Low Light Counter · 7 stories

Dim Counter, Incheon-Seoul-Gyeonggi Bars and Restaurants

Writes about restaurants and bars across Incheon, Seoul, and Gyeonggi, usually the ones tucked past the main street. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Baby octopus and minari fried rice after IKEA Gwangmyeong: Jeongipum

Jeongipum Jjukkumi Gwangmyeong 1st Branch (정이품쭈꾸미 광명1호점) is a griddle baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant near the AK Plaza entrance at Gwangmyeong Station. After appliance and furniture shopping at IKEA Gwangmyeong and AK Plaza, the writer ordered the Sorabang baby octopus with chestnut-fed black pork belly stir-fry and extra add-ons at the Shin Ramyun spice level, then finished with minari (Korean water parsley) and flying fish roe fried rice. The heat at Jeongipum Jjukkumi is more savory than harsh, so even a boyfriend who struggles with spicy food enjoyed it, making it a filling meal after shopping.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Sindorim izakaya for after-work chicken nanban: Sindorim Mungyun

Sindorim Mungyun is a Japanese-style izakaya on the international food street near Exit 2 of Sindorim Station in Guro, Seoul. Two friends came after work and ordered a 7-skewer yakitori plate, halibut salt gimbap (seaweed rice roll), chicken nanban, truffle mayo fries and two Mungyun highballs, and the writer found every dish satisfying in the softly lit, not-too-loud room. Sindorim Mungyun is a good spot for a light after-work drink, with food and atmosphere that work even if you don't drink much.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong seafood jjim, Dad's go-to for mild family meals: Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang (해물명가 동해해물탕) is a restaurant specializing in seafood jjim (braised seafood in spicy sauce) and seafood stew, located on the seafood stew street in Bupyeong, Incheon. The writer's family has taken their parents to Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang several times. On this visit, three of them comfortably shared a medium seafood jjim, then finished with fried rice made with minari (water dropwort). The seafood is fresh with no fishy smell and the heat is gentle, so Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang suits family meals with older relatives.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Mullae Korean restaurant with a 60cm shabu platter for 3: Palmi

Palmi Jogae Kalguksu (팔미 조개칼국수) is a Korean restaurant specializing in clam shabu-shabu with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Mullae Station Exit 1. On a weekday evening, the writer and two friends ordered the Palmi Shabu Set Dinner for 3, a four-step course of a welcome wine slushie, clam and beef shabu-shabu on a 60cm-wide platter, kalguksu and abalone porridge, plus a side of beef brisket and bean sprout stir-fry. With its spacious dining hall and private rooms, Palmi Jogae Kalguksu is a recommended spot for group gatherings in Mullae.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo chicken soup restaurant, broth drained on Chobok: Eonyang Dak

Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in dak kalguksu (chicken knife-cut noodle soup) and dak-gomtang (chicken soup), on a restaurant street near Songdo Central Park in Yeonsu, Incheon. On Chobok, the first of summer's three hottest days, two diners skipped samgyetang and had a late lunch of dak-gomtang (₩11,000) and half-chicken kalguksu (₩11,000). The milky, rich broth, moist chicken and house-made noodles aged for 24 hours were good enough to finish every drop. For a mild, clean-tasting restorative meal, Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ classmates' dinner, 4 cuts, naengmyeon: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant grilling Boseong black pork over real charcoal, on the 1st floor of Piccadilly CGV right outside Exit 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. Four classmates joined the Catchtable waitlist on a weekday evening, had staff grill pork belly, flower neck (pork neck), pork jowl and gabrisal (pork neck-end), and finished with mulnaengmyeon (cold noodles in broth). With roomy tables and staff doing the grilling, Cham Dwaejitgan made it easy to focus on conversation, and the group picked it again for their next meetup.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang Japanese restaurant for a wedding invite meetup: Bunko Dining

Bunko Dining Sadang is a Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 11 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, with soft lighting and bar-style counter seats facing an open kitchen. At a two-person meetup to hand a wedding invitation to a close friend, the writer ordered the hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) set for 42,000 won and the special kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) set for 36,000 won, plus a cheesecake from a review event. Bunko Dining Sadang is not cheap, but the full set meals and the atmosphere make it well worth it for a special occasion.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
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