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Lunches by the Hills

I write about restaurants in Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station shabu kalguksu: busy dinner, short wait, Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Seoul Station branch (등촌샤브칼국수 서울역점) is a mushroom kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and shabu-shabu restaurant on the 1st floor of Gateway Tower, right by Seoul Station Exit 11 in Yongsan, Seoul. On an evening visit, mushroom kalguksu for 2 with extra shabu beef came in three rounds: minari (water parsley) shabu-shabu, kalguksu noodles, then fried rice, and although Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu was busy, tables turned fast, so the wait was short. Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Seoul Station branch is a good place for a filling meal in a spicy broth near Seoul Station.

Written Apr 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Pizza and craft beer by Hongik Univ. Station: Raymond Set, Raymond's

Raymond's Hongdae is a pizza and craft beer restaurant about a 3-minute walk from Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the Raymond Set (2–4 people, ₩49,900), which comes with four pizza flavors, boneless chicken, sausages and truffle fries, and paired it with a Vienna lager; the spread filled the whole table. Raymond's Hongdae is a solid, easygoing pick for pizza and craft beer together in Hongdae.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Post-workout Korean BBQ near Gajeong Station: pork jowl for 3, Euljiro

Euljiro Yeontan Gui Luone City Branch is a briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in the Luone City shopping complex near Gajeong Station Exit 4 in Seo-gu, Incheon. After a workout, the writer and a younger sibling started with 3 servings of pork jowl, then added marinated beef skirt, grilled scallops and naengmyeon (cold noodles), all with that charcoal-briquette smokiness, and meat starts at ₩5,900 per 100g. Euljiro Yeontan Gui Luone City Branch is a relaxed, pub-style spot near Gajeong Station for a casual drink and meal, and one the writer would gladly revisit.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Tonkatsu and beer in Geomdan: spicy ramen & handmade shrimp, HOKATSU

HOKATSU is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant on the ground floor of the Megabox Geomdan building in Geomdan New Town, Seo-gu, Incheon. At HOKATSU, the writer ordered the popular 3-katsu set (tenderloin, loin and cheese), spicy tonkotsu ramen and 2 handmade fried shrimp with a glass of beer, and the pink tenderloin, the spicy ramen broth and the plump shrimp stood out. HOKATSU is a good stop when you want to try several kinds of tonkatsu with ramen and fried sides.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok pizzeria with outdoor tables, beer and white ragu: Viva Napoli

Viva Napoli is a wood-fired pizzeria on the ground floor of Hillstate Eco at Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a Saturday evening the writer ordered the signature Viva Classica pizza, Rigatoni Ragu bianco and beer; the arugula-and-tomato pizza tasted fresh, and the white ragu rigatoni was thick and rich. With its casual interior and outdoor tables lit up in the evening, Viva Napoli is an easy pick for a pizza-and-beer date in Magok.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

After-work Cheongna BBQ: coarse-salt pork belly & flat noodles, Gimgol

Gimgol Yeontan-jip Cheongna Branch (감골연탄집 청라점) is a briquette-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant on Cheongnarubi-ro in Cheongna, Seohae, Incheon. On an after-work visit, the writer worked through briquette coarse-salt pork belly, the original flat bibim noodles, gochujang briquette bulgogi and briquette-grilled chicken feet, washed down with a '1-second' Gimgol soju-beer mix. For a first visit to Gimgol Yeontan-jip Cheongna, the coarse-salt pork belly with flat bibim noodles was the most satisfying combination.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Gajeong Station Exit 4 shabu-shabu, self-serve meat bar: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza near Gajeong Station in Seo-gu, Incheon. After the first meat plate, diners help themselves to beef chuck, beef brisket, pork belly and pork neck from the self-serve bar, along with a regular broth, a spicy red broth, rice paper rolls, side dishes and a self-serve beer machine; adult weekday lunch is ₩24,900 and dinner is ₩29,900. With a large basement parking lot and plenty of seating, Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is a dependable pick for family meals and group gatherings.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Family pork galbi by Uijeongbu Station: mild fruit marinade, Manpo

Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch (만포갈비 의정부본점) is a pork and beef galbi (grilled ribs) restaurant about 225 m from Exit 1 of Uijeongbu Station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. On a family visit, the writer's family ate 4 servings of marinated pork galbi, ordered 2 more servings, and also had the side dishes, which include yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), plus the free house-made mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth). The fruit-based marinade at Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch is mild rather than punchy, making it an easy choice for a family meal with kids.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magongnaru sashimi restaurant: signature platter with ramen finish

Singsing Hoe Susan Sijang (싱싱회 수산시장) Magongnaru Station Direct Branch is a sashimi restaurant near Exit 2 of Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. After work, the writer and a friend shared the Singsing Hoe signature mixed sashimi for 2 with sides (49,000 won), with four fish (olive flounder, rockfish, salmon and flounder) and 9 side dishes, then finished with seafood ramen. Singsing Hoe Susan Sijang is an easy, generous choice for after-work sashimi and a drink in Magongnaru.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam eel restaurant: rainy-day lunch with my husband, Yangsando

Yangsando Yeoksam is a Japanese restaurant specializing in hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style grilled eel over rice) on Nonhyeon-ro 85-gil, between Gangnam Station and Yeoksam Station in Seoul. On a rainy day, the blogger and her husband had hitsumabushi for lunch at Yangsando Yeoksam. The set came with salad, soup, steamed egg and cold soba, and switching eating styles before finishing with a tea broth kept the meal interesting to the last bite. For a quiet, filling lunch near Gangnam Station or Yeoksam Station, Yangsando Yeoksam's hitsumabushi is a great fit.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Japanese restaurant for families, sashimi on ice: Weanssi Sushi

Weanssi Sushi Magok Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant on the first floor of Magok Jiwell Tower in Gangseo, Seoul, serving sushi, sashimi, set meals and course menus, with private rooms. Two of us shared the 35,000 won Weans Special, available until 4 PM, and sashimi, sushi, grilled fish and fried shrimp arrived one after another like a course. Weanssi Sushi Magok Main Branch is a solid Japanese restaurant in Magok for a family meal out or a quiet gathering.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae omurice and pasta restaurant: weekend date set for 2, Omil

Omil Hongdae is a Western-style restaurant serving mainly omurice and pasta, on the 2nd floor near Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend date, the blogger ordered the 2-person set: Rubber Duck Omurice, Spicy Seafood Pasta, Omil Soba Maki (soba noodle roll) and drinks. The bright dining room, floor-to-ceiling window seats and cute plating stood out. Omil Hongdae is a solid pick for anyone looking for a Hongdae restaurant with atmosphere for a date or a meal with friends.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored