Pocket Map Stroller · 11 stories

Folded Map Afternoons

Writes about restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and things to do around Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon and Busan/Gyeongnam, based on places they have actually visited. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Things to do · Shopping · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Hongdae indoor camping date: willow tree seat, lunchbox ramyeon: TAGE

TAGE Indoor Camping Hongdae Main Branch is a camping-themed indoor party room and pork belly restaurant on basement level 1 at 79 Wausan-ro in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday at 4 p.m., the writer sat at a monitor seat beside a giant willow tree and a Christmas tree and ordered 2 servings of fresh pork belly, soju and a ₩4,900 lunchbox ramyeon with egg. The noise from the shared karaoke was a letdown, but TAGE Indoor Camping delivers on atmosphere, meat and games as an indoor date spot in Hongdae.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station Korean BBQ, late Sunday dinner & black rice: Sodangkkae

Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip Gyodae Main Branch (소당깨오겹집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, where staff grill five-layer pork belly on a cauldron lid for you. On a late Sunday evening at a sofa seat, the writer ordered the Sodangkkae combo set (81,500 won) with pork belly, pork neck and pork jowl plus Korean beef yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), and found the careful grilling, friendly service and seafood-based soybean paste stew all satisfying. Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip is a Gyodae pork belly spot the writer would gladly revisit.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Amsa Station tonkatsu with Maldon salt and chili-leaf kimchi: Tonka

Tonka is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Amsa Station. At Tonka's open-kitchen bar, the writer ate tenderloin and loin tonkatsu fried and sliced to order, eaten with coarse smoked Maldon salt and chili-pepper-leaf kimchi, alongside a clam miso soup that changes every quarter and comes packed with clams. Tonka was the most satisfying Japanese-style tonkatsu meal the writer has had in recent memory.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Thai restaurant: crispy pork belly hangover noodles, Thanon55

Thanon55 (타논55) is a Thai restaurant on a quiet side street in Seongsu, Seoul, a 5–10 minute walk from Seongsu Station. With a hungover companion, the writer ordered the Thai rice noodle and shrimp fried rice set (15,000 won) and the gamjatang (pork bone stew) rice noodles (14,000 won); the clear broth loaded with crispy pork belly and the fried rice topped with a soft-yolk fried egg stood out. Thanon55 is a local-tasting Seongsu noodle shop that is easy to enjoy even if you are not used to strong spices.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulShopping

Double-date mood lamp picnic rental in Mangwon: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon (피크닉리스트 망원) is a picnic mat and gear rental shop at the underpass entrance to Mangwon Hangang Park in Mapo, Seoul. Two couples rented two mats, a table, air pillows, a mood lamp, bubbles, a board game, a Bluetooth speaker and more around 5pm. They watched the sunset, stayed until 9pm, returned everything, and all four were happy. Picnic List Mangwon has a well-rounded range of gear and makes it easy to rent until late without any hassle.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Jeonpo Chinese bar for a non-spicy meal with parents: Mirim Yangjang

Mirim Yangjang Busan Main Branch is the flagship of a Peking duck bar-restaurant chain in Jeonpo-dong (Seomyeon), Busanjin-gu, Busan. Because the writer's father can't eat chili, the family ordered a non-spicy spread of half a Peking duck, duck fried rice, duck soup and stir-fried water spinach, and the parents liked the lean Peking duck so much they ordered another half. For a non-spicy Chinese meal with parents, Mirim Yangjang Busan Main Branch was a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulShopping

Mini lamp and Spam musubi night picnic rental in Mangwon: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon (피크닉리스트 망원) is a 24-hour unmanned picnic gear rental shop in the underpass at the entrance to Mangwon Han River Park in Mapo, Seoul. The writer stopped by Picnic List Mangwon around 5pm, rented a parasol table, a picnic mat, an air pillow, a fan, a mini lamp and board games, and enjoyed a Spam musubi (Spam and rice wrapped in seaweed) lunchbox picnic from sunset into the night. With a huge range of gear and easy self-service rental, Picnic List Mangwon is worth returning to for every Mangwon Han River Park picnic.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Unmarked Seolleung sushi bar: fall gizzard shad nigiri at Sakai

Sakai is an unmarked sushi bar and izakaya about a 5-minute walk from Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer arrived at weekend opening time, ordered single nigiri of horse mackerel, striped jack, conger eel, gizzard shad and red seabream, and added aji fry (fried horse mackerel) with a bottle of Kirin beer. Sakai suits anyone who wants to try unfamiliar fish one piece at a time in a quiet setting.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Spacious Hapjeong café for groups, fresh lemonade: Minkyu Appane Bagel

Minkyu Appane Bagel Hapjeong Branch (민규아빠네베이글 합정점) is a bagel bakery café on Dongmak-ro 8-gil in Mapo, Seoul, that bakes its bread in-store. On the first day of a holiday, four friends shared a café latte, organic chamomile tea, fresh lemonade, an olive bagel and scallion cream cheese, and were happy with the chewy bagel, the nutty latte and the roomy, comfortable space. For a group looking for a Hapjeong café to talk over bagels, Minkyu Appane Bagel Hapjeong Branch is a great fit.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae dumpling takeout for a Mangwon Han River picnic: MANDOO BAR

MANDOO BAR is a dumpling restaurant and bar on the 2nd floor of a Red Road alley in Hongdae, on Eoulmadang-ro in Mapo, Seoul. Four light eaters picked up MANDOO BAR gyoza (9,000 won), the signature Mexican taco gyoza (13,000 won) and steamed dumplings (10,000 won) for a picnic at Mangwon Hangang Park. The pan-fried gyoza was still crackly 2–3 hours later, and the thin-skinned steamed dumplings won the group over. Verdict: MANDOO BAR is a Hongdae takeout spot worth returning to whenever a dumpling craving hits.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta spot: potato gnocchi spicy even for mala fans, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Hongdae Branch is a self-service budget pasta restaurant near Exit 6 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday after work, two of us shared potato gnocchi, shrimp aglio olio and a two-slice sweet potato pizza for ₩4,400. The fresh-parsley potato gnocchi and the sweet potato pizza, which stayed crisp to the last bite, stood out. Pasta Go Hongdae Branch skips the service charge and focuses on the food, making it a good place for an affordable spread of pasta, pizza and gnocchi in Hongdae.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored

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