Warm Cup Pilgrim · 8 stories

A Warm Cup Through Seoul and Gangwon

Writes about cafes and small restaurants found while wandering through Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan/Gyeongnam, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli Japanese set meal on Busan day two: Dado Set A, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Gwangalli Main Branch (다이도코로 광안리본점) is a Japanese home-style set meal restaurant in Namcheon-dong, Suyeong, Busan, between Geumnyeonsan Station and Gwangalli Beach. On day two of a Busan trip, after moving to a Gwangalli hotel, the writer walked in as the first customer right at opening and ordered the 40,900 won Dado Set A for two (karaage set, katsu curry set, udon and menbosha shrimp toast) with a Plum Wassoda, and the portions were piled high like a mountain. Daidokoro Gwangalli Main Branch is a good-value spot for a full Japanese spread followed by a walk along Gwangalli Beach.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae Station café with luggage: pistachio swirl, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Roastery (로우앤스윗 로스터리) is a roastery bakery café that roasts its own beans, right at the entrance to Haeridan-gil in front of Haeundae Station in Busan. On the last day of a Busan trip, the writer and a friend shared two iced americanos (one Choty beans, one decaf), a pistachio swirl, an egg tart and two financiers; the staff kindly recommended freshly baked pastries, and a calm dog customer was relaxing in the café. Low & Sweet Roastery is a good Haeridan-gil café for a Haeundae date or a short break with luggage.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong pasta spot for 3 friends: tangy-spicy salad, Rangteu

Rangteu Yeonnam is a fusion Western restaurant on the 1.5th floor of a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. On a sweltering day, three friends shared the Shanghai romaine salad (₩9,000), yuzu spring greens pasta and Monterey gochujang cream gnocchi (₩18,900 each) and red crab bisque risotto (₩19,300), and all three loved the bright, tangy flavors. The menu looks familiar but the flavors are anything but, making Rangteu Yeonnam a solid pick for a Yeonnam-dong date or small get-together.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Weekday-morning Yeonnam-dong café, Fruit Dream tea: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a butter sand dessert café on Seongmisan-ro in Mapo, Seoul, where pets are welcome on the terrace. On a weekday morning, the writer stopped by Butter & Shelter Yeonnam with older friends as a second café and shared Fruit Dream and Royal Chamomile teas, three butter sands, a yellow cheese cream cookie and a Dubai chewy cookie. Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a spacious, quiet café that is good for chatting early in the day and comparing butter sand flavors.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae café with Strawberry Sunset chimney ice cream: Chimney Mansion

Chimney Mansion (침니맨션) is a chimney bread bakery café in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongdae Station and Hapjeong Station near Seogyo-dong Church. On a weekday afternoon the writer and her friends shared Baby Pista and Chimney Choco Sora chimney bread, a Strawberry Sunset chimney bread ice cream and three decaf Americanos (Americano 2,000 won, plus 700 won for decaf) at a second-floor window seat. Chimney Mansion is a quiet, unusual Hongdae café that suits a long weekday afternoon of chatting.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beomgye risotto spot, ragu fries & dim weekday lunch: Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Beomgye Branch (투파인드피터 범계점) is a pasta and risotto restaurant that takes up the entire 5th floor of Park Avenuel near Beomgye Station in Anyang. On a weekday lunch, seated in one of the restaurant's dimly lit zones (each zone has its own lighting), the writer had carbonara, whole squid ink risotto, ragu fries and two Zero Colas for 51,000 won. The slightly spicy whole squid ink risotto was the standout. Two Find Peter Beomgye Branch combines good value, food quality and atmosphere, making it a great date restaurant near Beomgye Station.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Regular fries vs 18 Fries at a Jamsil burger restaurant: Daily Fix

Daily Fix Jangmi Sangga is a handmade burger restaurant in Songpa, Seoul, midway between Jamsil Naru and Jamsil stations, on basement level 1 of Jangmi Sangga Building B. On a weekday just after 11am, two people ordered a bacon cheeseburger set, a truffle mushroom burger set and coleslaw for 43,500 won total, taking one regular fries and one 18 Fries to share between them. The bacon cheeseburger tastes like a textbook handmade burger, while the truffle mushroom burger bursts with truffle aroma, so pick whichever suits your taste.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy yakisoba at a Seoul Forest Japanese restaurant: Hotcho Seongsu

Hotcho Seongsu is a Japanese restaurant near Seoul Forest Station in Seongdong, Seoul, where Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and yakisoba are grilled on the hot plate at your table. Arriving right at weekday opening meant walking in with no wait, and the two of us shared the signature two-person set (Hotcho okonomiyaki + dogarashi spicy yakisoba + yaki gyoza) plus cheese and tomato tsukemono (pickles). The dogarashi yakisoba sits around Shin Ramyun heat, enough to cut the richness so the set stays easy to finish.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored

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