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Tray by the Window

I write about restaurants I visit around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do · Bars

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan Station izakaya for aged sashimi and spicy stew: Bada Yakbang

Bada Yakbang Yongsan is an aged sashimi izakaya on the 2nd floor of a building near Yongsan Station in Seoul. A group of friends shared the seasonal assorted aged sashimi (58,000 won) with self-made sushi, monkfish liver (12,000 won) and the special spicy fish stew (9,000 won), and the chewy aged sashimi eaten with rich monkfish liver and gimbap (seaweed rice roll) was the standout combination. Bada Yakbang Yongsan suits a night out with friends who want to wrap aged sashimi and monkfish liver several ways and finish with a spicy stew.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonBars

Pub in Cheongna, Incheon: clam hotpot lunch with kalguksu, Ppalgan-mat

Ppalgan-mat Pocha Incheon Luwon Cheongna main branch is a clam hotpot pub (pocha) on the first floor of 3M Tower in Cheongna Complex 1, Seo-gu, Incheon. Over lunch with her older sister, the writer ordered the medium Hong-ga-baek hotpot (scallops, hard clams and mussels) in the red broth for 45,000 won and steamed egg for 5,000 won, then added tofu and boiled kalguksu noodles in the leftover broth. With a big pot generously filled with fresh shellfish, Ppalgan-mat Pocha suits a company dinner or a casual night of drinks.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon fries shop: 3-sauce set & strawberry ice cream, Angry Potato

Angry Potato Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch is a fries, fried chicken and mini burger shop in the B1 food hall of Hyundai Department Store Jungdong in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered a Deep Crunch Box (₩20,000), a mini burger skewer (₩10,500) and a whole-mozzarella cheese stick (₩4,000) with a ₩1,000 three-sauce set of chipotle, sriracha mayo and white cream, and especially recommends the large, mildly spicy chicken and the Chewy Potato. Verdict: Angry Potato is a go-to bite at Bucheon Hyundai Department Store; order the chicken and add the three-sauce set.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam Thai restaurant: a tom yum lover's 3 favorites at Drunken Thai

Drunken Thai Sangam Branch is a Thai restaurant on the ground floor of Cheongun Sangga, at the end of the Sangam-dong food alley in Mapo, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Digital Media City Station Exit 9. Craving Thai food after a long break, a tom yum lover ordered tom yum goong (17,000 won), pad thai (12,000 won) and morning glory (stir-fried water spinach, 13,000 won) and found the noodles especially good and the flavors just like eating in Thailand. With free extra rice noodles and rice, Drunken Thai Sangam Branch is a very satisfying Thai lunch spot in Sangam.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Chicken shop at Yongsan Station: business-trip KTX snacks, Ppareuju

Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong is a dakgangjeong (sweet-glazed Korean fried chicken), rice bowl and peanut bread shop on the 3rd floor of Yongsan Station in Seoul, right in front of the KTX boarding area. On a business trip, the writer picked up a medium gangjeong (₩9,000) in seasoned, Puringkle and garlic soy flavors, plus onion peel tea and Seomun Market-style peanut bread, and Ppareuju packed everything so fast there was no worry about missing the train. Ppareuju is a handy stop for a snack or meal before boarding, and the peanut bread was the standout.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Japanese restaurant: new curry udon & takoyaki, Haehwagaban

Haehwagaban Lotte Department Store Jungdong Branch is a Japanese rice bowl and udon restaurant on the B1 floor of Lotte Department Store Jungdong in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. We ordered six new menu items, including curry udon, a shrimp tempura rice bowl, takoyaki, mini okonomiyaki, ochazuke (tea poured over rice) and chicken karaage, and the curry udon was the best of the lot. If you love fried food, pair the curry udon with the shrimp tempura bowl at Haehwagaban Jungdong.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Yeongjong burger spot with crispy shrimp balls and coffee: Masian 300

Masian 300 (마시안300) is a handmade burger restaurant on Yeongjong Island in Jung-gu, Incheon, beside Masian Beach and just past Eulwang-ri. With a close older friend, the writer had the Masian Classic and Truffle Mushroom burgers, shrimp balls, coffee and a cherry shake. The juicy patties and the shrimp balls, crispy outside and bouncy inside, stood out most. Masian 300 is a Yeongjong day-trip spot where the shrimp balls and coffee are as worth ordering as the burgers.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Yeongjong seafood restaurant, noon wait for seafood rib stew: 300°C

300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch (300도씨해물갈비 본점) is a seafood stew restaurant near Eulwangni on Yeongjong Island, Incheon, serving seafood and pork back ribs in one pot. After joining the wait list around 12 PM on a weekday, the writer ordered the seafood rib stew (₩59,000) with extra siraegi (dried radish greens, ₩3,000), and the pot came loaded with octopus, abalone, squid and roe. Verdict: at 300°C Seafood Galbi, the fresh seafood was more impressive than the ribs.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Bukchon burger shop after perfume-making: avocado burger, Downtowner

Downtowner Anguk is a craft burger shop with hanok touches on Bukchon-ro in Jongno, Seoul, one minute from Anguk Station Exit 2. After making perfume at a perfume workshop, the writer stopped by with a close younger friend and had the avocado burger (₩12,700) and the Downtowner burger set with onion rings and cola (₩14,800). With its sesame brioche bun, fresh avocado and crispy onion rings, Downtowner Anguk served a burger the writer would happily eat again.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong pork BBQ with naengmyeon and mustard leaf wraps: Mapo Garden

Mapo Garden (마포가든) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in Hapjeong, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 8. On this visit the writer ordered marinated black pork neck (29,000 won) and Hamheung bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold buckwheat noodles, 12,000 won); the owner's house-simmered soy marinade was not sweet and had deep flavor, and wrapping the noodles and pork together in Mapo Garden's signature pickled green mustard leaf was the highlight. Mapo Garden is a Hapjeong Korean BBQ spot you'll keep coming back to if you're tired of overly sweet marinated galbi.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna shabu-shabu, spicy veggie broth & garlic ponzu: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu buffet on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza, near Gajeong Station in Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer went with her mother for a weekday lunch (24,900 won per adult). She chose a vegetable broth and a spicy vegetable broth, then had prime-grade beef, dishes from the self-serve bar, rice paper rolls, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), fried rice, dessert and draft beer. Verdict: Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch gets the interior, service, taste and freshness all right, and it is a Cheongna shabu-shabu spot worth returning to.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Anguk perfume workshop: citrus 'Sweet Breeze' & diffuser at Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is a perfume-making studio on the 3rd floor of Juwon Building, 410m from Exit 4 of Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer and a close younger friend did the Premium 50ml perfume experience (49,000 won), working through a survey and a headset video lesson before blending citrus and sweet fruity notes over three rounds into a perfume named 'Sweet Breeze'. Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is an easy place for first-timers to become a perfumer for a day.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored