Noon Bell Ringer · 65 stories

The Lunch Bell

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Wonmun-dong, Gwacheon pork galbi lunch with seonji soup: Najumyeonok

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch (나주면옥 과천점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in pork galbi (marinated pork ribs) near the Wonmun-dong community center in Gwacheon, on the way to Seoul Grand Park. On an early Sunday lunch with a friend who lives in Gwacheon, the writer ordered 2 portions of king pork galbi and seonji soup (ox-blood soup), then grilled the lightly seasoned ribs, which are neither sweet nor salty, alongside clean side dishes such as soy-marinated stone crab and yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi). When you crave pork galbi in Gwacheon, Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch is an easy pick, even for families.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Tteokbokki shop by Ansan Culture Square, cleanly spicy: Yum Bbokki

Yum Bbokki is a tteokbokki and Korean snack shop near Ansan Culture Square in Danwon-gu, Ansan, between Gojan Station and Jungang Station. The writer and a friend ordered the Pujim Yam Set 1 and fish cake soup, trying the basic tteokbokki, sundae (Korean blood sausage) with only liver on the side, and fried squid, fish cake and gimmari (fried seaweed rolls); the standout was the basic tteokbokki, cleanly spicy without being heavily seasoned. Yum Bbokki is a good pick for anyone looking for a distinctive spice that differs from ordinary tteokbokki.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Udon shop by Seokchongobun Station with my son: squid stir-fry, cutlet

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Seokchon Lake Branch is an old-style street-stall udon shop near Exit 2 of Seokchongobun Station in Songpa, Seoul, open 24 hours. On this visit with my youngest son, we skipped the udon and had a skillet of squid stir-fry big enough for more than 2 people and a crispy old-style pork cutlet, plus a taste of the udon broth that comes free with the meal. Haengbokhan Udon Gage Seokchon Lake Branch is a good place for a filling meal, and not just for udon: its nostalgic squid stir-fry and pork cutlet hold their own.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae noodle shop for naengmyeon fans: large makguksu, Seonbawi

Seonbawi Memil Jangteo Yangjae Branch is a buckwheat makguksu (cold buckwheat noodle) restaurant next to Exit 2 of Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul, a new branch of a well-known Gwacheon noodle house. A Pyongyang naengmyeon-loving couple had a large pollack hoe makguksu (with seasoned raw pollack), dongchimi makguksu and pollack hoe suyuk (boiled pork with pollack) for Sunday lunch; the noodles and pork were excellent, though the sauce ran a little sweet and no salted shrimp came with the pork. For a summer lunch of fine buckwheat noodles and clean-tasting pork, Seonbawi Memil Jangteo is a good fit.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Guro Chinese restaurant palbochae with kaoliang: Junghwa Yori Hyeon

Junghwa Yori Hyeon (중화요리현) is a Chinese restaurant on the first basement floor of Ace Twin Tower 1 in Guro Digital Complex, Seoul. After a meeting, the writer ordered palbochae (seafood and vegetable stir-fry) and gochujapchae-bap (stir-fried pork and peppers over rice) with kaoliang liquor. The palbochae was full of seafood and vegetables, and the gochujapchae-bap came with plenty of meat and a satisfying jjamppong broth. Apart from an overcooked fried egg, Junghwa Yori Hyeon is a good-value Guro Chinese restaurant with a wide choice of set courses, including a 35,000 won dinner set.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon snack bar, bibim mandu with sauce on the side: Deokjane

Deokjane Bangatgan (덕자네방앗간) is a rice-cake tteokbokki snack bar in an alley just off Exit 7 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer stopped by around 3–4 p.m. on a weekday to pick up tteokbokki, fish cake and bibim mandu (flat dumplings tossed in a spicy dressing). Even outside mealtimes Deokjane Bangatgan was packed, and the bibim mandu came neatly boxed with its sauce on the side. Thanks to the big, chewy rice cakes, thick sauce and hefty fish cake, Deokjane Bangatgan's tteokbokki is a takeout that tastes close to eating in.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek pork galbi after a work trip, chili wraps: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi (이화정숯불돼지갈비) is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant on Manse-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. After a business trip to Pyeongtaek, on the way back to Pangyo, the writer ordered 3 servings of marinated boneless pork neck (280g per serving) and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and the fierce charcoal, bold aged marinade and pear slush stood out. With a huge parking lot and a clean dining room, Ihwajeong is a good choice when you want proper pork galbi in Pyeongtaek.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong brunch spot after an Incheon City Hall meeting: Withwich

Withwich is a pasta, sandwich and pizza brunch restaurant near Asiad Athletes' Village Complex 6 in Guwol-dong, Namdong, Incheon. After a meeting at Incheon City Hall, a Pangyo office worker and a colleague ordered the avocado arugula deli sandwich, gambas (garlic shrimp) oil pasta and ricotta cheese house salad as a set and shared everything. Apart from a slightly strong salad dressing, Withwich's generously filled sandwich and garlic-packed pasta made for a satisfying business-trip meal.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanwoo butcher BBQ by Eojeong Station: 1++ rib eye cap, Dongbaek

Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant is a hanwoo (Korean beef) butcher restaurant at the entrance to Eojeong village, behind Exit 1 of Eojeong Station in Giheung-gu, Yongin. The writer picked 1++ hanwoo rib eye cap (saeusal, ₩27,900 per 100g) and 1+ chuck flap (salchisal, ₩26,900 per 100g) from the meat fridge, grilled them over charcoal with salt and wasabi, and was happy with the free grilled seaweed and side dishes. With its large parking lot, Dongbaek Hanokjip is a good-value place for top-grade hanwoo special cuts.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan Korean restaurant on a work trip, crab and mackerel: Yeongwolae

Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in gondre rice (rice cooked with Korean thistle), on the 2nd floor of Gojan Praum City in Danwon-gu, Ansan, between Gojan Station and Jungang Station. On an evening stop in Ansan for work, the writer and a colleague ordered the Jeju golden crab set and the grilled mackerel set, then mixed the soy marinade from the golden crab into the gondre rice. The verdict: the side dishes at Yeongwolae Gondre Ansan Branch are simple but neat and tasty, and it suited the writer's taste better than any other restaurant they have tried in Ansan.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Summer Korean BBQ in Yangjae: aged pork, spicy hagfish, Gamdol

Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch (감골연탄집) is an old-school Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 3 of Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul, where aged pork is grilled over coal briquettes. On a summer evening the writer started with rock-salt pork belly and premium pork neck, then added gochujang briquette bulgogi, spicy marinated hagfish and diced briquette fried rice. The meat was tender with no gamey smell and had a smoky briquette flavor. Gamdol Yeontan Jip is a Yangjae BBQ spot worth visiting when you want briquette grilling you can't recreate at home.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sillim Station sundaeguk spot for an early-morning spicy set

Sinjuokmi Sillim Station branch is a 24-hour sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant in the alley right behind Exit 6 of Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul. Arriving about 40 minutes early for an early-morning appointment, the writer ordered the spicy sundaeguk set and a handmade assorted sundae platter, tasting head meat suyuk (boiled pork), white sundae with siraegi (dried radish greens) and a broth packed with sundae. For a hangover meal with clean broth and sundae without any gamey smell, Sinjuokmi Sillim Station branch is a good choice.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored