Areum Bok · 4 stories

A Night Tab in Hongdae

Writes about bars, cafes, and restaurants around Seoul and Gyeonggi, mostly from evenings spent at small tables. · Writes about: Bars · Cafés · Restaurants

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon Station room bar with brisket bean sprout stir-fry: Manseokjip

Manseokjip Suwon Station Branch is a private-room Korean bar in the Rodeo shopping district by Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi, with rooms for 2 to 10 people. The order was beef brisket and bean sprout stir-fry (cha-dol sukju bokkeum) for 16,900 won, Korean beef gopdoritang (spicy chicken and beef tripe stew) for 26,900 won and a Terra beer, eaten in a private room where the bowl of rice arrived with a slice of Spam on top. At a weekday room fee of 2,000 won, Manseokjip is an easy pick for couples and big group nights out alike.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Haenggung-dong pasta restaurant in Suwon: Alfredo cream, Low Five

Low Five is a casual Western restaurant in the Haenggung-dong area of Suwon, Gyeonggi, where pizza, pasta and kimchi fried rice all share one menu. Arriving at 5pm, just as Low Five's break time ended, the writer ordered Alfredo cream pasta (18,000 won), a half-and-half pizza (26,000 won), avocado kimchi fried rice (14,000 won) and grapefruit ade (6,000 won). The cream sauce and the bite of the noodles made the Alfredo cream pasta a new favourite, and Low Five works just as easily for a meal with a friend as for a date.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon Station café with a Snoopy brownie and melon soda: Hongrad

Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is a black-and-white, New York-style dessert café on the second floor of a building behind Suwon Tax Office, a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The Hongrad brownie costs 7,500 won, the melon soda 6,500 won and the mango smoothie 7,000 won, and the brownie arrives with a Snoopy face drawn in chocolate syrup next to the brightly colored soda. Hongrad is an easy stop after shopping at Lotte Department Store, with sofa seats made for long conversations and photos.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Saetgang izakaya: 11-kind skewer set, 3 draft beers, Robadayakki Sodam

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch is a Japanese izakaya on a quiet Yeouido side street in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a five-minute walk from Saetgang Station Exit 1. The order was the mixed charcoal skewer set with 11 kinds and 13 pieces for 24,000 won, a fire-grilled jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) for 21,000 won, and three 500ml draft beers for 15,000 won. For a drink in Yeouido in a calm izakaya rather than a pojangmacha tent or a meat restaurant, Robadayakki Sodam was a solid choice.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
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