Caffeine Top-Up · 62 stories

A Little Caffeine

I write about visits to cafes in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Gwanghwamun café after hiking Inwangsan: autumn blend, Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun (레망도레 광화문점) is a French bakery café on floors 1–3 at 17 Mugyo-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Cheonggyecheon Stream and Seoul City Hall. After hiking Inwangsan with a younger sibling, the writer sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows with two coffees of the day (5,200 won each, a Kenya-Brazil autumn blend), a caramel pecan scone and a cardamom bun, and was struck by the bean description cards and the Fritz Hansen furniture. Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a good Gwanghwamun café for an unhurried coffee and pastry after a hike or a city walk.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo Korean restaurant on a rainy day: fried pollack skin, Bomseol

Bomseol Gimpo (봄설 김포점) is a Korean restaurant for healthy set meals and charcoal-grilled pork in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, right next to Positive Space 566 on Geomdan-ro. On a rainy day, the writer ordered the Bomseol Table (봄설밥상) for 2. It came with a whole kodari (half-dried pollack), cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), stone-pot rice with nurungji (scorched rice) and fried dried-pollack skin and eggplant, followed by young radish barley bibimbap from the self-bar. With a large free parking lot and a pleasant dining room, Bomseol Gimpo is a family restaurant worth revisiting with parents.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Pot rice restaurant in Guro: sea bream & scallop late lunch, Solsot

Solsot Guro G-Valley branch is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant on the 2nd floor of G-Valley Biz Plaza in Guro, Seoul. Back in Seoul from Suanbo at 2pm on a Sunday, the writer and a younger sibling shared sea bream & scallop pot rice and steak pot rice (₩17,000 each), plus a free kimchi pancake from the receipt review event, nurungji (scorched rice) and yogurt for dessert. For a filling, neatly served Korean meal at a quiet weekend hour, Solsot Guro G-Valley branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae restaurant after an Ansan hike: Halloween duck omurice, Omil

Omil Hongdae is a fusion Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of 178-8 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and its signature dish is rubber duck omurice. After hiking Ansan in Seodaemun and visiting Hongje Falls, the writer had a weekday dinner at Omil Hongdae of Halloween rubber duck omurice (₩16,900), salmon steak gnocchi (₩19,900) and bottled Hoegaarden, then took home the rubber duck from the jack-o'-lantern and a mini pumpkin umbrella as souvenirs. With cute presentation and generous portions, Omil Hongdae is a good way to end a post-hike evening or a Hongdae date.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan Chinese restaurant before Daewangam Park: springy jjamppong

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong (울산대왕암돌짬뽕) is a Chinese restaurant in Ilsanji, Dong-gu, Ulsan, specializing in stone-plate jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) with nurungji (crispy rice crust). Before a walk in Daewangam Park, the blogger had lunch there: the whole-squid rice crust stone-plate jjamppong at spice level 2 with handmade dontang (pork soup). The stone plate kept it hot to the end, and the noodles never went soggy. Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong is a filling meal before a Daewangam trip and worth a return visit.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Wood-fired galbi chicken and sausage to go in Suwon: Haenggung Jangjak

Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak (행궁장작한방통닭) is a whole-chicken restaurant on Suwon Chicken Street near Hwaseong Haenggung in Suwon, Gyeonggi, that ages its chicken with Korean herbal ingredients and roasts it over oak firewood. On a trip to Suwon, the writer took away a Suwon galbi wood-fired chicken with added sausage, and the careful packaging made it easy to enjoy the sticky rice and nurungji (scorched rice) right away back at the accommodation. For a lighter, non-fried alternative to fried chicken, Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak's galbi wood-fired chicken is a good choice.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gasan Korean restaurant, braised seafood lunch specials: Gim Myeongtae

Gim Myeongtae Spicy Braised Short Ribs Gasan Branch (김명태 매운갈비찜 가산점) is a spicy braised short rib and braised pollock restaurant on the ground floor of a roadside building in Gasan Digital Complex, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. After shopping at Hyundai Outlet and Mario Outlet, the writer ordered the siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock and siraegi braised cuttlefish lunch specials, then turned the lunchtime pot rice into nurungji (scorched rice). Verdict: with a savory sauce that is more than just spicy and filling pot rice, Gim Myeongtae Gasan Branch makes a satisfying lunch after outlet shopping.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Sindorim jokbal restaurant: beer & makguksu with my son, The Jokbal

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotters) and bossam (boiled pork) restaurant in Sindorim, Seoul. It is on the ground floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio apartment shops near Guro Station and Sindorim Station. On a Saturday evening, the writer and their son ordered jokbal, makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and rice balls with beer, and the complimentary cold jokbal and Jeju winter radish kimchi stood out. The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch serves a neat, satisfying jokbal spread that suits family dinners and group meals.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Noryangjin gyudon spot after church: chashu curry, Gyudongjip

Gyudongjip Noryangjin Main Branch is a gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl) restaurant tucked into an alley in Noryangjin, Dongjak, Seoul. After church, the writer's family ordered the gyudon hansang (full gyudon spread), the chashu-don set and the chashu curry at the kiosk to share. The family enjoyed the smoky gyudon, golden chashu, rich curry and self-serve plum tea after the meal. Gyudongjip Noryangjin Main Branch is an affordable rice bowl spot that works for both solo meals and family lunches.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon pizza place, lime-squeezed Tex-Mex taco pizza: Low Five Sinpung

Low Five Sinpung is a pizza and Western restaurant on Sinpung-ro in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. Arriving right at opening, the writer ordered a corn and Tex-Mex taco half-and-half pizza, a limited-quantity classic lasagna, grapefruit ade and Coke Zero, and a squeeze of lime over the taco pizza gave it an unmistakably Mexican kick. With its red awning and vintage interior, Low Five Sinpung is a solid pick for a Haenggung-dong date or a meetup with friends.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Fish grill in Gwangmyeong after a mock exam: mackerel & pork, Todam

Todam Hwadok Saengseongui (토담화덕생선구이) is a clay-oven fish grill restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Anyangcheon-ro in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. After a date along Anyangcheon Stream, the writer ordered the mackerel set and the charcoal-grilled pork set for dinner, and the generous spread of smoky clay-oven mackerel, pot rice with nurungji (scorched rice), cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and pumpkin porridge from the self-serve bar made their son, just done with a mock exam, very happy. Todam Hwadok Saengseongui is a good fit for family dinners where some want fish and others want meat.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulBars

Mokdong izakaya with sake-steamed clams and pasta: Anju Gongbang

Anju Gongbang Mokdong Station Main Branch is a Japanese-style izakaya near Mokdong Station in Yangcheon, Seoul. After walking the Yongwangsan Skywalk, the writer and a friend drank beer with sake-steamed clams, stir-fried bean sprouts and avocado on gim (dried seaweed), then added pasta noodles to the clam broth to finish. Anju Gongbang is a good spot for a casual beer on a Mokdong date or after a day out in Mokdong.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored