Seaside Side-Dish Guest · 18 stories

Incheon's Side Table

I write about restaurants and meals I encounter around Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Food & snacks · Cafés

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seooreung drive Chinese restaurant: tablet-ordered sujebi jjamppong

Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch (짬뽕지존 서오릉점) is a jjamppong-focused Chinese restaurant on Seooreung-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. At Jjamppong Jijeon, the writer ordered sujebi jjamppong (spicy seafood soup with hand-torn dough), jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), glutinous-rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and jjamppong mandu by tablet. Rice at the self-bar was free, and every dish arrived at once. The spicy sujebi jjamppong and chewy glutinous-rice tangsuyuk were the standouts at this Seooreung Chinese restaurant.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo Central Park steak restaurant, dinner with my fiancé: Jazz 257

Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch is a steak and wood-fired pizza restaurant on the 2nd floor of Artfore Building D in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon, overlooking Central Park. The writer had dinner there with her fiancé, ordering wine, steak and wood-fired pizza, and was pleased with the juicy steak, the thin, crispy pizza and the Central Park night view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For a date or anniversary dinner in Songdo, Jazz 257 is good enough that she plans to return.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae izakaya for a wedding invite meetup: mala tang at Gusa Yeonnam

Gusa Yeonnam is a teppanyaki izakaya on the B1 floor of Yeontral Tower, near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer went to Gusa Yeonnam with friends for a wedding invitation meetup and shared okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and mala tang (numbing spicy Sichuan soup), enjoying switching between Japanese teppanyaki and the tingling mala tang. Verdict: Gusa Yeonnam is a good Hongdae spot for a group where everyone can order to their own taste.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna briquette BBQ: alcohol-free highballs & doenjang rice, Gimgol

Gimgol Yeontan-jip Cheongna Branch (감골연탄집 청라점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park in Seohae-gu, Incheon, that grills Korean-raised pork (handon) over briquette coals. Over dinner, the writer had pork neck and kkodeulsal (a chewy pork cut) for two with alcohol-free omija and plum highballs, then added flat bibim noodles, doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice stew) and a slushie for dessert. Gimgol Yeontan-jip Cheongna Branch is a solid dinner pick in Cheongna for anyone who loves smoky briquette-grilled pork.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet sukiyaki date near Magongnaru Station: udon finish at Okso Ban

Okso Ban Magok Main Branch (옥소반 마곡본점) is a sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant near Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer went for an after-work date dinner, ordered sukiyaki, chose udon as the closing course, and was pleased with the fresh meat, clean broth and quiet room with widely spaced tables. For a calm sukiyaki date in Magok where you can actually talk, Okso Ban Magok Main Branch is worth considering.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido Station Korean BBQ for a reunion of four: Smile Samgyeop

Smile Samgyeop Main Branch (스마일삼겹 본점) is a pork belly (samgyeopsal) Korean BBQ restaurant on Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil near Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a long-overdue get-together of four, the group grilled thick pork belly with kimchi and minari (water parsley), staff grilled the meat when they had a free moment, and kimchi stew (kimchi-jjigae) came out on the house. With roomy table spacing and a lively, buzzing atmosphere, Smile Samgyeop Main Branch suits team dinners and catch-ups with friends.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Mapo hair salon: natural hair color for wedding photos, JUNO Hair

JUNO Hair Sangam DMC (준오헤어 상암DMC점) is a hair salon on Woldeukeopbuk-ro 56-gil in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. Ahead of her wedding photo shoot, the writer had her hair dyed a natural color that was neither too bright nor too dark, and said it brightened her complexion with less damage than she expected. For anyone weighing a dye job before a big day like a wedding shoot, the careful color consultation at JUNO Hair Sangam DMC is the reason to book.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Octopus restaurant in Magok: perilla and radish wraps, Jju Baksa

Jju Baksa Magok Branch (쭈박사 마곡점) is a restaurant specializing in spicy stir-fried jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) in Magok-dong, Gangseo, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Yangcheonhyanggyo Station. The writer ordered the fried rice set, wrapped the lightly smoky octopus in perilla leaves and pickled radish wraps, then fried rice in the leftover sauce and scraped up the crispy scorched crust. Jju Baksa Magok Branch is a spicy octopus spot that suits team dinners, dates and everyday evening meals alike.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulBars

Balsan makgeolli bar, peach makgeolli and suyuk: Yeonnam Jumak 1987

Yeonnam Jumak 1987 Balsan branch is a retro, old-style Korean tavern (jumak) and pub near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a rainy day the writer ordered half-and-half jeon (kimchi pancake and scallion pancake), suyuk (boiled pork slices) and peach makgeolli, and was happy with the crispy jeon, the suyuk with no gamey smell and the peach makgeolli, which was less chalky than usual. If you want a makgeolli bar near Balsan Station on a rainy day, Yeonnam Jumak 1987 Balsan branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu set for two on a Hongdae lunch date: Katsu Monster Yeonnam

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. On a Hongdae lunch date, the writer ordered the 2-person set of mixed katsu, cheese katsu and cold soba, and gangjeong (sweet glazed fried bites) came out for dessert, which made the meal plenty for two. For couples who want to try several kinds of tonkatsu in one meal, the Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch 2-person set is a good fit.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magongnaru pasta spot: 25% off solo set, rosé tteokbokki, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Magok Branch (파스타고 마곡나루점) is a casual pasta, risotto and pizza restaurant near Exit 1 of Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two people ate their fill at Pasta Go Magok Branch for under ₩30,000, ordering a 25% off solo set (1 pasta + 1 side + 1 drink) plus tomato risotto, rosé tteokbokki pasta (pasta with chewy rice cakes in a rosé sauce) and pizza. For good-value pasta in Magongnaru, Pasta Go Magok Branch is a satisfying pick.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido IFC Mall tteokbokki bar: fast lunch turnover, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) snack bar on the B2 level of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul, directly connected to Yeouido Station. At lunchtime the Hyeonseonine Set brought tteokbokki, fried snacks, sundae (Korean blood sausage) with offal and gimbap (seaweed rice roll); even with a crowd the turnover was fast, so the wait was short, and the portion was generous for two. Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is an easy, no-fuss pick for a Yeouido office lunch or a meal while shopping at IFC Mall.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored