Quiet Counter Guest · 41 stories

A Quiet Counter in Jongno

Writes about restaurants tucked into Seoul's older neighborhoods. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Stays

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Eunpyeong bossam restaurant with half-and-half jokbal: Gwihanjokbal

Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae (귀한족발 연신내점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant in the Yeonsinnae food alley in Eunpyeong, Seoul. The writer ordered the half-and-half jokbal and bossam platter, which came with bean sprout soup, lettuce and perilla leaf wraps and kimchi, and was happy with the tender bossam and chewy jokbal. With a spacious, clean dining room and an indoor restroom, Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae is a good pick for an after-work get-together or team dinner.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak BBQ, medium-rare hanwoo grilled by owner: Gogikkun Kim Chunbae

Gogikkun Kim Chunbae Jongno (고기꾼김춘배 종로직영점) is a beef and pork Korean BBQ restaurant on Youth Street near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer booked on Naver, walked in with no wait, and had the recommended set of today's hanwoo, pork neck and pork belly, plus half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakttuk-bap, with the owner grilling the meat from start to finish so the table could focus on talking. The writer strongly recommends Gogikkun Kim Chunbae as a Jonggak spot for friend gatherings and company dinners.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Station eel grill for a year-end gathering: Jangsuchon

Jangsuchon Pungcheon Eel (장수촌풍천장어) is a freshwater eel grill restaurant on Dogok-ro 4-gil near Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. In the spacious dining room, the writer ordered 1kg of salt-grilled eel for 59,000 won, got eel juice and side dishes, had the owner grill the eel from start to finish, and finished with an extra jangchu-tang (eel soup) for 3,000 won. For a year-end gathering, Jangsuchon Pungcheon Eel is worth recommending for its ample seating and easy-on-the-wallet prices.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Chinese: beef noodle broth & shrimp fried rice, Sinbok

Sinbok Myeongwan (신복면관) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in beef knife-cut noodles, on Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a late visit, the writer ordered beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and shrimp fried rice, and pairing the rich beef broth of the noodles with the shrimp-packed fried rice was the highlight. With 1 hour of free parking in the building's basement, Sinbok Myeongwan is a solid pick for a Gangnam Station office lunch or a meal when you drive.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Korean BBQ: weekend hanwoo set for 2, Neoae Hanu

Neoae Hanu Gangnam is a Korean beef (hanwoo) BBQ restaurant with private rooms in the basement of 330 Gangnam-daero, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a weekend evening the blogger ordered the Neoae Hanu set for 2. Staff added ribeye cap (saeusal), which was in top condition that day, and grilled it at the table alongside sirloin, skirt steak and brisket (chadolbaegi). The marbling, the juiciness and the friendly grilling service all impressed. With parking and plenty of private rooms, Neoae Hanu Gangnam is a Gangnam Station hanwoo spot worth recommending for anniversaries, business dinners and team meals.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam birthday party restaurant with balloons: People the Terrace

People the Terrace is a terrace restaurant at 13 Dosan-daero 81-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, between Apgujeong Rodeo and Cheongdam. After booking on Naver, the writer had the truffle mushroom cream steak risotto, shrimp aglio e olio, house red wine and a fried chicken bucket, and was impressed by the hand cream left at every seat and the balloon-decorated birthday party space. With good atmosphere, food and service all round, People the Terrace is a Cheongdam terrace restaurant worth returning to for the next birthday party.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong sashimi restaurant: DIY yellowtail sushi, Yeonnam Eobu

Yeonnam Eobu (연남어부) is a sashimi restaurant on Donggyo-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, where you pick your fish from the tanks on the 1st floor and eat upstairs on the 2nd floor. After hearing that giant yellowtail (daebangeo) season had opened in early November, the writer booked Yeonnam Eobu on Catchtable, walked in with no wait, and ate the small giant yellowtail platter as DIY sushi and aged-kimchi wraps, finishing with seafood ramen made slightly spicy on request. Even early in the season, Yeonnam Eobu served generous portions of nicely fatty giant yellowtail, making it a go-to yellowtail spot in Yeonnam-dong.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songpa crab restaurant: spicy crab seaweed wraps, Gejang Maeul

Gejang Maeul (게장마을) is a soy sauce marinated crab (ganjang gejang) restaurant near Police Hospital Station in Garak-dong, Songpa, Seoul. The signature roe-filled soy crab set came with soy sauce crab, spicy marinated crab, blue crab stew, soy-marinated shrimp, fried shrimp, a fried egg and pot rice, and it was good enough that an extra bowl of rice was ordered just to mix in the crab shell. With parking beside the building and private rooms, Gejang Maeul is a solid pick for family or group meals when you're driving.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

No-wait weekend Suwon BBQ after 9 pm: marinated rib, Jipbul Taebaek

Jipbul Taebaek Suwon Ingye Branch is a straw-fire-themed Korean BBQ restaurant near Na Hye-seok Street in Ingye-dong, Suwon. The writer walked in with no wait after 9 pm on a weekend and ordered 2 servings of marinated boneless prime rib (udae galbi-sal), Taebaek kimchi stew and buckwheat cold noodles (mul-naengmyeon). The owner grilled everything from start to finish, and a receipt-review event added free spicy seasoned Korean blue crab. Verdict: Jipbul Taebaek is a good late-dinner pick in Suwon for tender prime rib without the queue.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang izakaya counter seat: best-ever uni and bluefin, Bunko Dining

Bunko Dining Sadang is a Japanese izakaya on the second floor of a building near Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, serving 9–10 kinds of aged sashimi. The writer booked through Naver, sat at the counter and ordered the assorted sashimi for 2; the bluefin tuna melted in the mouth, and the uni was the best they had ever eaten. For a stylish aged-sashimi bar near Sadang Station, whether for a blind date or a wedding-invitation get-together, Bunko Dining is worth booking.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Pimatgol noodle shop in Jonggak: mala-like Sichuan noodles, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is a Chinese restaurant serving beef knife-cut noodles and dim sum in the Pimatgol alley near Jonggak Station, Seoul, with 2 hours of parking in the building's underground garage. The writer ordered Sichuan beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao and shrimp fried rice. The xiaolongbao were full of juice, and the Sichuan noodle broth tasted like mala tang but deeper. If you want a Chinese restaurant in Jonggak that is easy to reach by car, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a solid pick.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Late-night Hongdae jokbal restaurant with soup refills: Manjok

Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant tucked away between Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul, and is often called one of Seoul's top three jokbal spots. Late at night, the writer ordered the signature Manjok Ohyang Jokbal in a large size and enjoyed the tteok-mandu soup (rice cake and dumpling soup), cooked on the tabletop gas burner with one refill allowed, along with sweet, soy-flavored jokbal with no gamey smell. The writer has been back many times and recommends Manjok Ohyang Jokbal as a Hongdae jokbal restaurant that gets flavor, spread and value right.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored