Hapjeong Second Roader · 13 stories

A Second Round in Hapjeong

Writes about small bars in Seoul, one visit at a time. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Gyeongui Line Forest Park izakaya with beer and 4 plates: Orot Silbi

Orot Silbi (오롯실비) is a casual izakaya near Gyeongui Line Forest Park, between Gongdeok Station and Mapo Station in Seoul, and the third branch of the Japanese dining brand Orot. The writer paired draft beer and a highball with four small plates (pork collar tempura, mackerel bar sushi, uni pasta and shio kombu chicken) and named the pork collar tempura the favorite. With smart-tag ordering and a cozy Japanese-style room, Orot Silbi is a good pick for a date or a relaxed night of drinks.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Alley café by Mangwon Market, Seoul: choose-your-bean Americano, PICT

PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a roastery café in an alley near Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul, which opened in July 2026. Drawn in by the smell of coffee, the writer chose between acidic and nutty beans for a hot Americano and an iced Americano. Alongside, the writer had PICT Roastery's aged French toast, baked to order in about 15 minutes. PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a good Mangwon Market café for coffee made with the beans you prefer and French toast that is crisp outside and soft inside.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Basement Japanese spot in Mangwon: chilly-day nabe at Padong

Padong (파동) is a Japanese restaurant on basement level 1 at 47 Woldeukeop-ro 17-gil in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a 5–7 minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2. In Padong's cozy basement room with counter seats facing the open kitchen, the writer had basil mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles), kimchi cheese nabe (Japanese hot pot) with shrimp tempura and a generously sized futomaki (thick sushi roll). For a chilly day in Mangwon, Padong's kimchi cheese nabe and basil mazesoba are worth ordering together.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan restaurant with Toowoomba doria & wings: Garlic Cook & Story

Garlic Cook & Story Western Dome is a wood-and-white Western restaurant in Building B of Western Dome, near Jeongbalsan Station in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang. After waiting about 20 minutes via Catch Table, the writer ordered the Toowoomba doria (baked rice in Toowoomba sauce) and half-and-half wings and drumettes, and loved how the sweet-spicy doria paired with the salty wings. Register on Catch Table or call ahead, and Garlic Cook & Story Western Dome is a lunch spot worth the wait.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido salad shop for eating alone: spicy chili pasta, Singsing Salad

Singsing Salad Yeouido Branch is a salad and poke restaurant on the ground floor of the Baeksang Building in Yeouido, Seoul. The writer ordered the chili spicy pasta at the kiosk, added chicken thigh and a fried egg as toppings, and ate alone, impressed by thoughtful touches like white kimchi, an ice cup for the Coke Zero and a phone stand. Singsing Salad Yeouido Branch suits anyone in Yeouido who wants a filling salad meal alone without feeling self-conscious.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulCafés

Yeongdeungpo bakery: smashing Shine Muscat salt bread in gloves, BYWAY

BYWAY BAKERS Yeongdeungpo Branch is a bakery café on Dangsan-ro 27-gil near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Seoul, known on social media as a bakery-crawl stop for its wakppu (crack-and-smash) salt bread and baked sweets. The writer took home the Shine Muscat wakppu salt bread, salted butter pretzel, butter tteok (buttery rice cake) and egg tart, and liked best the Shine Muscat wakppu salt bread, smashed by hand with hygiene gloves, and the egg tart. BYWAY BAKERS Yeongdeungpo Branch is a Yeongdeungpo-gu Office bakery worth recommending to anyone after unusual salt bread.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station gyukatsu and steak don with free fried shrimp: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in the basement of a building in front of Seoul Station Exit 10 in Jung-gu, Seoul, where each table has a mini personal grill for searing the beef yourself in French Isigny butter. On a friend's recommendation, the writer visited on a weekday evening, ordered Set 3 (gyukatsu + steak don, a steak rice bowl) and got free fried shrimp through a Naver review event. Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch was nearly full, but the meat quality and the fun of grilling made it a very satisfying Japanese meal near Seoul Station.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Japanese ramen for solo diners: Shin Ramen set at Ramen Truck

Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant in Hongdae near Sangsu Station, Seoul, that has been running for more than ten years since its food truck days. Eating alone at the bar, the writer had the solo mini chashu don set: spicy tonkotsu Shin Ramen with a mini chashu rice bowl, and especially loved the egg seasoned all the way through and the smoky, flame-seared chashu don. If you want ramen and a rice bowl together in one easy solo meal, the solo set at Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch is a great fit.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

7 AM Seoul Station sandwich shop, ciabatta set eaten in the car: Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a baguette sandwich and brunch shop on level B3 of Grand Central, near Exit 4 of Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, and it opens at 7 AM. The writer swapped the bread in the basic baguette sandwich set for ciabatta, chose a sugar-free vanilla bean oat latte, took it to go and ate it in the car, enjoying the chewy bread, mild fillings and unsweetened latte. If you need a takeout meal before boarding the KTX, Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a good fit.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Dangsan Station bossam restaurant with baseball on TV: Cheongun Bossam

Cheongun Bossam Dangsan Branch is a bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant near Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, with patio seating and baseball games on TV. After work, the writer ordered a large five-layer pork bossam and tray makguksu (spicy buckwheat noodles) to enjoy with a drink while watching baseball. The chewy skin, juicy five-layer pork and tangy-spicy noodles made a satisfying pairing. For a dinner date or a get-together with friends near Dangsan Station, Cheongun Bossam Dangsan Branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan katsu spot: triple katsu set with cold udon, Jeongseong Katsu

Jeongseong Katsu Ilsan KINTEX is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on the 1st floor of the Forena retail building on KINTEX-ro in Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered the triple mixed katsu set and cold udon for 23,800 won in total. The meal included cheese katsu fried to order, Japanese-style curry and cold udon served with ice. If you want a reliable meal before or after a KINTEX expo, this pairing at Jeongseong Katsu is worth ordering.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Goyang KINTEX bakery: 2 organic-flour sandwiches, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a European-style bakery in the basement food hall of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. It is a branch of a bakery famous as a stop on the Unjeong, Paju bakery trail. On this visit to Boulangerie Tan, the order was a basil onion chicken ciabatta, a jambon sandwich switched to salt bread and a milk cream salt bread for dessert, all made with Lescure butter and organic flour and served alongside Fritz Coffee beans. Boulangerie Tan is a good one-stop bakery at KINTEX for a meal and dessert.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored