjang

Writes about small restaurants and eateries around Seoul and Gyeonggi, one meal at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae BBQ: Spanish vs Korean frozen pork belly, Mapo Gui Madang

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a frozen pork belly (naengsam) Korean BBQ restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about 680m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station, with a sign billing its pa-kimchi (scallion kimchi) as one of Korea's top 3. A pa-kimchi-loving couple and their child arrived around 4pm on a Saturday and ordered 3 servings of Spanish frozen pork belly, whole makchang (pork intestine) and doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). The Spanish pork belly, 200g for 9,900 won, tasted little different from Korean frozen pork belly, and the Jeolla-style pa-kimchi grilled in pork fat had a deep, nutty flavor. Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is worth recommending for family meals or work dinners that want affordable frozen pork belly with well-fermented pa-kimchi.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Large Seongsu café with sunny and dim seats: fig Greek croffle at Biat

Biat Seongsu is a large café on the 2nd floor of a building in Seongsu, Seoul, about a 4-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 1, with a sunny wood-toned side and a dim, blinds-down side split by the counter. For a friend of 30 years' birthday, the writer ordered a fig Greek croffle (15,000 won), an apple lychee ade (7,000 won) and an iced americano (4,500 won). Biat Seongsu's fig Greek croffle felt more like a dish than a dessert, and it is the reason the writer wants to go back.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Post-checkup Asian buffet lunch in Euljiro: Hotel Kukdo Patio

Hotel Kukdo Patio is an Asian buffet restaurant on the 2nd floor of Hotel Kukdo, near Euljiro 4-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekday after her husband's health checkup, the blogger and her husband paid 29,800 won per person at Hotel Kukdo Patio for a flat iron steak, the Asian buffet and unlimited matcha and sake, enjoying a relaxed lunch for two without their child. The hotel atmosphere and carefully prepared food made Hotel Kukdo Patio a satisfying spot for a lunch date in Euljiro.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Shabu-shabu dinner after Namdaemun Market, then Seoullo 7017: Yunseul

Yunseul is a shabu-shabu restaurant with floor-to-ceiling city-view windows on the 1st floor of Grand Central at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Namdaemun Market. A family of three, including a child, ate at Yunseul at 5 p.m. on a holiday: spicy mushroom broth with prime chuck shabu-shabu, gondeure (thistle) porridge and butter soy-braised beef rice, then walked Seoullo 7017 right outside. For a calm family dinner after Namdaemun Market, Yunseul delivers on taste and atmosphere, with an evening stroll built in.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Namdaemun kids' shop: size 150 for a 133cm first grader, Apple Smile

Apple Smile is a kids' clothing shop in Unit 12 of the Burdeng Kids' Clothing Arcade in Namdaemun Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, selling its own designs made in Korea. Over the Hangul Day holiday weekend, a mother shopping for fall clothes for her 133cm first-grade daughter followed the staff's advice to buy size 150: khaki pants (35,000 won), a halter-neck layered set (19,000 won) and a sale sweatshirt (13,000 won), and everything fit perfectly at home. With fabric soft right down to the inner seams and sisters on staff who actively help with sizing, Apple Smile is a Namdaemun kids' shop worth coming back to every season.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beef BBQ by Janggi Station, Gimpo: 300g set and yukhoe at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch (한마음정육식당 김포장기점) is a butcher-style beef BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of the building right next to Janggi Station Exit 3 in Gimpo. It has a play room billed as the largest in Gimpo and 4 private rooms. On a rainy weekday evening, a family ordered the 300g small half-cow mixed beef set (₩43,000) and 150g Korean beef yukhoe (₩25,000), tasting flat iron, LA galbi, rib finger meat and brisket, and enjoyed the scallion jjolmyeon and unlimited soybean stew refills. Verdict: Hanmaeum is a Gimpo family dinner spot where kids eat fast to reach the play room and parents can take their time with the beef.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean BBQ with 2 kids, owner-grilled: Chamdwaejitgan

Chamdwaejitgan Magok Branch (참돼짓간 마곡점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant right outside Exit 9 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, where rice-husk smoked Jirisan black pork is grilled for you over real charcoal. Two adults and two kids came around 5pm on a Sunday for black pork belly and neck, kimchi stew and kudzu naengmyeon (cold noodles). Because the owner grilled the pork, the adults could look after the kids and still eat at a relaxed pace. Chamdwaejitgan's pork was so good that nobody felt like wrapping it in lettuce.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Kid-friendly pork rib BBQ in Hapjeong: cream pasta set at Champpoppo

Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork rib restaurant between Hapjeong Station and Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul, and it also serves cream pasta, so kids and adults can eat at the same table. The writer booked on Naver for the 5pm Saturday opening and ordered the ₩51,000 pasta set (1 soy-glazed rib, 2 extra-spicy seasoned ribs and Poppo cream pasta) plus ₩7,900 honeycomb pork skin. The child loved the free chicken porridge and the cream pasta, and the adults loved the extra-spicy ribs. For a family that wants kid-friendly food and grown-up flavors at one table, the Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong pasta set is a good choice.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Garam-maeul BBQ after outlet shopping: fruit-aged galbi, Tannae

Tannae Paju Main Branch (탄내 파주본점) is a briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant on the Garam-maeul restaurant street in Paju, Gyeonggi. After a weekend outing and outlet shopping, a family visited Tannae Paju Main Branch at 7pm on a Saturday and ate 2 servings of pre-grilled seasoned pork galbi (300g per serving), a free pork kimchi stew, free mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) for writing a review, and the new boneless spicy chicken feet at 9,900 won. With tender pork galbi in a fruit-aged marinade and smoky chicken feet, nothing at Tannae Paju Main Branch disappointed on this family dinner.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Kids' sushi set with egg sushi in Gwanghwamun: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is an aged sushi restaurant in the basement of the KT Gwanghwamun branch building, right by Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. A family visited just after the weekend lunch rush and ordered two Elephant B sets, the ₩12,000 Elephant kids' set and fried shrimp, and the child called the egg sushi 'the best egg I've ever eaten.' Thanks to the savory depth of its aged sushi and roomy seating, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun made a satisfying family meal out with kids.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Clam hot pot with an 8-year-old in Yeouido, Seoul: Gaetbeol-ui Jogae

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch (갯벌의조개 여의도본점) is a clam hot pot restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Geukdong VIP Building, a 5-minute walk from National Assembly Station Exit 1 in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. A family of three with an 8-year-old had the small giant clam hot pot and a fresh kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-on at 4 pm on a Saturday. Even the small pot was big enough to surprise the child, who especially enjoyed the clear broth, the well-cleaned clams and the cheese. With 8 private rooms and high chairs, Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch is a solid pick for a family meal or a private get-together in Yeouido.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Masan-dong, Gimpo pork galbi house, weekday dinner: Jeongwon Galbi

Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch (정원갈비 김포본점) is a galbi (marinated rib) restaurant of about 150 seats in Yangchon-eup, Gimpo, between Gurae and Masan stations. It has a large garden, trampolines, an indoor playroom, group seating and private rooms. On a weekday evening the writer's family ordered 3 servings of pork galbi (₩15,900 per serving), mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon (cold noodles) for dessert, and makgeolli, and liked the tender aged pork galbi and the side dishes, which include yangnyeom gejang (spicy marinated raw crab). With drinks in the garden before or after the meal, Jeongwon Galbi Gimpo Main Branch is a good fit for families eating out with children.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored