Matchbook Shelf Keeper · 9 stories

Matchbook Ledge, Busan to Gyeonggi

Writes about restaurants, cafes and bars visited around Busan, Gyeongnam, Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu: extra butter and how to open ramune, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. After the lunch rush, the writer ordered the striploin gyukatsu (₩19,000) with 2 extra butters and 2 bottles of ramune soda, and received chicken karaage instead of beef tempura from the review event. Seared in melted butter on the mini grill, the Ichigyu striploin gyukatsu was so tender it melted in the mouth, making for a very satisfying visit.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu soufflé café after a floury first try: fresh mango, 5to7

5to7 Seongsu Main Branch is a two-floor soufflé café in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, near Seoulsup (Seoul Forest). After a disappointing first soufflé that tasted like a lump of flour, the writer and a friend ordered a fresh mango soufflé (23,000 won), an Americano and the 5to7 Einspänner on the 2nd floor, and both were amazed by a texture like spooning up a cloud. For fans of fresh-fruit soufflés, 5to7 Seongsu Main Branch could become their all-time favourite soufflé spot.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam gyukatsu restaurant with Motomura-style sauce: Izawa Sangam

Izawa Sangam is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. On a weekday right after opening, the writer ate alone at a first-floor window bar seat and ordered the gyukatsu set (₩17,000). The beef melted in the mouth even when grilled without butter, and the sweet sauce recalled Tokyo's Motomura gyukatsu sauce, so Izawa Sangam is a solid pick for enjoying proper gyukatsu comfortably on your own.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Eunpyeong ramen shop: first white ramen and a lime highball, Oreno

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점) is a chicken-broth ramen shop on Bulgwangcheon-gil near Saejeol Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. A diner who had only ever eaten spicy red-broth karai ramen came alone, ordered the signature tori paitan ramen and the standard lime highball, and fell for the rich chicken broth, tender chicken chashu and caramelized onion. Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is a great place for a spicy-ramen loyalist to try white ramen for the first time.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Seongsu izakaya with sesame brisket tantan nabe and mochi tofu: Kitpou

Kitpou is a sashimi izakaya near Seongsu Station in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. In June the writer ordered the sashimi plate (39,000 won), the sesame-based beef brisket tantan nabe hot pot (26,000 won), and a lemon sawa and a grapefruit sawa (9,000 won each), and the owner added fried tofu and homemade mochiri dofu (chewy tofu) on the house. The writer ranks Kitpou's brisket tantan nabe as the best nabe they have ever had, reason enough to go back.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnseong, GyeonggiCafés

Anseong café with brunch until 8 p.m.: truffle risotto, Chat Baker

Chat Baker Brunch & Bakery Café is a large brunch and bakery café of nearly 500 pyeong in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekday around 5 p.m., the writer stopped by Chat Baker for dinner with a friend and ordered the jambon (ham) truffle cream risotto, a Johnsonville rosé pasta and a lemonade; because Chat Baker serves its brunch menu until 8 p.m., the café works for dinner too. For a brunch-style dinner in a bright, spacious setting, Chat Baker is a good fit.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk Station gomtang restaurant, solo bowl in 5 minutes: Wolhadong

Wolhadong (월하동) is a tile-roofed gomtang (slow-simmered meat soup) restaurant tucked down an alley off Insa-dong 8-gil near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. Visiting alone around 5:30 PM on a Saturday, the writer ordered the signature Wolhadong Gomtang by QR code and got it in about 5 minutes: clear broth with thin pork slices, radish-based cheonggeunjang, kimchi made with Korean-grown ingredients, and chili oil to stir in halfway through. With its neat, quiet interior, Wolhadong is a good spot for a clean, clear bowl of gomtang on your own.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Late-lunch solo sushi in Seolleung: sirloin steak sushi, Sushi Maiu

Sushi Maiu Seolleung Station Branch is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After 3pm, at a solo bar seat, the writer ate 7 plates: a bacon roll, cuttlefish and salmon sushi, seared salmon sushi, otoro, and sirloin and garlic steak sushi made to order, then finished with pineapple. For an easy solo sushi meal near Seolleung Station that avoids the rush, Sushi Maiu Seolleung Station Branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Deoksugung kalguksu spot: black sesame bean noodles for one, Tanbaek

Tanbaek is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) and suyuk (boiled pork) Korean restaurant on Jeongdong-gil near Deoksugung in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer arrived alone around 1:50 pm on a Saturday and, with no wait, sat at the first-floor window bar for the summer-only bean bibim kalguksu, onjeyuk (boiled pork jowl suyuk) and a glass of Naru draft makgeolli. Thanks to the thick black sesame bean sauce and chewy noodles, the writer called Tanbaek's bean bibim kalguksu the best bean noodles they have ever had and a place worth returning to.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
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