Narrow Lane Roamer · 7 stories

Narrow Lane, Seoul and Incheon Cafes and Restaurants

Writes about small restaurants and cafes across Seoul, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Study-room café in Sinnonhyeon for exams: Geisha & salmon, Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch is a 24-hour bakery café on Gangnam-daero 79-gil in Seocho, Seoul, right in front of Sinnonhyeon Station. The writer had a salmon sandwich and a tangy ₩3,800 Geisha Americano at Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon and studied comfortably thanks to the study rooms, solo seats and outlets beside the seats. Verdict: if you need somewhere to study during exam season instead of a study café, Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon is a good choice.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gopchang BBQ in Anyang: ox gopchang & 1.5-serving fried rice, Ilmigop

Ilmigop (일미곱) is a newly opened beef gopchang (small intestine) BBQ restaurant on the 1st floor of The Hue commercial building in Bisan-dong, Anyang, Gyeonggi. At Ilmigop the writer ordered the ox gopchang grill (20,900 won), which came with a complimentary sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew) and a bonus grilled heart, then finished with fried rice (4,900 won, 1.5 servings by default). The gopchang was packed with marrow, chewy and free of any gamey smell, prices are reasonable, and the clean, spacious room makes Ilmigop an Anyang gopchang spot worth revisiting for family gatherings or a night of drinks.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido Station tteokbokki bar: quick combo for two, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점) is a tteokbokki and Korean street-snack bar on the B2 level of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. Short on time, two people skipped the instant tteokbokki and shared the Hyeonseonine Combo Set (25,000 won), which comes with brothy tteokbokki, fried snacks, sundae (Korean blood sausage) and gimbap (seaweed rice roll). The choice of sundae cuts and the squid fry, chewy like sweet-and-sour pork, were the highlights. Avoid the lunch rush and Hyeonseonine is a great spot in Yeouido for a fast full spread of tteokbokki, gimbap, sundae and fried snacks.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju walnut pastry shop: cold pea cream cheese, Buja Hodu

Buja Hodu (부자호두) is a handmade walnut pastry (hodu-gwaja) shop on Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The low-sugar red bean original and the pea cream cheese walnut pastries both have thin shells and whole walnuts, and the pea cream cheese tasted even smoother eaten cold. A trip to Buja Hodu for a snack ended with an extra gift box, and the shop is worth recommending for Gyeongju souvenirs.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market chicken shop: TV-famous garlic dakgangjeong, Seomin

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is a dakgangjeong (sweet, crispy glazed fried chicken), fried food and snack shop on the first floor of the Sokcho Jungang Market arcade in Gangwon. After several TV appearances, the line at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip stretched onto the stairs, and the blogger's garlic dakgangjeong (24,000 won), piled with fried garlic, was crisp outside, juicy inside, free of any gamey smell and made with big pieces of chicken. If you visit Sokcho Jungang Market, the garlic dakgangjeong is worth trying at least once, even with the wait.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pork BBQ with a big play room in Gimpo: icy naengmyeon at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch is an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant with a large kids' play room on Gimpohangang 4-ro in Janggi-dong, Gimpo. The writer brought a child and ordered the 1kg whole pig set (72,000 won), served with scallion salad tossed with jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles), soybean paste stew, steamed egg and icy mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth). Thanks to the aged pork belly, good value and kids' room, Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch was a satisfying spot for a family meal in Gimpo.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu cold udon restaurant with 48-hour aged noodles: Kosi Seongsu

Kosi Seongsu Branch is a Sanuki udon and tonkatsu restaurant one minute from Exit 6 of Ttukseom Station in Seongsu, Seoul. The bukkake udon costs 9,000 won and the fresh loin tonkatsu 11,500 won; the 48-hour aged noodles stayed thick and springy rather than soggy, and the tonkatsu had a crisp coating with juicy meat inside. Inari sushi and salad come with the meal, making Kosi Seongsu a filling lunch pick in Seongsu-dong.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
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