Suwon Paper Bag Shopper · 21 stories

Paper Bag, Seoul-Gyeonggi Shops and Tables

Writes about cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping trips around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Shopping

PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Anyang grilled fish weekday lunch: bracken mackerel braise with Mom

Hwaddeugeuro Gan Godeungeo Bisan Branch (화덕으로간고등어 비산점) is an oven-grilled fish Korean restaurant in Bisan-dong, Anyang, near Anyang Stadium. On a weekday lunch with Mom, the writer ordered one braised mackerel with bracken set and one oven-grilled mackerel set at Hwaddeugeuro Gan Godeungeo, adding self-serve bar side dishes, namul (seasoned vegetable) bibimbap and sungnyung (scorched rice tea). Verdict: one grilled and one braised set is the ideal combo for two to share, and the writer would gladly go back.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Gangnam Station izakaya: perilla tteokbokki & melon sour, Odeng Osaek

Odeng Osaek Gangnam Station Branch is an oden bar and izakaya in Seocho, Seoul, between Gangnam Station Exit 10 and Sinnonhyeon Station. On a rainy Sunday evening, after a first round at a pub, two couples returned to Odeng Osaek. They ordered handmade oden, fried horse mackerel, tebasaki chicken wings, perilla-leaf tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and a melon sour, and every dish was good. The verdict: Odeng Osaek is a second-round bar near Gangnam Station worth a third visit.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Korean BBQ: briquette bulgogi and ₩6,900 tofu stew at Galgol

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch (감골연탄집 서초교대점) is a retro briquette-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, about 3 minutes' walk from Gyodae Station. Straight back from a trip, the writer arrived around 5 p.m. for 2 portions of briquette bulgogi, 1 portion of special pork neck, a ₩6,900 hangover soft tofu stew and pork skin to finish, and found that the basil ssamjang, napa cabbage kimchi and scallion kimchi all went well with the meat. From the briquette bulgogi to the tofu stew and pork skin, everything satisfied, making Galgol Yeontanjip a Gyodae Korean BBQ spot worth a definite return visit.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Indeogwon shabu-shabu restaurant with no wait at 5pm: Shabu Siktak

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch (샤브식탁 동편마을직영점) is a shabu-shabu restaurant in the heart of the Dongpyeon-maeul café street in Indeogwon, Anyang. On a weekday, the blogger and her mom walked in with no wait right after the break time ended at 5pm, shared a B-table set for two with beef (14,000 won per person), made the broth spicy with Vietnamese chili flakes and added a side of shiitake hasami-age (shrimp-stuffed fried shiitake). Mom called Shabu Siktak the best shabu-shabu she has ever had, clean-tasting and delicious, so another return visit is planned.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Fish restaurant by Suwon Station, braised mackerel at 11:30: Godeungeo

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch (고등어명품이되다) is a wood-fired grilled and braised fish restaurant on Seobu-ro in Tap-dong, behind Suwon Station in Suwon. The writer arrived with her mother and older sister around 11:30 on a weekday, got a table without waiting, and ordered braised mackerel for 2 and grilled Spanish mackerel for 1. The self-serve bar side dishes, sikhye (sweet rice drink) and a free taste of jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) were all satisfying. For families who want a generous fish spread, Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Late weekday Korean BBQ in Samgakji, Seoul: Hanwoo sirloin, Yukmong

Yukmong Yongsan Direct Store (육몽 용산직영점) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant a 1–2 minute walk from Samgakji Station in Yongsan, Seoul. On a late weekday evening, booked through Catchtable, two friends shared 1 serving of 1++ Hanwoo Seolhwa sirloin and 2 servings of galbi-cut fresh pork belly, then finished with radish-salad egg kimchi fried rice with the leftover pork belly chopped in. Yukmong Yongsan Direct Store was full even late at night, but the staff-grilled meat was good enough to warrant a return visit.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulCafés

Solo late lunch café at Yongsan Station: mango cake, HYBE Playground

HYBE Playground is a large, non-franchise café and dessert spot spread over floors 2–4 on Hangang-daero 15-gil, near Yongsan Station in Seoul. Before a late dinner plan, the writer came to HYBE Playground alone to study, took an indoor seat on the 3rd floor, and had a late lunch of apple mango yogurt cake, a ham and egg mayo sandwich and a hot Americano made with acidic beans. Most drinks cost 6,000–7,000 won. For a roomy, non-franchise café near Yongsan Station, HYBE Playground satisfies whether you go solo, with friends or on a date.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Pre-ballgame Chinese lunch at Gangnam Station: tiger rice bowl, Sinbok

Sinbok Myeongwan (신복면관) is a dim sum and knife-cut noodle Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 of Gangnam Central Prugio City, near Exit 1 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Before a baseball game, two of us had a late weekend lunch of spicy beef knife-cut noodles, shrimp shumai and the new tiger stir-fried rice bowl, and finished all three dishes thanks to the clear egg soup that came with the shumai between the spicy dishes. Sinbok Myeongwan is a place I'd return to for spicy noodles and dim sum at around 10,000 won near Gangnam Station.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Bingsu truck at Jamsil Stadium on a walk-up ticket day: Bingdongdaeng

Bingdongdaeng is a bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert) food truck near Outfield Ticket Booth 1 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa, Seoul. On a hot, humid day when the writer only just got a ticket from the on-site queue for digitally disadvantaged fans, friends shared takeout Bingdongdaeng mango bingsu, an Ippeun Yeou Hotdog chili cheese hot dog and Station cream shrimp before the game. Bingdongdaeng's mango bingsu was not too sweet and came with plenty of milk ice, making it perfect for waiting out a hot pregame afternoon.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu eel buffet that won over a non-eel fan: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Seongsu Branch is an all-you-can-eat charcoal grill restaurant on Seongdeokjeong-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, serving freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck. On a hot weekend, arriving early in the evening, the writer paid ₩29,900 per adult (plus a ₩3,000 table charge), grilled Japonica freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck in turns, and paired them with opening-event bokbunja (black raspberry wine) and soju. Songnim Bok in Seongsu is a good-value stamina meal where even someone who thought they weren't an eel person ends up eating far more than expected.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon wagyu shabu-shabu with half-price rainy-day beer: Sodamchon

Sodamchon Suwon Jeongja Branch (소담촌 수원정자점) is a shabu-shabu and Vietnamese spring roll restaurant in Jeongja-dong, Suwon, near Starfield Suwon. On a rainy weekday lunch in the monsoon season, the writer and her older sister shared wagyu shabu for 2 (120g of beef per person), loaded up on vegetables from the self-bar, finished with porridge, then had coffee and ice cream at the cafeteria added in the remodel. Sodamchon Suwon Jeongja Branch covers everything from meal to dessert in one stop when a rainy day calls for hot broth.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo hot pot restaurant before a staycation: hanwoo bulgogi, Useum

Useum Pangyo Branch is a Korean pub specializing in hanwoo (Korean beef) hot pot and suyuk (boiled beef), near Exit 1 of Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a hot summer Saturday before a Pangyo hotel staycation, the writer ordered hanwoo bulgogi hot pot, rice makgeolli and bowls of rice; the hanwoo bulgogi was not tough, and the kimchi and squid jeotgal (salted squid) side dishes were tasty too. With a cool, clean dining room and hot pots starting from the 30,000 won range, Useum Pangyo Branch is worth recommending for a hearty weekend lunch or a family get-together in Pangyo.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored