Geomdan Meal Stroller · 15 stories

A Meal in Incheon

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae sashimi spot: flounder, mullet and seokkoshi, Eosa Chulto

Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch (어사출또 홍대점) is a live sashimi restaurant on Donggyo-ro 27-gil near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered a 60,000-won platter of seasonal flounder, mullet and seokkoshi (thinly sliced bone-in fish) and finished with the spicy fish stew (maeuntang) included in the sashimi price. Eosa Chulto Hongdae Branch is a good Hongdae pick for comparing three kinds of sashimi and ending on a hot, spicy broth.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Briquette Korean BBQ at Gayang Station with no smoky smell: Gamgol

Gamgol Yeontanjip Gayang Station Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gayang Station in Gangseo, Seoul, that grills meat over yeontan (coal briquettes) in a retro 1970s–80s setting. Curious whether the briquette smell would get into the meat, the writer ordered 1 serving of coarse-salt pork belly and 2 servings of Juljuri steak-cut pork neck and found almost no acrid smell. Cooked to about 80%, the pork neck stayed juicy, and basil pesto, fresh somaek and yeolmu kimchi noodles made Gamgol Yeontanjip a great all-round pick.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Tonkatsu dinner in Dangha-dong after E-Mart: Favorite Katsu, HOKATSU

HOKATSU is a tonkatsu restaurant in Dangha-dong, Geomdan, Seo-gu, Incheon, selected for the 2026 Blue Ribbon guide. After shopping at E-Mart Geomdan, the writer stopped at HOKATSU for dinner and ordered the Favorite Katsu (4 pieces of tenderloin katsu and 2 pieces of cheese katsu) and the Favorite Katsu + Mini Curry set. HOKATSU's tenderloin katsu was crispy outside and juicy inside, a taste worth coming back for.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Japanese restaurant at Nampo Station: 3 PM walk-in, no wait, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is a Japanese home-cooking restaurant on the 10th floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, connected to Nampo Station in Busan. On the last day of a Busan trip, the writer walked into Daidokoro at 3 PM on a weekday without a reservation, was seated right away, and ordered the chicken nanban set and kkanpunggi (spicy garlic fried chicken) set at ₩17,500 each, plus menbosha (shrimp toast), draft beer and mango ade. Saving half the rice to mix with Daidokoro's 100-hour aged curry was the standout, and the writer would happily go back.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSaha, BusanRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Saha, Busan: first lotus-leaf rice at Yukganmyeongga

Yukganmyeongga (육간명가) is a Korean charcoal-grill restaurant for hanwoo beef and pork on Hasinjungang-ro in Saha, Busan, which also serves hanjeongsik-style set meals. On a weekday evening, the writer and her husband ordered two 480°C fire-oven pork galbi lotus-leaf rice sets at ₩19,000 per person. The lotus-leaf rice, her first, was chewy, somewhere between sticky rice and yakbap (sweet rice with nuts and dates), with a gentle lotus-leaf aroma. Verdict: because no one has to grill the meat, Yukganmyeongga makes for an unhurried meal with plenty of time to talk.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean restaurant with mini Stella draft: Gungmin

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch is a nakgopsae (spicy octopus, beef intestine and shrimp hot pot) restaurant near Balsan Station Exit 6 in Gangseo, Seoul. At Gungmin Nakgopsae, the writer ordered the hanwoo daechang nakgopsae (₩32,900), added glass noodles, used a broth refill for a second round, and paired it with a 150ml Stella draft beer and a Cass draft. Two adults left full without fried rice: a spicy, hearty meal.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Mangridan-gil date bar: apple makgeolli and large bossam, Jeongju Ilga

Jeongju Ilga (정주일가) is a Korean pub specializing in traditional liquor on Mangridan-gil in Mangwon, Mapo, Seoul. On a date-night second round, the couple had the complimentary fried dried fish snack with Cheongsong apple makgeolli (750ml, 6%) and a large bossam (boiled pork wraps) for 35,000 won, served with tofu and dried radish, which was plenty for two adults. With its cozy feel, like a grandmother's living room, and a good balance of food and Korean liquor, Jeongju Ilga is a great Mangwon bar for lingering late into the night.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Bakchon Station duck BBQ full course from salt to porridge: Ganaandeok

Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a duck restaurant near Bakchon Station in Incheon where diners grill raw duck themselves over real charcoal. On a weekday evening, two adults walked in with no wait and shared one whole charcoal-grilled raw duck (700g), moving from a first salt-dipped bite to lettuce wraps, mung bean porridge and charcoal-roasted sweet potatoes. For anyone who wants clean, mild duck with no gamey smell and a full course through dessert, Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is worth even a wait.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Gangseo sushi bar, white fish set in place of yellowtail: Ilpum Magok

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese sushi restaurant near Magok and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, known for sushi sets served as a full course, from chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) to a noodle dish and dessert. On a weekday lunch, a regular couple sat at the bar and ordered the white fish sushi set (₩33,000) and the Today's Sushi set (₩28,000) after the seasonal yellowtail sushi set turned out to be unavailable that day. Ilpum Magok is a little pricey for a sushi set, but the full course makes it worth a return visit.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo duck BBQ for two with an oil-draining grill: Gongjung Dodeok

Gongjung Dodeok (공중도덕) is a duck restaurant with the feel of a hanok tavern, right beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park near Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer booked ahead with her husband, sat at a partitioned indoor table and ordered the Gongjung half-and-half set (seasoned duck jumulleok, plain roast duck, minari and gonggamtang, a duck potato stew) plus a cheese potato pancake; the oil-draining grill and the huge earthenware pot of stew stood out. Gongjung Dodeok suits couples who want a generous duck feast near Daeheung Station and Gongdeok.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Hongdae for terrace day drinking, no grilling: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, right in front of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park near Hongik Univ. Station, where staff grill the meat for you. A couple who find grilling a chore sat on the terrace with daytime beer and spent around ₩100,000 on a Korean beef and pork set for 2 (600g), half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice. Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a relaxed pick for a day when you want both beef and pork without doing the grilling.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeomdan, IncheonRestaurants

Geomdan conveyor sushi: weekday dinner wait and tips at Oneul Sushi

Oneul Sushi Geomdan Sindosi branch is a newly opened conveyor belt sushi restaurant near Singeomdanjungang Station in Geomdan, Incheon, where every plate costs ₩1,990 regardless of color. The writer and her husband arrived around 7 p.m. on a weekday without a reservation, waited 30 minutes, then picked raw salmon, tako wasabi, crab shell sushi and sea eel. Oneul Sushi was satisfying for its wide menu and instant tablet ordering, but a Catch Table reservation is a must at dinnertime.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored