Spoon Jar · 61 stories

The Cutlery Drawer

Writes about restaurants visited around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno sashimi restaurant: seafood platter & squid mulhoe, Suksseong

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is an aged sashimi restaurant in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno, Seoul, near Jonggak Station Exit 4. In a 120-seat dining room where every seat is partitioned, the meal covered the basic side dishes, a red crab tomalley cream croquette, a seafood platter of rock sea squirt, conch, abalone and sea cucumber, and a refreshing swordtip squid mulhoe (chilled raw seafood soup), which was the best dish of the day. With free corkage, Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is a good Jongno sashimi restaurant for enjoying seafood quietly with your favourite bottle.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Wangsan Beach seafood restaurant, ₩49,000 couple set and pajeon: 300°C

300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch is a seafood stew restaurant near Eulwangni and Wangsan Beach in Jung-gu, Incheon. On a drive around Yeongjong Island, the writer ordered the cuttlefish couple set (₩49,000), with stir-fried cuttlefish and seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), plus a half-and-half pajeon (Korean savory pancake); the cuttlefish was fresh and the sauce was not spicy. With a large parking lot, high chairs and a dog-friendly area, 300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch is a solid choice for a family meal.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga tonkatsu: loin-cheese combo and dried pollack at Ondoon

Ondoon Chungmuro Main Branch is a handmade tonkatsu restaurant on the 2nd floor between Chungmuro Station and Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, using 100% chilled Korean pork. The writer tried the loin katsu, the natural cheese katsu, the ₩13,500 loin & cheese half-and-half katsu and a side of meoktae (dried pollack), and was impressed by the generous cheese, the not-too-sweet sauce and pork tasty enough with just salt. At Ondoon, first-timers should order the half-and-half katsu, and anyone having a beer should add the dried pollack.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Dongguk bossam spot: Jeonju soba & pollock makguksu, Nagwon-ui Soba

Nagwon-ui Soba Bossam Kalguksu Chungmuro Station Main Branch is a house-made buckwheat noodle and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant on the second floor of a building between Chungmuro Station and Dongguk University in Jung-gu, Seoul. A soba-loving writer tried the house-made Jeonju-style soba, the pollock makguksu (buckwheat noodles with seasoned raw pollock) and the Korean pork bossam boiled fresh every day, and remembered the moist bossam with no gamey smell and the chewy buckwheat noodles most. Verdict: a solid meal near Dongguk University, best enjoyed by pairing the bossam with the pollock makguksu.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Octopus & pork hotpot lunch near Inspire Resort: Eurwangni Jjanggune

Eurwangni Jjanggune (을왕리짱구네) is an octopus hotpot restaurant near Eurwangni Beach in Jung-gu, Incheon. After a visit to Inspire Resort on Yeongjong Island, the writer ordered Eurwangni Jjanggune's red octopus hotpot at the slightly spicy level and had side dishes, clam soup, a hotpot with both octopus and pork, and fried rice to finish. For a hearty lunch with a rich, spicy broth near Inspire Resort, Eurwangni Jjanggune is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYesan, ChungnamRestaurants

Yesan Korean restaurant, herbal-broth chicken hot pot: Ppongnamujip

Ppongnamujip (뽕나무집) is a Korean restaurant on Sapgyo-ro in Sapgyo-eup, Yesan, Chungnam, specializing in herbal samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and dakgalbi jeongol (spicy chicken hot pot); it was formerly called Ppongnamu Nurungji Samgyetang and took its new name when it moved into a newly built building. The writer had a spicy dakgalbi jeongol loaded with chicken thigh and bean sprouts at Ppongnamujip, got a free fried egg, and added an order of king dumplings. Ppongnamujip is a local favorite in Sapgyo with easy parking on the way to Sudeoksa Temple, good for a family meal or a few drinks.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek cockle restaurant, 30-car lot and free rice: Kkomak Manse

Kkomak Manse Pyeongtaek Manse-ro Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Manse-ro in Jukbaek-dong, Pyeongtaek, specializing in cockles from Beolgyo. The writer ordered the 52,000-won family set for 2: Manse seasoned cockles, 3 pieces of cockle pancake and cockle bibimbap (mixed rice bowl), with fish cake soup and tofu kimchi served as standard sides and free rice. With free parking for about 30 cars in front, Kkomak Manse is a dependable choice for a family meal out with parents.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Gongneung shabu buffet: 3 pork, 3 beef, rice noodles, Mirang Shabu

Mirang Shabu Nowon Branch is a shabu shabu restaurant near Exit 1 of Gongneung Station in Nowon-gu, Seoul, offering all-you-can-eat hinoki steam (pyeonbaek-jjim), shabu shabu and rice paper rolls. The writer alternated 3 kinds of pork and 3 kinds of beef between the basic and spicy broths, added a hinoki steamer, and tried tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), gimmari (fried seaweed rolls) and french fries before finishing with ramen and rice noodles. With its wide choice of meats and noodle finishes, Mirang Shabu Nowon Branch was a satisfying pick for family meals and group gatherings.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sundaeguk pub in Euljiro with offal hot pot and free corkage: Choiok

Choiok (초이옥) is a Korean pub specializing in sundae (Korean blood sausage) and sundaeguk (sundae soup), on the 2nd floor of Center Place in Jung-gu, Seoul, between City Hall and Euljiro 1-ga Station. The writer ordered Choiok's offal hot pot (naejang jjageuri jeongol) and premium sundaeguk, got freshly boiled liver on the house, then continued the date with a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream. With no break time, 1 free corkage bottle and 2 hours of free parking, Choiok is an easy pick for lunch or evening drinks around Gwanghwamun and Euljiro.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Pork bone stew restaurant in Jonggak with a hanok entrance: Jangheon

Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak (장헌감자탕 종각본점) is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, on the first basement floor of the Point23 building, about 5 minutes on foot from Jonggak Station Exit 4. The writer paired the stew, made with broth the restaurant says it simmers every morning, with soju, and filled up on kimchi and seokbakji (radish kimchi) made in-house from Korean ingredients, plus glass noodles, potatoes and sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes). Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak is worth considering for a warm bowl of soup in Jongno, whether you are eating solo, meeting friends or hosting an office dinner.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mountain-view octopus lunch in Gapyeong with glass noodles: Paldang

Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi (팔당직화불쭈꾸미) is a fire-grilled jjukkumi (baby octopus) hot plate restaurant in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi. On a lunch stop during a Gapyeong drive, the writer sat facing green mountains and ate the fire-grilled baby octopus hot plate and a handmade pork loin cutlet. The self-bar, with sundae (Korean blood sausage), tteokbokki, fried dumplings, japchae and pink sausage, and the sauce-soaked glass noodles were the standouts. Paldang Jikhwa Bul Jjukkumi suits the whole family: spicy octopus for adults and pork cutlet for kids.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tofu restaurant, set meal with flounder & pollack: Jinsol

Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu is a soft tofu (sundubu) restaurant in the Haksapyeong tofu village of Sokcho, Gangwon, reportedly run by the same family for three generations over more than 30 years. The writer ordered the Jinsol Jeongsik set, available for 2 or more people, and switched to spicy sundubu for an extra 3,000 won. The set came with grilled flounder, grilled pollack, tofu kimchi, buckwheat crepe rolls, japchae and side dishes, laid out like a full Korean course meal. Verdict: the Jinsol Jeongsik at Jinsol Halmeoni Sundubu is a good-value spread that suits a meal with parents or a family gathering.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored