Turning Table · 27 stories
I write about restaurants I visit around Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars
Cafe Cozy Bear (카페 코지베어) is a salt bread bakery café in the Songdo academy district of Yeonsu, Incheon. Right after lunch, the writer ordered Cozy Bear's homemade red bean butter salt bread (₩5,800), a grapefruit ade (₩5,000) and an iced Americano, and praised the house-boiled Korean red beans and the rich fermented butter. Verdict: Cozy Bear's salt bread and drinks are light enough to enjoy even on a full stomach.
Manokamana Songdo Branch (머노까머나 송도점) is an Indian restaurant on the 1st floor of Building G on Haedoji-ro in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon, and it uses halal-certified chicken and lamb. On an errand day in Songdo, the writer ordered the Manokamana Set B (19,000 won) with a mango-dressing green salad, lassi, chicken tikka, medium-spicy curry and butter naan. The exotic interior and wrapping chicken tikka in butter naan showed why Manokamana Songdo Branch has a reputation as a go-to Indian restaurant in Songdo.
Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul Gajeong Ruwon City Main Branch (흑돼지형제들 가정루원시티본점) is an aged black pork BBQ restaurant grilling over yeontan (coal briquettes) in central Ruwon City, Seohae, Incheon. To celebrate a friend's daughter getting into university, the writer ordered the aged Jirisan black pork 600g (Yukbaek-i) set and dessert naengmyeon (cold noodles), and loved the owner-grilled pork neck, homemade meljeot (salted anchovy dipping sauce) and homemade-broth noodles. For banchan, meat and noodles that are all made in-house, Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul is a good choice.
Min Cook Misoyaki (민쿡 미소야끼) is a Japanese grilled fish and rice bowl restaurant near Hwajeong Station in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer and her husband ordered salt-grilled fresh salmon (16,000 won), a Wando flounder sashimi rice bowl (17,000 won) and shoyu ramen (10,000 won); the salmon was crisp outside and moist inside, the flounder bowl was generous with a tasty sauce, and her husband loved the fresh-noodle ramen in its clean broth. Min Cook Misoyaki is a tidy Japanese spot where food is cooked upstairs, so no smell clings to your clothes.
HOKATSU is a Blue Ribbon Japanese tonkatsu restaurant on the first floor of the Megabox building on Seogot-ro in Geomdan, Incheon. Arriving at opening time with a younger sibling the writer hadn't seen in a while, they ordered the popular 3-katsu set (18,000 won), the Ho Loin Katsu (13,000 won) and the spicy tonkotsu ramen. The five thick, firm, juicy pieces of loin and the spicy, savory ramen broth were satisfying. For anyone who likes tonkatsu with some bite, HOKATSU's Ho Loin Katsu and ramen combo is worth recommending.
Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza in Seohae, Incheon. After a satisfying first visit, the writer returned with their parents and ordered the Prime Pork Neck Course (₩18,000 per person) for 3 with a half mushroom, half mala broth, plus glutinous-rice sweet-and-sour pork (chapssal tangsuyuk) and boneless chicken from the self-bar. Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch wins less on the number of dishes than on how neat and carefully made its food is, which made it a great meal out with parents.
Jangsodam Eel and Beef Buffet Cheongna Main Branch is an all-you-can-eat eel, beef and pork buffet in Cheongna, Incheon. The writer's second child wanted meat, so they ordered the A Set (39,000 won) and the child tried eel for the first time, followed by samgyeopsal (pork belly), marinated pork galbi and Anseongtangmyeon from the Han River-style ramyeon machine. The eel quality at Jangsodam was surprisingly good for an all-you-can-eat buffet, and the kids' room makes it a strong pick for families with children or three-generation dinners.
Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch is a Berkshire K aged tonkatsu restaurant on Sandu-ro in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. At a window seat overlooking an autumn street, a set of hirekatsu (pork fillet cutlet), rosukatsu (pork loin cutlet), perilla cream udon and a drink cost 44,500 won, and the perilla cream udon with grilled mushrooms and the yuzu pickled radish stood out most. With aged tonkatsu that is crisp outside and tender inside, plus perilla cream udon, Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch is a great spot for two people to eat their fill.
Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is a bakery café on Chaekhyanggisup-gil in Gyoha, Paju, the second location of Paun Coffee, which started in Unjeong in 2018. On a busy day, the writer stopped by on a drowsy autumn afternoon with her husband for an iced vanilla bean latte with oat milk, an iced americano made with the low-acidity No. 1 "chillin" beans and a salt choco madeleine; the bakery case was nearly sold out, but the coffee instantly lifted her mood. Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is a Paju café worth recommending on days you crave a good americano or latte.
Brick Rouge is a 4-floor bakery and brunch café covering over 1,000 pyeong on Jimok-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi. After the Paju Book & Culture Festival, the writer and their sons toured Brick Rouge floor by floor from the 4th floor down, then shared a mango smoothie and breads including salt bread, mont blanc and a chocolate scone. With neighborhood-bakery bread prices, microwaves and water dispensers on every floor and a 2nd-floor nursing room, Brick Rouge is a large Paju café that works well with kids.
Choegang Pizza Main Branch (최강피자 본점) is a delivery- and takeout-only pizza shop in the Hallamaeul Complex 3 shopping block on Doyak-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi. On a day when making dinner felt like too much, the writer ordered at the Choegang Pizza kiosk, picked up the pizza in about 15 minutes and shared it with the kids after school, and everyone kept saying how good it was. With farro dough, 100% natural cheese, ₩7,000 off on Wednesdays and ₩5,000 off for walk-in takeout, Choegang Pizza Main Branch is a good pick for a kids' after-school snack.
Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch (짬뽕지존 서오릉점) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) on Seooreung-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. Stopping for lunch on the way to her in-laws', the writer ordered a large jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), rice noodle jjamppong, jjamppong mandu and a medium glutinous rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork); the rice noodles were cooked just right, and the tangsuyuk even came with fried sweet potato. With a big parking lot, a self-serve bar, unlimited rice and dessert, Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch is an easy choice for a family meal out.
