Gangnam Lunch Gap · 48 stories

Lunch Break Pages

I write about food I’ve tried and the small details of each meal. · Writes about: Beauty products · Food & snacks · Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju Korean BBQ near Lakewood CC, galbitang with 7-8 ribs: Manpo

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a charcoal-grill restaurant on Songnang-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, specializing in handmade galbi made from Korean pork (handon). On a revisit with a friend, the writer ordered 2 servings of handmade Korean pork galbi and a 14,000 won galbitang (short rib soup) with 7-8 rib bones, enjoyed the yukhoe (beef tartare) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef) side dishes, and added 1 more galbi serving. Because the free dessert coffee can be taken away iced, Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a solid pick for lunch before or after a round of golf.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Yangju open at 11am: pork belly for 2, Manpo Garden

Manpo Garden (만포가든) is a galbi and Korean BBQ restaurant on Godeok-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, open daily from 11am so you can grill meat from late morning. The writer ordered 2 servings of pork belly (18,000 won each) and brisket doenjang rice (8,000 won), and Manpo Garden also served side dishes including yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef), free dessert naengmyeon (cold noodles), and iced coffee with bread ice cream. With a large parking lot and private group rooms, Manpo Garden is a recommended Korean BBQ spot for a meeting between the two families before a wedding, a family meal or a group gathering.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang seafood restaurant: 3-round Gallilli set for 2, ₩200,000

Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a snow crab, raw fish and seafood restaurant inside Jukdo Market in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. On a first trip to Pohang, the writer ordered the Gallilli set for 2 (₩200,000), which brings Dokdo shrimp sashimi, live raw fish, seafood, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and steamed crab in three rounds, then added a free octopus, fried Dokdo shrimp heads and red crab ramen from a review event. Thanks to the generous spread and flavor, the writer recommends the Gallilli set at Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Yeongildae brunch café in Pohang: fresh strawberry latte at Rokdam

Rokdam Localdaum (롴돰 로컬다움) is a brunch café by day and a live pub by night, on the 2nd floor on Samho-ro in Duho-dong, near Yeongildae in Pohang. In the daytime the writer had ricotta cheese bread (10,000 won), an iced americano (4,500 won) and a fresh strawberry latte (6,000 won), and the café prices felt low for the sunset-toned lighting, while the coffee was strong enough to order another one to go. Rokdam Localdaum suits anyone looking for an atmospheric daytime date or daytime drinks spot near Yeongildae.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju mochi shop: red kiwi & mango cheesecake tart, Tareudang

Tareudang is a takeout fruit mochi and tart shop on Sajeong-ro in Hwangridan-gil, Gyeongju. On a weekend friends' trip to Gyeongju, the writer stopped by Tareudang around 2 PM and took home pineapple and red kiwi mochi, a plain egg tart and a mango cheesecake tart, all double-boxed. Strawberry, karahyang and Dubai mochi were already sold out, but Tareudang's fist-sized, generously filled fresh fruit mochi was a legend that never felt overpriced.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang weekend mulhoe spot near Yeongildae, signature bowl: Ppwang

Ppwang Mulhoe (퐝물회) is a mulhoe (Korean cold raw-seafood soup) restaurant on Haean-ro near Yeongildae in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. On a weekend trip to Pohang, the writer waited in line and ordered two signature Ppwang Mulhoe bowls at 25,000 won each, with abalone, sea cucumber (or sweet shrimp), squid and sea squirt. The slushy iced broth, fresh seafood and free-refill squid soup earned Ppwang Mulhoe a 10 out of 10 from the writer.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Date café after a Jamsil baseball game: XL cake and Tving, One Play

One Play Jamsil Branch is a board game, Nintendo, OTT and manga café on the 2nd and 3rd floors near Sports Complex Station and Jamsil Saenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer visited on a weekday for 10,000 won per person with unlimited time, watched a Tving drama in the OTT room with an iced tea and a café mocha, and checked out the XL-size handmade cakes. One Play Jamsil Branch is a budget indoor date spot in Jamsil that costs less than a movie ticket.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong raw beef restaurant for non-drinkers, uni set: Hampyeong

Hampyeong Yukhoe Bangi Main Branch is a Blue Ribbon-listed yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and mungtigi (thick-cut fresh raw beef) restaurant in Bangi-dong Meokja Alley, Songpa, Seoul. The writer doesn't drink and shared Hampyeong Set Discount 2 (medium yukhoe, mungtigi and uni, 85,000 won) with a friend over non-alcoholic beer. A Naver reservation event added free gamtae (seaweed), and a receipt review event added free sweet shrimp. Hampyeong Yukhoe Bangi Main Branch is a great outdoor-seating spot in Bangi-dong for fresh yukhoe and mungtigi, even if you don't drink.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Jamsilsaenae bar for non-drinkers: alcohol-free highball at Yahwa

Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar, Jamsilsaenae Branch (야화 혼술바 잠실새내점) is a dimly lit solo drinking bar in Jamsilsaenae, Songpa, Seoul. Driving that night and not drinking, the writer and a friend ordered a non-alcoholic whisky highball (12,000 won) and truffle potato chips (5,000 won), then enjoyed table games, a secret notebook, a new dessert on the house and complimentary chicken gangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken). Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar was plenty of fun even without alcohol, thanks to the conversation starters and atmosphere.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Millak-dong pork cutlet house that warmed our baby food: Yangchonri

Yangchonri Donkaseu Millak Branch is a Korean-style pork cutlet (donkaseu) restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Punggyeongchae building in Millak-dong, Uijeongbu. The writer went with a friend and the friend's baby, ordering a cutlet and udon set plus a cutlet and bibim noodle (spicy mixed noodles) set switched to spicy, and Yangchonri Donkaseu staff brought out a high chair and warmed up the baby's food. With crispy, generously sized cutlets and a spacious dining room, Yangchonri Donkaseu Millak Branch is an easy place to eat with a baby.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan sashimi spot, six sauces & squid-shrimp fry: Eochongye 1beonji

Eochongye 1beonji (어촌계1번지) is a sashimi restaurant on Bandalseom in Ansan, Gyeonggi, open daily from 11 a.m., so it works for daytime drinks. Back in hometown Ansan, the writer and a friend ordered the small seasonal sashimi platter for ₩42,000 and the half squid, half shrimp fry for ₩22,000, and the six sashimi sauces and crispy fry stood out. With easy parking and group seating, Eochongye 1beonji is a good Bandalseom pick for a daytime get-together.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Pork rib restaurant in Yeonsinnae: half-and-half set for 3 at Seongil

Seongil Sikdang (성일식당) is a braised pork rib (deunggalbi-jjim) restaurant in Yeonsinnae, Eunpyeong, Seoul, that sells only 100 servings a day. The writer visited Seongil Sikdang with a friend for dinner, ordered the 58,000-won 3-person set (half spicy and half soy braised ribs, 2 servings of gondeure-bap thistle rice and a memil-jeon buckwheat pancake), and joined the Instagram-follow Coolpis and alcohol payback events. With fall-off-the-bone ribs and a friendly owner, Seongil Sikdang is a Yeonsinnae rib spot worth a return visit.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored