Slate Supper Walker · 46 stories
I write about restaurant meals I come across in Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons
Standard Square is a roastery café in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon, and its flagship branch is on Keonbensia-daero. A regular of nearly 10 years ordered a latte and a flat white with a Pig Bar cookie and a matcha cookie, and loved how the nutty, rich coffee paired with the chewy cookies. Verdict: Standard Square is a great café for ending a Songdo date with proper coffee and dessert.
Yangjaeok (양재옥) is a Korean restaurant on Nambusunhwan-ro near Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer's group shared a juansang (drinking platter) of bossam (boiled pork slices), tofu kimchi, zucchini jeon (pan-fried zucchini) and jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), then finished with Yangjaeok's pork gomtang, a clear yet hearty pork soup. Yangjaeok is a Yangjae Station Korean restaurant worth remembering when a group wants drinking food and a hangover soup in one sitting.
Masinneun Seonmul Ato (맛있는선물 아토) is a sashimi restaurant and izakaya near Jungheung S-Class in Yecheon-dong, Seosan. The writer, who barely drinks, ate the today's-menu half flounder, half black porgy set with ankimo (monkfish liver) sauce in a private room and was very happy with the thick-cut aged sashimi, the masukawa-style black porgy (skin scalded, flesh left raw) and the rich ankimo sauce. Masinneun Seonmul Ato is a Seosan izakaya worth visiting just for sashimi and sushi, even without alcohol.
Hudeokga (후덕가) is a Korean restaurant in Seokji-dong, Seosan, Chungnam, specializing in nakgopsae (spicy octopus, beef intestine and shrimp hot pot) and healthy pot rice. On a trip to Seosan, the writer simmered Hudeokga's nakgopsae for lunch, mixed it into freshly cooked pot rice with seaweed flakes, chives and bean sprouts, and finished with nurungji (scorched rice) tea. Hudeokga is a good fit for a Seosan lunch when you want spicy nakgopsae together with warm pot rice.
Mugyo-dong Yeongmi Nakji Anyang Main Branch is an octopus (nakji) restaurant in Hogye-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, near Geumjeong Station. At lunch the writer ordered the value set for two at 20,000 won per person, which brought four dishes: stir-fried octopus, manila clam soup, seafood pancake (haemul pajeon) and turmeric rice, with tender octopus and well-cleaned clams. Mugyo-dong Yeongmi Nakji is a good-value, carefully made lunch spot worth recommending in Anyang.
Milbat Bakery Pyeongchon (밀밭제빵소평촌) is a neighborhood bakery in Pyeongchon, Anyang, a 3-minute walk from Pyeongchon Station, selling bread made with natural sourdough starter and organic baguettes daily from 8am to midnight. After trying the in-store tasting samples, the writer took home carrot cake, financiers, sourdough and red bean buns, and found the portions generous for today's prices and the flavor good. Milbat Bakery Pyeongchon is an easy one-stop bakery near Pyeongchon Station for everything from wholesome loaves to celebration cakes.
Focaccia Cucina is a focaccia sandwich café on Banpo-daero 21-gil in Seocho-gu, near Seocho Station in Seoul. On a weekend visit, the writer and his wife ordered the Special Sandwich Gravlax, the Pollo Sandwich (chicken breast) and a fresh banana golden latte, then took home Focaccia Cucina's homemade granola. From the sandwiches to the latte and granola, nothing missed, and Focaccia Cucina is now a confirmed regular spot.
HUG HAUS is a second-floor brunch and pasta restaurant in Daeheung-dong, Mapo, Seoul, between Daeheung Station and Gongdeok Station on Line 6, overlooking Gyeongui Line Forest Park. The blogger brought a stroller, booked through Catch Table, and ordered truffle mushroom pasta, shio kombu (salted kelp) pecan pasta and an iced latte, with rich, thick, intensely flavored sauces and bread on the house. With free corkage and bright window seats, HUG HAUS is a great date spot to pair with a walk along Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
Misfits Sadang (Misfits Burger & Pub) is a smoked handmade burger restaurant in an alley near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Seoul. At lunch the writer ordered the Truffle Creamy set and the Mexican Chili burger, and was struck by the smoke that billows out like a cloud when the food dome is lifted, along with the rich smoky flavor. Because Misfits Sadang also registers 1 hour of free public parking, it was a satisfying lunch burger spot near Sadang Station for anyone arriving by car.
Fong Thai Sinchon Main Branch is a Thai restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, about a 4-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinchon Station. After work, the writer and a friend waited about 10 minutes at the dinner peak, then shared beef rice noodle soup, shrimp pad thai (pad thai kung) and fried rice. With extra cilantro, fish sauce and pickled chilies, Fong Thai's clear but rich beef broth was good enough to drink almost to the last drop.
Central Site Hapjeong is a specialty coffee roastery café in an alley near Exit 2 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer chose Ethiopia and Raveneta coffees by smelling bean samples, drank them as iced drip over a large whiskey ice cube, and paired them with a tiramisu topped with mascarpone cream and dark chocolate chips. With a weekday 2-hour Mecenatpolis parking ticket, Central Site Hapjeong is a relaxed drip coffee stop near Hapjeong Station, even by car.
Okjoban Gongdeok Station Branch is a Japanese shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant on the first floor of Hyosung Harrington Square near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. After an autumn walk along Gyeongui Line Forest Park, the writer ordered the Kanto-style sukiyaki al-moksim (chuck eye) B set: staff coated the pot with butter and arranged the vegetables, the vegetables came with unlimited refills, and kimchi fried rice finished the meal. With free underground parking and roomy seating, Okjoban Gongdeok Station Branch is an easy pick for a Gongdeok date, a lunch meetup or a work dinner.
