Spare Spoon Friend · 25 stories

A Side Spoon in Hwaseong

Writes about a restaurant visit in Gyeonggi Province. · Writes about: Restaurants · Home & living · Cafés · Things to do · Bars

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Japanese spot: uni crab aburi-don + croquette, Ilpum

Ilpum Gangnam Branch (일품 강남점) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and unagi-don (eel rice bowl), located on basement level 1 of a building on Seocho-daero 74-gil near Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. Two diners sat at the bar and ordered kaisendon, aburi-don topped with sea urchin roe and crab meat, and a Hokkaido scallop cream croquette, and the mains came with complimentary chawanmushi (savory egg custard), mini udon and milk pudding. Ilpum Gangnam Branch is a great-value Japanese restaurant near Gangnam Station where a single rice bowl feels like a full course.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jije Station sundaeguk spot: six-cut pork platter, Old Gyeongseong

Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Pyeongtaek Jije Dongsak Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on the Mosangol food street near Jije Station in Pyeongtaek. After booking a table for dinner past 6 p.m., the writer had the mixed pork platter with six cuts (head meat, osori gamtu pig stomach, native-style sundae, glutinous rice sundae, liver and lung) and the signature sundaeguk, whose broth tasted good even without extra seasoning. Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk is a good Jije Station pick when you want drinks and a hearty gukbap meal in one sitting.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja-dong beef BBQ: chef-grilled flower rib and Kewara salt, Nokji

Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch is a beef and lamb BBQ restaurant in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. After booking ahead for a catch-up dinner with a younger sibling, the writer ordered the Uyang set for two and myeongran pa-bap (pollock roe and green onion rice). The chef grilled the flower rib to the requested doneness and gave the green onion, mushroom and minari garnishes a charcoal aroma too. Thanks to the chef-grilled service and sauce pairings that hold up to the last bite, Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch is a solid pick for treating special guests or a date.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Jeongja café: butter sand gifts & freezer tips at Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is a butter dessert café with a terrace on Jeongja Café Street in Bundang-gu, Seongnam. The writer tasted the Original and Crème Brûlée butter sands, the plain butter bar and the Basque cheesecake at Butter & Shelter and took cookies home for a younger sibling who loves cookies; the sibling's favorite was the plain butter bar. Verdict: start with the Original butter sand, and freeze gift cookies as soon as you buy them.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek restaurant: pollack and roe stew in one pot, Sokcho Halmae

Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang Pyeongtaek Jije-dongsak Branch (속초할매동태탕 평택지제동삭점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in dongtae-tang (spicy pollack stew) in Dongsak-dong, Pyeongtaek, near Jije Station. On a rainy weekend evening the restaurant was full. One serving of pollack stew and one of altang (fish roe stew), each with sotbap (hot-pot rice), arrived together in a single pot with a spicy, refreshing broth and generous chunks of pollack and roe. With pot rice for just 1,000 won extra and parking on the lot next door, Sokcho Halmae Dongtae-tang is a solid spot for a family meal or dinner with a drink.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pho bar near Pyeongtaek City Hall with kiosk pre-ordering: Mibundang

Mibundang Pyeongtaek City Hall Branch is a pho and jjajo (Vietnamese fried spring roll) restaurant on the first floor of CM Tower near Pyeongtaek City Hall. The writer ordered at the kiosk before going in, sat at the bar, and ate brisket-and-flank pho, sliced brisket pho and an assorted platter of 5 kinds of jjajo, then got refills of noodles and bean sprouts. Mibundang Pyeongtaek City Hall Branch suits a solo meal or a quiet date when you want a restorative bowl of pho at good value.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek cockle house, mild bibimbap & garlic scapes: Kkomak Manse

Kkomak Manse Pyeongtaek Manse-ro Main Branch (꼬막만세) is a cockle restaurant on Manse-ro in Jukbaek-dong, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. With the family set sold out, the writer ordered the 2-person set of seasoned cockle bibimbap, cockle pancake and cockle dumplings; even a writer who can't handle spicy food found the bibimbap mild, and the free fish cake soup and seasoned garlic scape pickles made a satisfying pairing. With high chairs for babies and toddlers and iced barley tea, Kkomak Manse is a good cockle restaurant for a family meal with parents and kids.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Samsan-dong clam restaurant, Ulsan: kalguksu finish at Getbeolui Jogae

Getbeolui Jogae Ulsan Samsan branch (갯벌의조개 울산삼산점) is a grilled clam and clam hot pot restaurant in Samsan-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. The writer ordered the giant clam hot pot for two with beef shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) added. The hot pot cooks on a 15-minute timer and comes with cheese sauce, and a self-bar serves yeolmu (young radish) kimchi with barley rice. Getbeolui Jogae Ulsan Samsan branch is a good choice for clam lovers and for a company dinner.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Non-spicy white jjambbong at a Godeok, Pyeongtaek Chinese restaurant

Jangsu Jjambbong Jeonmunjeom (장수짬뽕전문점) is a neighborhood Chinese restaurant on Godeokbuk-ro in Godeok, Pyeongtaek, known locally for hangover-curing jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Two diners who can't handle spice ordered white jjambbong, ganjjajang (black bean noodles with sauce on the side) and a small tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). The mild, seafood-packed white jjambbong and the crispy soy-sauce tangsuyuk stood out most. If you avoid spicy food, order the white jjambbong at Jangsu Jjambbong Jeonmunjeom.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiBars

Songtan izakaya in Pyeongtaek with chef drink pairings: Kitsune

Izakaya Kitsune (이자카야 키츠네) is a fusion Japanese izakaya in the food alley near the Songtan Branch Office in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. At the bar counter seats, the writer had hangover jjamppong nabe (spicy-seafood-noodle-style hot pot), fried shishamo, chicken skin gyoza, ponzu gyudon, tako wasabi and mochiri tofu, while the chef recommended sake, whisky or Japanese shochu to match each dish. Izakaya Kitsune is an easygoing Songtan izakaya for solo drinking, dates or group nights out.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Korean restaurant, pork & potato seaweed soup: Dwaeji Gomtang

Dwaeji Gomtang House Musinsa Mega Store Branch is a pork gongtang (clear pork soup) restaurant in the Special Pop-up Zone of the 4th-floor Food Garden at Musinsa Mega Store in Seongsu, Seoul. Trying gongtang for the first time, the writer ordered the clear gongtang set, the house seaweed soup (miyeokguk) set with pork and potato, and the Musinsa-only minari (water dropwort) and hijiki king dumplings at the kiosk. Dwaeji Gomtang House is a good spot for a filling, no-wait meal during a Musinsa shopping trip.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Tonkatsu taste test in Godeok, Pyeongtaek: Omi Katsu's three cutlets

Omi Katsu is a handmade tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant that opened August 1 on Godeogyeoyeom 11-gil in Godeok, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. Tenderloin katsu, pork loin katsu and cheese katsu were tasted side by side at Omi Katsu, with mince curry rice and fried tofu udon on the side — the tenderloin katsu with salt and wasabi was the cleanest, while the cheese katsu poured out far more cheese than meat. A new Godeok spot worth remembering when you want to pick and choose between cutlet types.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored