Drink-First Diner · 58 stories

A Glass, Then Dinner

Writes about restaurants and bars around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae hair salon: left-side gray coverage in a lighter tone, Obeumua

Obeumua Hongdae Branch is a hair salon on the 2nd floor on Donggyo-ro 23-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. Bothered by gray and white hairs growing only on the left side, the writer had a gray coverage dye in a slightly lighter tone than full black plus a cut at Obeumua Hongdae Branch, and the dye never stung the writer's sensitive scalp. The grays were covered so well they no longer showed and the hairline looked neat, making it a highly satisfying visit overall.

Written Mar 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Guro hair salon bob + light brown over left-side grays: Naple Hair

Naple Hair Oryu-dong Station is a hair salon near Exit 3 of Oryudong Station in Guro, Seoul. The writer, whose gray hair was clustering only on the left side, got a bob cut at Naple Hair Oryu-dong Station and, after a color consultation, covered the grays with a light brown instead of black. For anyone with gray hair who doesn't suit black, Naple Hair Oryu-dong Station's color consultation and low-irritation dye are worth a try.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Bar near Yeongdeungpo Market Station for Earl Grey highballs: Jirbak

Jirbak is a spacious bar in an alley off Yeongsin-ro 32-gil in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, near Yeongdeungpo Market Station, serving beer, highballs and hearty bar food. On a weekend visit with her husband, the writer had draft beer, the alcohol-free Non-Whisky Highball 0.0%, charcoal-grilled beef brisket and whelk bibim noodles, and charcoal bacon kimchi fried rice, and the kimchi fried rice and Non-Whisky Highball were the highlights. Verdict: Jirbak is worth a visit for anyone looking for a bar with a good atmosphere or a group venue near Yeongdeungpo Market Station.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong date pub for pork jowl with fresh wasabi: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) is a cozy Korean pub on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, tucked in an alley between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong Station. The writer and her husband walked about 10 minutes from Hapjeong Station for chive pork jowl suyuk (boiled pork) and buckwheat bibim noodles (11,000 won), and especially loved the lean, tender pork jowl topped with fresh wasabi. Dambaek Jujeom is a strong pick for couples who want a quiet date pub rather than a noisy one.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang restaurant in Mokdong worth the wait: red sauce, Omokgyo

Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a beef gopchang (grilled small intestine) restaurant in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, near Omokgyo Station. On a Sunday evening, a couple waited for a table, ordered the mixed gopchang platter and compared six cuts with the red dipping sauce served instead of soy sauce, shiitake wasabi and green onion kimchi. Gopchang packed with gop (rich intestinal fat) and odor-free premium tripe make Omokgyo Gopchang worth the wait.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy glazed daechang BBQ revisit, Dangsan Station: Chodaechang

Chodaechang Dangsan Station (초대창 당산역점) is a charcoal-grilled daechang (beef large intestine) restaurant on the 2nd floor right in front of Exit 11 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After enjoying plain daechang and hanwoo gopchang (Korean beef small intestine) on a first visit, the writer returned for 2 servings of spicy grilled hanwoo daechang, draft beer and kimchi mari guksu (noodles in cold kimchi broth) to finish. Because staff grill the daechang, brush on the sauce once more and grill it again, the charcoal aroma and the sweet, slightly spicy sauce come through strongly, and the writer found the sauced daechang tastier than the plain version.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Omokgyo Korean BBQ: alcohol-free beer, pork skin in soy powder, Gamgol

Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong (감골연탄집 목동점) is a retro-style Korean BBQ restaurant grilling over yeontan (coal briquettes) near Omokgyo Station in Mokdong, Seoul. The writer and her husband had briquette-grilled salt pork belly, Juljuri special pork neck, pork skin and kimchi-mari guksu (cold kimchi noodles); she stuck to non-alcoholic beer while off alcohol, and her husband ordered 4 glasses of 1-Second Gamgol Fresh Somaek. For pork belly with real briquette smoke, Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong is worth a return visit.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Bike-ride burger stop at Seonyudo Station: BAS Burger set, coleslaw

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger joint right by Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a weekend bike ride to Seonyudo Han River Park with her husband, the writer stopped at BAS Burger Seonyudo around 4 p.m. for the BAS Burger set, a BAS Lager and coleslaw, plus James Gam, the free, unlimited homemade potato chips. With soft, moist buns, smoky fire-grilled patties and crispy fries, BAS Burger Seonyudo served a textbook handmade burger meal.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sadang Korean bar, counter seats & wild-chive bossam: Sadang Heonsang

Sadang Heonsang is a Korean dining bar on the 2nd floor of 17 Bangbaecheon-ro 2an-gil, Seocho, Seoul, near Exit 11 of Sadang Station. On a date with her husband, the writer reserved counter seats and ordered the Today's Table set for 2 (66,000 won) with Seonho makgeolli, said to be made from Gimpo golden rice. The set came out like a course, from amberjack sashimi to bossam with dalle-jang (wild chive soy sauce), kimchi jjim, namul rice and a green onion pancake. Sadang Heonsang is a good Sadang bar for nights when you want atmosphere and quality food and drinking snacks together.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ set in Yeongdeungpo: crispy makchang at Galmakjip

Galmakjip (참나무장작구이 갈막집) is an oak wood-fired pork Korean BBQ restaurant on Gyeongin-ro, near Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul. After waiting in line, the writer ordered the Galmakjip grill set of pork belly, pork skirt (galmaegisal), makchang (pork large intestine) and pork skin. The standouts were the makchang, crispy outside and chewy inside, and an egg crust cooked in pork fat. Galmakjip opened only recently, and the grill set shows why it already has a line.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Station pork BBQ: ₩55,000 belly & jowl set for 2-3, Ijjok

Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal (이쪽 김치생삼겹살) is a fresh pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on basement level 1 of 20 Dongmak-ro 3-gil, near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer and her husband ordered the 55,000-won set for 2-3 people: 2 servings of fresh pork belly, 1 serving of whole pork jowl, fluffy steamed egg and doenjang (soybean paste) stew. Staff grilled the meat and kimchi from start to finish, so they could simply relax and eat. With good-quality meat, a bean sprout chili soy sauce and grilled kimchi, Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal is worth recommending for a date-night dinner in Hapjeong or Yeonnam-dong.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Chinese restaurant for a weekend date: large tantanmen, Surim

Surim Sikdang Hongdae is a tantanmen (sesame-peanut noodle) Chinese restaurant on Wausan-ro 21-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongik Univ. Station and Sangsu Station. On a weekend date, the writer and her husband shared a large broth tantanmen, a dongpo pork rice bowl, the signature eggplant dumplings and beer, and the nutty, ramen-like broth tantanmen made the biggest impression. With its café-like feel and distinctive signature dishes, Surim Sikdang Hongdae is a Hongdae date restaurant the couple promised to revisit.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored