Night Menu Reader · 10 stories

Loose Menu, Seoul and Jeju Rounds

Writes about cafes, restaurants, and bars across Seoul, Jeju, Busan/Gyeongnam, and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Chicken galbi near Cheonho Station, my husband's soy favorite: Ondogye

Ondogye is a charcoal-grilled chicken galbi (marinated grilled chicken) restaurant near Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. Ondogye always has a line, but a Naver reservation gets you seated right at your chosen time. On this second visit, the meal was soy-marinated and spicy chicken galbi, salt-grilled chicken neck (17,000 won) and grilled vegetables, with doenjang (soybean paste) stew, complimentary chicken gizzards and strawberry ice cream on the side. Paid for out of pocket, Ondogye is a Cheonho chicken galbi spot worth returning to, and ordering one of every flavor is recommended.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu for two near Olympic Park Station: half-and-half sets at Riae

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a handmade tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park. On a repeat visit, two diners ordered two Signature half-and-half sets (22,000 won each) to try the premium special loin katsu, fillet katsu and Tokyo menchi hamburg, adding a Tokyo bite-size spice curry (5,500 won). Verdict: the premium loin katsu and the spice curry at Riae Premium are must-orders, and the writer is very keen to go back.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Suyeong seafood pub, Busan: anglerfish suyuk with liver and intestines

Sintongyeong Gul Gukbap (신통영굴국밥) is an oyster-focused seafood restaurant and pub on Suyeong-ro 725beon-gil in Suyeong, Busan, known for agujjim (braised spicy anglerfish) and agu-suyuk (boiled anglerfish slices). On this visit the writer ordered a small wild-caught assorted sashimi platter for 60,000 won and the signature fresh agu-suyuk for 50,000 won, a whole anglerfish served with its liver and intestines for a mix of textures. At Sintongyeong Gul Gukbap, the fresh agu-suyuk is a must-order.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu salad spot for two: tomato soup & Salchi Bowl, Le Vegie Wang

Le Vegie Wang Seongsu Space (르베지왕 성수공간) is a salad and poke restaurant on Yeonmujang-gil in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, known for diet-friendly and vegan dishes. Two of us shared a tomato soup (7,500 won), a granola chicken sandwich (11,500 won) and a Salsa Chicken Bowl, or Salchi Bowl (12,500 won), and the open space and lighting made for a good photo. Le Vegie Wang Seongsu Space is a Seongsu salad spot for anyone who wants nutrition, flavor and a photogenic setting in one meal.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Gwakji Beach black pork BBQ with neck and fresh wasabi: Nopo Dwaeji

Nopo Dwaeji Aewol (노포돼지 애월) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gwakji Beach in Aewol-eup, Jeju, that sears thick-cut black pork (geun-gogi) over barley straw. The restaurant was full, so after a 5-minute wait the writer ordered 600g of black pork geun-gogi for ₩72,000 and 24-hour aged kimchi stew for ₩8,000. Staff grill the meat, and the pork neck eaten with fresh wasabi stood out for its juiciness and clean taste. Verdict: at Nopo Dwaeji Aewol, order the geun-gogi, and don't skip the pork neck.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Gwakji Beach bibim noodle restaurant: cold dombe pork combo, Handam

Handam Guksu Gwakji Aewol Branch (한담국수 곽지애월점) is an ocean-view pork noodle restaurant facing Gwakji-Aewol Beach in Aewol-eup, Jeju. After a wait of about 3 minutes, the writer filled the table with dongchimi bibim noodles (spicy mixed noodles with radish water kimchi, 10,000 won), cold dombe pork (sliced boiled pork, 15,000 won) and bone broth pork noodles (10,000 won), and loved the cold dombe pork and bibim noodle combo enough to have eaten it 8 times. With flavor, value, ocean views and location all in one, Handam Guksu Gwakji Aewol Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Seogwipo Southeast Asian restaurant for seafood pad thai: Pho Bay

Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on Hongjung-ro in Seohong-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju, that also serves Thai and Indonesian dishes. The writer stopped by Pho Bay by chance during a trip and ordered seafood pad thai (13,500 won), a small seafood pho (12,000 won) and chả giò, Vietnamese fried spring rolls (5,000 won). The jasmine tea, self-serve corner and parking in front of the restaurant also won praise. Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom is a Seogwipo Vietnamese restaurant that gets the basics of pho and pad thai right.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Hamdeok black pork BBQ, Jocha Set, pork-wrapped noodles: Jeju Samchun

Jeju Samchun (제주삼춘) is an aged and smoked black pork BBQ restaurant right in front of Hamdeok Beach in Jocheon-eup, Jeju. Two people came for an early dinner, had the 500g Jocha Set (neck and pork belly) grilled over charcoal by the staff, then finished with 8,000-won yeolmu guksu (young radish kimchi noodles) wrapped with the leftover pork. The smoky black pork with tangy yeolmu noodles was the heart of the Jeju Samchun visit.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Jayang-dong bakery café for decaf latte and salt bread: Stack Bakery

Stack Bakery Konkuk University Station Main Branch is a croissant and pastry bakery café in an alley off Ttukseom-ro 31-gil in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. At Stack Bakery we had an olive cheese pastry (4,500 won), an egg flan (4,800 won), a plain croissant and salt bread with a coconut latte and a café latte switched to decaf beans. Stack Bakery bakes fresh every day and sits close to Ttukseom Hangang Park, which makes it a good stop for picnic desserts to go.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gamil, Hanam drive-date spot for jujube stone pot rice: Jigueseo On

Jigueseo On Jjukkumi Hanam Main Branch is a jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and seafood restaurant at 5 Seohanam-ro 390beon-gil in the Gamil area of Hanam, Gyeonggi. After a quiet drive date I stopped in for the perilla oil jjukkumi set meal, which arrives with black sesame salad, japchae and pollack roe sides, clam seaweed soup, and a stone pot rice topped with black beans, jujube and sweet pumpkin to mix everything into. The balance of sweet-spicy sauce against nutty perilla oil is what makes Jigueseo On worth the drive.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
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