Before Last Train · 31 stories

After the Last Order

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

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Self-grill BBQ in Paju with a dog: pork belly, ramen, Barbecue Factory

Barbecue Factory Paju is a dog-friendly camping-style restaurant in Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi, where guests pick meat at the on-site shop and grill it themselves over charcoal in a private tent. Missing camping trips because of a busy schedule, the writer visited with their dog Gamja, had pork belly, sausage, kimchi and ramen, and paid a little over ₩100,000 in total, tent rental included. Because you can turn up empty-handed and still feel like you're camping, Barbecue Factory Paju is a good-value alternative for dog owners who miss camping.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Black Nine wagyu shabu-shabu date in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on B2 of Delight Square Phase 1, near Hapjeong Station Exit 8 in Mapo, Seoul. On a chilly day, two diners ordered the priciest set on the menu, the Black Nine wagyu ribeye shabu set (36,000 won per person). They ate at a partitioned table with mushrooms, vegetables, panda-shaped bunmoja (chewy sweet potato starch noodles), porridge and omija tea. Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a solid pick for a cozy date meal in Hapjeong.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Frozen vs thick-cut pork belly BBQ in Eunpyeong: Mapo Guimadang DMC

Mapo Guimadang DMC is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Eunpyeong, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station Exit 5, serving pork belly pre-seared over Chiaksan hardwood charcoal. Two diners came on a Friday after work and ordered 3 portions of frozen pork belly (₩9,900 per 200g), 2 portions of charcoal-seared thick-cut pork belly (₩13,900 per 200g), extra minari (water dropwort) and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), comparing the thin, crispy frozen belly with the juicy thick cut. Mapo Guimadang DMC is an easy, good-value pick when you're craving a generous pork belly dinner.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu cake café: Mom's birthday whole cake, Signature Blanc, Notldun

Notldun is a mousse cake dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, between Ttukseom Station and Seoulsup Station. The writer picked up Notldun's Signature Blanc whole cake for their mother's birthday, and found the white chocolate mousse with cassis cream, pistachio cream and pistachio croustillant clean-tasting rather than overly sweet. For a birthday whole cake with an unusual design, Notldun's Signature Blanc is a good choice.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Duck BBQ by car near Daeheung Station, parking tips: Gongjung Dodeok

Gongjung Dodeok (공중도덕) is a hanok-style duck BBQ restaurant right by Gyeongui Line Forest Park, near Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. After booking on Naver and driving there, the writer used a nearby paid car park, then ordered the Gongjung half-and-half set for 2 (₩69,000) and a barley shrimp minari pancake (₩22,000) in a lively outdoor-street-stall atmosphere. Gongjung Dodeok suits everything from dates to group dinners, as long as you plan parking and waiting ahead.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju bakery café for pollock roe cream cheese salt bread: Brick Rouge

Brick Rouge is a large four-floor bakery café on Jimok-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi. On a weekend outing, the writer came for brunch but was won over by the bread selection and skipped brunch entirely, ordering a soboro (streusel-topped) salt bread, a pollock roe cream cheese salt bread, a croque monsieur and two kinds of sausage bread with an iced Americano. If you want to pick from lots of breads and enjoy a spacious interior plus an outdoor terrace, Brick Rouge is a good choice.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulCafés

Dangsan-dong bakery timed to the 11:30am wakppu bake: BYWAY BAKERS

BYWAY BAKERS Yeongdeungpo Branch is a large bakery café in Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, about a 2-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station Exit 1. The writer visited on a weekend at 11:30am, when the wakppu salt bread comes out, and picked a Shine Muscat wakppu salt bread (₩8,500), a corn cheese salt bread (₩4,800), a sausage baguette, a bagel and a plain salt bread. BYWAY BAKERS Yeongdeungpo Branch has basic breads with great texture at easy prices, and its calm, book-café atmosphere makes it a good spot for reading or working.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae bakery café for beach takeout: chocolate canelé, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Bakery is a bakery café on Haeri-dan-gil near Haeundae Station in Busan, known for its egg tarts. On a morning visit, the writer took away a low-acid iced americano, a chocolate financier, a chocolate canelé, an egg tart and a lemon madeleine from Low & Sweet Bakery and ate them facing the sea at Haeundae Beach. Every pick was a success, and eating Low & Sweet Bakery pastries while looking out at Haeundae Beach was the best part.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café: maple-bacon French toast, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch (페이머스 베니 광안리점) is an Australian-style brunch café in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, near Gwangalli Beach. On a Busan trip the writer arrived almost right at opening, ordered the signature The Famous Benny with bacon (₩18,000), French toast (₩17,000), an iced Americano and a lemonade, and stayed a long time thanks to the bigger-than-expected portions, the sunny terrace and the second-floor space. Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a good pick for a relaxed Gwangalli brunch date or a brunch with your dog.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo wood-fired pizza from Freewill Pizza's second brand: Pickles

Pickles is a wood-fired pizza and Western restaurant on Jeonpo Café Street, next to Seomyeon in Busan, and is said to be the second brand of Jeonpo's Freewill Pizza. Around 1pm on a weekday, the blogger joined the Catch Table waitlist behind 5 parties, waited about 20 minutes, and had a half-and-half pizza (beef cheeseburger and potato) with lasagna as a 39,000-won set. If you want light, not-greasy wood-fired pizza, Pickles is worth saving.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli pizzeria, weekend opening rush for potato pizza: Extra Mile

Extra Mile is a handmade wood-fired pizzeria in a converted detached house, tucked in an alley between Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Station in Busan. The writer arrived at opening time on a weekend to avoid the wait and ordered a whole potato pizza (26,000 won) and a tomato pasta (18,000 won), finishing the entire potato pizza despite usually finding pizza too greasy. With its cosy space, friendly staff and coloring tablecloths, Extra Mile is a strong pick for a Gwangalli date.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Korean beef omakase near Jagalchi Station in Busan: 5 cuts at Usiya

Usiya Nampo-jeom is a hanwoo (Korean beef) omakase restaurant in Nampo-dong, Jung-gu, Busan, near Jagalchi Station. On a long-awaited Busan trip the night before a wedding photo shoot, two diners had Course A (79,000 won): beef sashimi and beef tongue, five grilled cuts (tenderloin, striploin, skirt, flat iron and brisket), seasoned grilled oxtail, sukiyaki, pot rice with aged kimchi stew, and ice cream. Usiya Nampo-jeom is a Nampo-dong hanwoo course spot where comparing the texture and flavor of each cut is the fun part.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored