Cheonan Seat Seeker · 27 stories

The Last Empty Seat

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café after dinner: staff-picked Alma Negra, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a three-floor café in Yeonnam-dong, on Yeonhui-ro in Mapo, Seoul, that brews hand drip coffee from beans roasted in-house. After dinner, the writer ordered on staff recommendations: a Colombia Geisha Peach Punch, an Alma Negra drip and a classic tiramisu, plus a complimentary cup of a different drip coffee. Central Site Yeonnam is a good pick for anyone who knows little about coffee but wants a recommended, clean-tasting hand drip.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Daechi-dong eel bowl spot: quiet late lunch & barley tea, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel bowl restaurant on Seolleung-ro 82-gil in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. After a hospital visit in Gangnam, the writer arrived at Manmok after 2pm and ordered two whole-eel bowls, served in a calm wood-toned room with barley tea, sesame salad, shrimp chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) and refillable side dishes. Manmok's whole-eel bowl was tender, not at all fishy and generously portioned, a satisfying stamina lunch.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magongnaru Italian brunch, second basket of scallion bread: Romaok

Romaok Magok is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul at Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul, introduced as the restaurant of a chef from a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Italy. After a delicious first visit, the writer returned for a late weekday lunch, ordered a light meal of kelp-aged flounder carpaccio (18,000 won) and truffle cream pasta (26,000 won), and liked the scallion bread so much they ordered a second basket. Romaok Magok is worth revisiting for a light brunch near Magongnaru Station.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean BBQ, 3-story parking: beef galbi-sal, Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a newly opened, large Korean BBQ galbi restaurant with private rooms near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer went with both parents and ordered 1 portion of marinated beef galbi-sal (boneless rib meat), 2 portions of marinated pork, beef brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), and 3 portions of meat were plenty for three. With a 3-story parking tower next door and spacious rooms and hall, Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is a Balsan Station Korean BBQ worth recommending for team dinners or formal family meetings before a wedding.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong Rodeo steakhouse weekday date, burrata & carpaccio: Rabo

Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam is a steak restaurant in a converted house in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekday date, the writer had the 88,000 won lunch course and enjoyed a burrata cheese starter, carpaccio, a 200g U.S.D.A Prime sirloin steak and tiramisu, all neatly done. Rabo Steakhouse's weekday lunch course is good value for money and worth booking for an anniversary date.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong pizzeria date by reservation, gamberi rosé pasta: Pizzeria O

Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant in an alley near Hapjeong Station Exit 3 in Mapo, Seoul, known for its World Pizza Cup first-place title. The writer booked ahead for a date, was seated in a fully packed dining room, and ate salmon pizza, carbonara and gamberi (shrimp) rosé pasta while watching the open kitchen. Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station lives up to its fame, with food and atmosphere that make it a strong Hapjeong date spot.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Station kaisendon restaurant, first bowl with mini udon: Ilpum

Ilpum Magok is a kaisendon (Japanese seafood rice bowl) restaurant in the office district around Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Trying kaisendon for the first time, the writer ordered the Premium Kaisendon (35,000 won) and the Aburi Don (30,000 won), served as a full spread from miso soup and chawanmushi to a mini udon and mango pudding. Verdict: Ilpum Magok is now the writer's number-one kaisendon spot.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Solo healing café in Seogyo-dong, hand-drip coffee: Naemyeonui

Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견) is a healing-concept café in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, tucked into an alley between Hongdae and Hapjeong. Visitors can explore a forest-like wood-toned interior filled with quotes and props, see exhibition pieces on the rooftop and order a recommended hand-drip coffee, and the low noise, soft lighting and comfortable seats make long stays easy. Naemyeonui Balgyeon is an especially good Seogyo-dong café to visit alone when you need to sort out your thoughts.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Galbi house in Geumchon, Paju: snowflake galbi with Grandma, Hyowonga

Hyowonga (효원가) is a spacious galbi restaurant on Jungangno in Geumchon, Paju, where the writer returned on Parents' Day with their grandmother for a snowflake galbi platter (78,000 won) and squid gukbap (13,900 won). Hyowonga's snowflake galbi is unmarinated fresh meat yet juicy and tender enough for Grandma to eat with ease, and both the basic table setting with spicy marinated crab and the squid gukbap with a whole squid were satisfying. Hyowonga is a solid choice for a family gathering with elders.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, garlic squid pasta with lemon: Hey Joji

Hey Joji is an American home-style restaurant in an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, open daily from 12:00 to 21:00 with no break time. At Hey Joji, the writer had the garlic squid oil pasta (16,000 won) and the duck steak cream risotto (17,000 won), and enjoyed the risotto's rich truffle aroma and the garlic oil pasta with fresh lemon squeezed over it. For atmospheric pasta in Yeonnam-dong at an in-between hour, Hey Joji is worth a visit.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae dessert café, Dubai sand & peach oolong tea: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a butter sand (butter-cream sandwich cookie) and cookie dessert café in a converted European-style house on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. On a weekend in May when it was nearly 30 degrees, the writer stopped by after a meal for a butter sand and a Dubai sand with an iced Americano and a peach oolong tea, and found the Dubai sand tastier than Dubai cookies from other shops. Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a reasonably priced spot for an after-meal dessert or a weekend daytime date.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

2nd anniversary perfume class in Bukchon: forest scent at Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원) is a reservation-only perfume workshop on the 3rd floor of a building on Yulgok-ro 6-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Anguk Station and Changdeokgung Palace. For their 2nd wedding anniversary, a married couple smelled more than 50 scents at Muhwawon and spent about 1 hour 30 minutes making their own perfumes, each adding personal touches to a forest scent they both loved. The Muhwawon perfume class suits couples who want something different for an anniversary instead of the usual weekly movie-and-café date.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored