Lunch Detourer · 11 stories

The Lunch Detour

I write about restaurant meals and small detours around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan tteokbokki, radish self-bar & unlimited drinks: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a tteokbokki and Korean street-snack (bunsik) restaurant near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul, which started as a street stall in 2004. After a weeknight dinner wait, two people shared the Hyeonseonine Combo Set (26,000 won) at medium heat, with tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), handmade sundae (Korean blood sausage), mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), handmade assorted fritters and premium fish cake. The thin pickled radish self-bar and unlimited drinks stood out. Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a good pick when you want plenty of tteokbokki sauce to dip all your snacks in.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Japanese restaurant, Hwang Jung-min's unagi don: Ilpum

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (raw seafood rice bowl) and unagi don (grilled eel rice bowl), on the first floor of Leaders Tower near Exit 8 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer ordered the unagi don that actor Hwang Jung-min reportedly picked and the basic kaisendon, and Ilpum Magok also served tempura udon during the meal and desserts such as tofu pudding. Even as a first-time kaisendon eater, the writer called Ilpum Magok a real treat and recommends it to anyone who loves Japanese food.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Christmas-decorated Korean BBQ for two in Magongnaru: Yeongchun Galbi

Yeongchun Galbi is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving charcoal-grilled, marinated Jirisan black pork, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two diners booked a table amid the Christmas decorations and ordered a 500g plate of marinated black pork, a Seomjin River snail doenjang (soybean paste) stew and a bowl of rice. A professional griller cooked all the meat, so they never had to grill it themselves. For a Magok team dinner or family meal without the work of grilling, Yeongchun Galbi is a solid choice.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Italian restaurant, orange foam piri piri chicken: Romaok Magok

Romaok Magok is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Art Center Seoul in Gangseo, Seoul, that works Korean ingredients into Italian dishes. On a busy day for the musical Dracula, the writer ordered piri piri chicken and abalone geou pasta (made with abalone innards), and the piri piri chicken, topped with orange-scented foam and cilantro, was the most memorable dish. Romaok Magok is a good fit for anyone who wants an atmospheric meal to go with a show.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Charcoal smoke and tangy soy sauce at Dangsan Station BBQ: Chodaechang

Chodaechang Dangsan Station is a charcoal grill restaurant for daechang, teuk-yang and makchang (beef and pork offal cuts) on the 2nd floor above Olive Young near Dangsan Station Exit 11 in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a weekday 6pm visit the order was Assorted Grill Set B, doenjang sool-bap (soybean paste rice) and Kirin Ichiban draft beer, with staff grilling and cutting the meat at the table. The charcoal smoke plus the tangy, mildly spicy soy dipping sauce kept every bite fresh to the last piece, making Chodaechang an easy pick for meat and a drink near Dangsan Station.

Written Sep 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Dangsan bossam restaurant with air-conditioned patio: Cheongun Bossam

Cheongun Bossam Dangsan Branch is a bossam (boiled pork wrap) restaurant about 247m from Exit 13 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The small bossam set came upgraded to gaburisal (pork jowl) for 6,000 won extra, with tray makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) as the noodle pick, eaten at an outdoor patio table where a folding door let the indoor air conditioning through. On a fine evening, Cheongun Bossam Dangsan Branch is a comfortable spot for patio bossam.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Korean restaurant with rice-cooker popped corn: Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean set-menu restaurant near exit 4 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, where diners choose their own seaweed soup, cockle bibim and side dish for one full table spread. Visiting with a friend, the writer picked the two-person set with abalone seaweed soup, soy-marinated cockle bibim and beef jeon, wrapped the cockle bibimbap in gopchang gim (thick seasoned laver), and finished with warm popped corn kept in a rice cooker and plum tea. With a private room as well, Mikodam works just as well for family meals or team dinners.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Yeouido: tosisal and beer set for two at Yuk Lab

Yuk Lab Yeouido is a beef and lamb rib Korean BBQ restaurant on the second floor near Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where every seat is in a private room. The set for two brings three cuts — tosisal (outside skirt), lamb ribs and jingalbisal (thick short rib meat) — plus 10-second cheese and doenjang jjigae, enjoyed here with beer in a black-toned room. Yuk Lab Yeouido suits a day when you want to try several cuts at once and still get the atmosphere.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station pork galbi and mul-naengmyeon, staff-grilled: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Gangseo, Seoul, near Balsan Station. I ordered two portions of marinated pork neck ribs and mul-naengmyeon, and loved the naturally restrained sweetness of the staff-grilled ribs and the spacious setting. Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is somewhere I would revisit when I’m craving galbi.

Written Sep 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Kkachisan Station Korean BBQ: ₩49,700 black pork platter, Gwangseonjip

Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Kkachisan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. We tried the 49,700 won half platter of Jeju black pork, served fully charcoal-grilled with generous sides and braised green onion kimchi. Verdict: a satisfying pick for two people who want to sample several cuts without grilling at the table.

Written Sep 12, 2026Sponsored
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