Before Last Train · 31 stories

After the Last Order

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

KINTEX bakery in Goyang: 5 cornet pies gift-wrapped, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan at Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a natural-leaven bakery in the B1 food hall of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. On a weekday visit around 2 pm, the writer bought cornet pies to share with family in all five flavors: vanilla, pistachio, hazelnut chocolate, raspberry matcha and crocant caramel. The writer paid ₩1,000 extra for gift wrapping. Boulangerie Tan's cornet pies have crisp, flaky layers and a not-too-sweet cream that won over even a mom who dislikes sweets, and the writer plans to return.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hwajeong soup spot: spicy sundae-guk & half-half dumplings, Pyeongando

Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch (평안도식당 화정점) is a sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup with rice) restaurant open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in front of the main gate of Deogyang-gu Office in Hwajeong-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang. On a weekend visit the writer ordered two bowls of spicy Pyeongando sundae-guk and jumbo dumplings split half kimchi, half meat. The writer refilled sundae, liver, lung and rice without limit at the self-serve bar and ate a generous meal. Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch is a good gukbap spot near Hwajeong Station for a spicy, well-filled sundae-guk at any hour.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Gangseo after-work Korean BBQ: king galbi & doenjang stew, Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a newly opened charcoal-grilled marinated galbi (short rib) restaurant near Exit 4 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. After work on a weekday, the blogger ate 1 portion of marinated beef king galbi, 2 portions of marinated pork neck galbi and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and the rice-husk-smoked charcoal and the beef galbi sprayed with pear juice once more before grilling stood out. With a spacious hall, private rooms and a parking building for over 70 cars, Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is a Balsan Station galbi restaurant worth recommending for family dinners or meet-the-parents meals.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Birthday lamb BBQ in Magok: cake service, beef tartare perk at Nokji

Nokji Magok Main Branch (녹지 마곡본점) is a lamb and beef grill restaurant on the 1st floor of Queens Park Nine Building B by Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. For a birthday dinner, the writer booked Nokji Magok Main Branch on Catchtable and ordered the 牛.羊 (beef and lamb) set for two. Staff grilled the meat at the table, sauce pairings changed with each cut, corkage was free for wine, and the birthday came with a cake setup, a cheesecake slice and a music box. Verdict: Nokji Magok Main Branch is a birthday or anniversary dinner spot the writer will definitely revisit.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang soy crab buffet by Seosamneung: a skeptic won over, Deodeo

Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필) is an all-you-can-eat soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) restaurant on Wondang-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, near the Seosamneung royal tombs. The writer's family visited on a weekday around 5pm and paid 24,900 won per person for soy crab, spicy marinated crab and crab stew. Mild soy sauce and meaty crab won the family over, and they ordered takeout on the way out. Deodeo changed the writer's mind about crab buffets after a disappointing experience elsewhere, and it is a good Seosamneung pick for a meal with your parents.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Kalguksu restaurant in Sangam, hot-day perilla after work: Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Sangam Branch is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Woori Technology building in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. After work on a hot weekday, the writer skipped the usual spicy broth and ordered perilla kalguksu for two with 180g of extra shabu beef, dumplings and a minari (water dropwort) pancake, eating it as a course from shabu-shabu to noodles to egg fried rice. With a rich, nutty perilla broth and a thin, crisp minari pancake, Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Sangam Branch left nothing to fault in service, taste or portions as a lunch or dinner spot in Sangam-dong.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangam DMC izakaya with ₩1,900 draft beer and wagyu tataki: Hanamato

Hanamato Sangam DMC is a standalone two-story Japanese izakaya in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Digital Media City Station Exit 9. With the windows thrown open for an outdoor-style vibe, the writer had two highballs, premium salmon sashimi (₩14,000), wagyu tataki (₩15,000), a best-5 charcoal yakitori platter (₩13,000), corn cheese and pineapple sorbet, and the wagyu tataki disappeared first. With draft beer from ₩1,900 and fairly priced food, Hanamato Sangam DMC is a good-value izakaya worth returning to for a night out.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly café near Ilsan on a day off: mango smoothie, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House is a large bakery café with a garden in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, where leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor seats. The writer spent a weekday off there with a dog, walked the hydrangea garden and ordered from the mango season menu: the fresh mango yogurt smoothie (11,000 won), fresh mango ade (10,000 won), fresh fruit cream cheese (9,000 won) and fresh mango cake (10,000 won). The fresh mango tasted naturally sweet, making Baedagol Bakery House a café worth coming back to every season.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Hangover gukbap by Deungchon Station: jowl vs suyuk at Bosung Hoegwan

Bosung Hoegwan Deungchon Station Branch is a gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant right in front of Exit 4 of Deungchon Station in Yangcheon, Seoul, open 24 hours, every day of the year. Ordered side by side at lunch, the spicy pork jowl suyuk gukbap (14,000 won) and the spicy suyuk (boiled pork) gukbap (12,000 won) share a similar rich pork broth, but the jowl is chewy and slightly crunchy while the suyuk is tender and mild. For a hangover cure or a filling lunch, either bowl at Bosung Hoegwan Deungchon Station Branch is a safe pick.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seooreung Chinese restaurant with USB-port tables and jjajangmyeon

Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch (짬뽕지존 서오릉점) is a dine-in-only jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant at the entrance to Seooreung in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. On a return visit, the writer ordered the jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) for the first time and made a full Chinese-restaurant meal of it with Jijeon jjamppong rice and glutinous-rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), along with USB-port tables, free rice and an after-meal drink corner. With its clean setting, generous portions and satisfying prices, Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch is worth putting at the top of the list for family meals out.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ team dinner by Digital Media City Station: Jangheungjip

Jangheungjip Sangam (장흥집 상암점) is a retro indoor-pub-style restaurant serving frozen pork belly and hanwoo (Korean beef), a 2-minute walk from Digital Media City Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer had flash-frozen pork belly (₩15,000), 1++ grade beef brisket (₩25,000), minari yukhoe (beef tartare with water dropwort, ₩25,000) and pork-and-Spam jjageuri stew (₩8,000), and especially liked the handmade seed ssamjang with the minari yukhoe. With group tables for 4 to 16 people, Jangheungjip Sangam is a solid pick for a Sangam-dong team dinner, but weekday evenings are fully booked, so a Naver reservation is a must.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk brunch date at opening time with meatball spaghetti: Debbie's

Debbie's is a brunch restaurant on Changdeokgung-gil in Anguk, Jongno, Seoul, set in a converted 1960s house that looks out on the Changdeokgung stone wall. The writer arrived for the 11:00 weekend opening, got a window seat and ordered the mimosa (₩15,000), meatball spaghetti (₩28,000) and Debbie's French toast (₩26,000). With food, view and service in good balance, Debbie's makes a polished Anguk date spot, and the French toast alone is worth a return visit.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored