Neighborhood Nibbler · 35 stories
I write about restaurants I visit around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Cafés · Shopping
Pasta Trio is a pasta and Western restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Nonhyeon Station. Dining solo, the writer ordered the pepperoni lasagna and the tomato pasta and was pleased by their strong, genuine tomato flavor rather than a seasoning taste. If you're after rich tomato dishes, Pasta Trio deserves a spot on your list.
Jeongwon Galbi Gyeonggi Gwangju Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in galbi on Gyeongancheon-ro in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, where floor-to-ceiling windows look out on green scenery and the path to the neighboring art museum. On a second visit the marinated beef short ribs had sold out, so the writer ordered plain beef short ribs, which were tender with rich, savory juices even without sauce, and the side dishes and self-serve bar were generous. Jeongwon Galbi Gwangju is a good pick for a scenic beef galbi meal, followed by a stop at the Starbucks drive-thru right next door.
Sutbul Seonghwa (숯불성화) is a charcoal-grilled beef restaurant right beside Seokchon Lake, near Seokchon Station in Songpa, Seoul. After turning away on an earlier attempt, the writer returned to Sutbul Seonghwa for the 400g Seonghwa platter of snowflake beef, cubed short rib and wine-marinated rib fingers, all grilled by staff. The meal ended with a red radish side dish and icy mul naengmyeon (cold noodles) wrapped in grilled beef. The verdict: Sutbul Seonghwa's snowflake beef, dipped in nothing but salt, was the most memorable bite for its tenderness.
Downtown Burger Hannam is a handmade burger restaurant on Daesagwan-ro 5-gil in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul. On a long-overdue Itaewon outing, the writer ordered the signature avocado burger, a bulgogi smash burger and a cup salad in a room that feels like a burger joint in the US, and swapped smiles with the children of a foreign family at the next table. The avocado burger at Downtown Burger Hannam, with creamy avocado and a rich, beefy patty, was satisfying enough that next time the writer wants to order more burgers.
Yangeunine Samseong Station Branch is a Korean restaurant from a bossam and pollack stew brand, located on Teheran-ro 83-gil near Samseong Station and COEX in Gangnam, Seoul. After a meeting, the writer went alone and ordered bossam with extra meat, cockle bibimbap and cockle bibimmyeon (spicy mixed noodles). The cockle bibimbap could be ordered as a single serving and was not over-seasoned. For a Korean restaurant near Samseong Station where one person can easily order cockle dishes, Yangeunine Samseong Station Branch is the right choice.
The European Gwanggyo is a wood-fired pizza restaurant on Gwanggyo Cafe Street in Suwon, Gyeonggi. After first tasting The European's wood-fired pizza elsewhere in Suwon, the writer, a business owner, returned to the Gwanggyo flagship to work out why it stays busy despite being a fair walk from Gwanggyojungang Station. The answer at The European Gwanggyo: thick but light dough, the signature steak burrata pizza and a red, European-style dining room.
Cheongdam Ohu (청담오후) is a Western-style pizza and pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor at 708 Seolleung-ro, near Gangnam-gu Office Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a business meeting in Cheongdam-dong, the writer ordered Cheongdam Ohu's barbecue sauce mushroom pizza, with its thin and unusual crust, and a Bolognese ragù pasta loaded with sauce, while a sausage pasta on the menu costs under 10,000 won. Verdict: for good pizza and pasta at reasonable prices, with a lovely night breeze through the open windows, Cheongdam Ohu is worth a visit.
Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store (까몬 분당정자직영점) is a pho and Vietnamese restaurant with a Southeast Asian night-market feel on Jeongjail-ro in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a Friday evening the writer ordered bún chả (grilled pork with rice noodles), a first at this branch, and a first-ever bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls), asking for the bánh cuốn to arrive only after the bún chả was finished. The smoky, charcoal-scented bún chả at Kkamon was generous, but the chewy rice-sheet bánh cuốn with its meat topping was the real discovery of the night.
Bizzle Donkatsu (예술작품을 빚다 비즐) is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant on the first floor of Building S, 231 Pangyoyeok-ro, in Pangyo, Seongnam. The writer, who doesn't usually eat tonkatsu, skipped the signature cutlets for the unagi rice bowl and inari sushi, snipped the whole eel with scissors at the table, and found the eel melt-in-your-mouth tender. Bizzle Donkatsu may be a tonkatsu place, but its eel rice bowl holds its own, and the floor-to-ceiling city-view windows make it easy to eat alone.
Achasan Tong Galbitang is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) and braised short rib restaurant on Jayang-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Achasan Station. Before a Sunday afternoon writing session, the blogger stopped by alone for the special galbitang with three large rib bones, and the clear, savory broth and the kkakdugi (radish kimchi) made with domestic radish stood out. Achasan Tong Galbitang is a good fit for anyone who wants a hearty meal on their own.
Premium Spa L Gangnam (프리미엄스파엘 강남본점) is a private-room massage and spa shop on the 3rd floor of HY Tower on Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, right next to Ediya Lab near Eonju Station. After a meeting and a meal in Gangnam, the writer had a custom consultation at Premium Spa L Gangnam, then a 90-minute course combining hands-on massage with warm hot stone therapy, and was so relaxed they fell into a deep sleep. Premium Spa L Gangnam suits anyone who wants to be pampered, with Styler clothing care, shoe sterilizing, drinks, and dessert and a surprise celebration after the treatment.
Gatpo Karin is a kappo-style izakaya on the 4th floor of a red brick building near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a business meeting, the writer sat alone at the Gatpo Karin bar, watched the chefs cook and ate truffle chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), a special sushi platter and braised sea bream head. The food took a while because Gatpo Karin was busy, but it was a satisfying solo Japanese dinner in Apgujeong.
