Back Kitchen Visitor · 40 stories

A Back Kitchen in Daejeon

Writes about small restaurants and everyday meals around the Daejeon and Chungcheong area. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceChuncheon, GangwonRestaurants

Chuncheon noodle spot for bibim naengmyeon with bulgogi: Sinbi Myeonok

Sinbi Myeonok Chuncheon Myeongdong is a Korean restaurant specialising in Hamheung naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and charcoal bulgogi on Jungangno in Chuncheon, Gangwon. On a weekend drive to Chuncheon, the writer ordered two servings of bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles, ₩11,000 each) and charcoal bulgogi (₩9,000), and wrapping the bulgogi in the bibim naengmyeon noodles was the best bite of the meal. With a spacious dining room, baby chairs and a parking lot behind the building, Sinbi Myeonok Chuncheon Myeongdong is an easy pick for a family meal.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan pho bar, weekend lunch for two & free broth refills: Mibundang

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is a pho restaurant on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richian shopping complex in Osan-dong, Dongtan (Hwaseong, Gyeonggi). At the weekend lunch peak, the writer and their partner waited about 15 minutes for brisket, flank and tendon pho (13,000 won) and a mixed fried platter (8,500 won), and free extra bean sprouts, broth and noodles made the meal generous. Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is a Dongtan Station pho spot worth the wait and comfortable for both solo meals and dates.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChuncheon, GangwonRestaurants

Korean restaurant in Hyoja-dong, Chuncheon: sundae gukbap set for two

Byeongcheon Cheongnyeon Sundaeguk Gangwon University branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant near Gangwon University in Hyoja-dong, Chuncheon. Two diners ordered the gukbap set, 12,000 won, and shared sundae gukbap, three-color sundae and pork head suyuk (boiled sliced pork), with one bowl made spicy; the clean self-serve bar and the owner's friendly service stood out. For a hearty, filling meal, the gukbap set at Byeongcheon Cheongnyeon Sundaeguk Gangwon University branch is a good choice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeosan, ChungnamRestaurants

Late-night flounder and salmon sashimi in Seosan: Jonghap Eosijang

Seosan Jonghap Eosijang (서산종합어시장) is a large sashimi restaurant with outdoor street-side tables on Nambusunhwan-ro in Yecheon-dong, Seosan, Chungnam, with seating for more than 100 people. The writer and a partner arrived after 8 p.m. on a weekend, found the outdoor tables full and ate indoors: flounder and salmon sashimi (₩42,000), mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) for one (₩18,000) and Saero soju. Thick-cut sashimi, a generous self-serve bar and a big mulhoe bowl explain why Seosan Jonghap Eosijang is always busy.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Namyangju river café date: Kona vs Blue Mountain, Waltz and Dr. Mahn

Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a large red-brick café on the North Han River in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi, right next to a coffee museum. On a date, the couple took a window seat and tried Hawaiian Kona (19,000 won), Jamaican Blue Mountain (20,000 won) and the signature Opera cake (9,000 won). The Kona was clean with little acidity, while the Blue Mountain was smooth with well-balanced acidity. With river views, antique interiors and table service, Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a calm café worth recommending for a date just outside Seoul.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station lunch date for two over daechang hotpot: Horangigul

Horangigul Timevillas Suwon is a daechang (beef large intestine) hotpot restaurant on the 3rd floor of Timevillas Suwon near Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On a lunch date, the couple ordered the signature Horangigul daechang hotpot at medium spice for two (₩33,000) with a Japanese udon noodle add-on and two bowls of rice, eating the hotpot with rice and the two basic sauces before finishing with the udon. The spicy Horangigul daechang hotpot broth goes down easily with rice, making it a Timevillas lunch date worth coming back for.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon Station izakaya for a date: aged sashimi and udon at Seonjuga

Seonjuga Suwon Station is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Suwon Station on Deogyeong-daero in Paldal-gu, Suwon, with a wood-toned interior and private rooms. On a date, the writer ordered Seonjuga's signature aged flounder and sea bream sashimi (38,000 won), a spicy hangover udon and Crush beer. Seonjuga Suwon Station is a date-night spot near Suwon Station that serves generous aged sashimi at a reasonable price.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Chinese restaurant for a date: crispy duck skin, Mirim Yangjang

Mirim Yangjang Time Villas Suwon Branch is a Peking duck restaurant on the 3rd floor of Lotte Department Store Time Villas at Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On a date, the couple ordered the Mirim Yangjang Peking duck set (half a Peking duck, 2 meals and a drink) and filled up on duck wrapped in wheat pancakes, crispy duck skin, jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Mirim Yangjang suits couples who want good-value Peking duck in a hip, red-themed dining room.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Daytime dakgalbi date in Godeok, Pyeongtaek: Semo Dakgalbi

Semo Dakgalbi Pyeongtaek Godeok Urban Grove Mall Branch is a dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant with an outdoor-stall feel, on the outer row of the 2nd floor of Urban Grove Mall in Godeok, Pyeongtaek. On a self-paid daytime date, the writer and their partner shared the set for two: iron-plate dakgalbi, crispy shredded potato pancake, bibim makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles) and steamed egg, plus self-serve udon broth said to be simmered with vegetables every morning. The terrace wasn't open during the day, but Semo Dakgalbi is a place the writer wants to revisit for the evening terrace atmosphere.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

₩39,000 clam hot pot kalguksu for two in Anjung, Pyeongtaek: Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu (송담칼국수) is a large, log-cabin-style kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. On a weekend, two people ordered clam hot pot kalguksu for two, an extra 540g of fresh clams, extra barley rice, kimchi meatball dumplings and colas for ₩39,000 in total. They enjoyed the fresh noodles from the in-house noodle workshop, the clam broth and the free corn bread. With a large parking lot and high chairs, Songdam Kalguksu suits both family meals and good-value lunches in Anjung, Pyeongtaek.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeosan, ChungnamRestaurants

Seosan conveyor sushi: last bar seat and salmon belly at Mikado

Mikado Sushi Chungnam Seosan Branch is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in Seongnim-dong, Seosan, serving about 80 kinds of sushi at a flat ₩2,100 per plate. The writer and a partner visited just after a weekend lunch, took the last bar seat in a full house, tried gamtae (seaweed) raw shrimp, onion salmon, salmon belly and ankimo (monkfish liver), and finished with coffee from the machine by the exit. Verdict: Mikado Sushi in Seosan is a conveyor sushi spot that delivers both value and freshness.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pho bar in Hapjeong-dong, Pyeongtaek: tendon-only pho at Mibundang

Mibundang Pyeongtaek City Hall Branch (미분당 평택시청점) is a counter-seat pho restaurant in Hapjeong-dong, Pyeongtaek, near Pyeongtaek City Hall. On a day that called for a hangover cure, the writer ordered the tendon pho (14,000 won) with sweet potato jjajo (fried spring rolls, 3,000 won) and a Coke Zero, while their companion had the brisket, flank and tendon pho (13,000 won). With a clean broth made fresh every day, slow-simmered tendon, 9 free parking spaces and free noodle and bean sprout refills, Mibundang Pyeongtaek City Hall Branch is a good spot for a quiet solo meal or a hangover bowl.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored