Late Barstool · 15 stories

Late Barstool, Seoul and Jeju Rounds

Writes about restaurants, things to do, and bars across Seoul, Jeju, and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Bars

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu spot at Seoul Station: two cuts & butter mini curry, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in a basement on Huam-ro near Seoul Station, in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered tenderloin gyukatsu (23,000 won), striploin gyukatsu (19,000 won) and a mini curry (5,000 won), then melted butter on the small tabletop grill to sear both cuts and compare them. Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a good place to try soft, nutty tenderloin and beefier striploin side by side, and the mini curry with butter stirred in was just as satisfying.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJecheon, ChungbukRestaurants

Jecheon Chinese restaurant, sauce-on-the-side cream tangsuyuk: Nangman

Nangman Jjajang (낭만짜장) is a standalone Chinese restaurant on Uirim-daero 48-gil in Jecheon, Chungbuk, known among locals for tray jjajang (black bean noodles served on a platter) and cream tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork in a cream sauce). On a first trip to Jecheon, the writer arrived a little early for a weekday lunch and had no wait. They ordered cream tangsuyuk with the sauce on the side and a mildly spicy, seafood-loaded tray jjajang for 2. With easy parking and a tidy dining room, Nangman Jjajang is a recommended spot for a filling meal on a Jecheon trip.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga that won over a frozen pork skeptic: Chowon

Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch (초원식당) is a Korean BBQ restaurant with outdoor street-side seating near Tapgol Park in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. Instead of waiting for an outdoor table, the writer went straight to an indoor seat and ordered 2 servings of frozen pork belly served in a clay pot, grilled kimchi, gosari (bracken) and bean sprouts, steamed egg, and brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew with rice. Even though the writer doesn't usually enjoy frozen pork belly, Chowon's chewy, juicy version was a surprise, and the brisket doenjang stew pot rice finish ranked among the best pot rice the writer has had recently.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido tteokbokki bar: spicy set for a home snack feast, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a branch of Hyeonseonine, the well-known Yongsan tteokbokki shop, located in IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul, by the underground moving walkway linking Yeouido Station with IFC Mall and The Hyundai. On the way home from The Hyundai, the writer ordered the Hyeonseonine Set (tteokbokki, fried snacks, mini gimbap and sundae, or Korean blood sausage) with spicy tteokbokki to go. The tteokbokki was more spicy and savory than sweet, and the fried snacks stayed crisp after the trip home. For spicy tteokbokki to go before or after shopping in Yeouido, the Hyeonseonine Set from Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a solid choice.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Yeouido izakaya: butter garlic king prawns and garlic rice at Nani

Nani Yeouido Branch is a private-style izakaya with divided seating on the 3rd floor of the S-TRENUE building, right outside Yeouido Station in Seoul. On a weekday evening when Nani Yeouido Branch was nearly full of office workers, the writer ordered the king prawn butter garlic (₩33,000) with garlic rice added (₩2,000) and the lamb shoulder rack (₩43,000). The garlic-sauce rice, plump prawns and sizzling-plate lamb rack all hit the spot. Nani Yeouido Branch is a Yeouido izakaya worth revisiting for after-work drinks or when you want something different to go with them.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Korean BBQ: rose-shaped gabrisal & soy egg rice, Beefjeong

Beefjeong Gogi Jip (비프정 고기집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving beef and pork near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At Beefjeong Gogi Jip, 2 servings of pork belly (₩16,000 per serving) came arranged in a heart shape and an extra serving of gabrisal (pork neck-end, ₩19,000) came shaped like a rose, and the meal finished with soy sauce egg rice for ₩3,000. Beefjeong Gogi Jip delivers on meat, side dishes, plating and outdoor-table atmosphere, making it a solid Korean BBQ pick near Sindang Station.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jokbal restaurant by Sunae Station with chive salad refills: Wangchang

Wangchang Jokbal (왕창족발) Sunae Station branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant right in front of Sunae Station in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A medium half-and-half of original and spicy jokbal ordered for dinner was enough for 3-4 people. It came with doenjang soup (soybean paste soup), chive salad, bossam kimchi and steamed egg as standard sides, and the chive salad was good enough for a refill. Verdict: at Wangchang Jokbal, half-and-half is the way to go.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sinheung Station Korean BBQ with spicy red doenjang stew: Musoettuk

Musoettuk Samgyeop Sinheung Station Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Sinheung Station in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, where staff grill the pork and serve it on a cast-iron plate. On a weekday evening during the after-work rush, the writer ordered 2 servings of Musoettuk pork belly, cast-iron fried rice and garlic bomb Chapagetti (black bean instant noodles), along with the doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) that comes included. The thick, ogyeopsal-style (five-layer) pork belly with kimchi, minari (water dropwort) and tofu was satisfying, making Musoettuk Samgyeop a place worth returning to for a hearty pork belly meal near Sinheung Station.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Station hanwoo gopchang, free minari yukhoe: Uon Sogopchang

Uon Sogopchang (우온소곱창) is a Korean beef offal restaurant on Dasan-ro near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving assorted hanwoo gopchang (grilled Korean beef intestines). The writer ordered 2 servings of the hanwoo assorted platter (23,000 won) and cheese fried rice (5,000 won). Minari yukhoe (raw beef tartare with water dropwort), tripe and ugeoji (dried cabbage leaf) hangover soup came included, and staff grilled the pre-seared gopchang, daechang, makchang and heart at the table. With gopchang packed full of rich marrow and a generous basic spread, Uon Sogopchang is an easy recommendation for hanwoo gopchang near Sindang Station.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ after work, pork belly and soy egg rice: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a black pork Korean BBQ restaurant on the first floor of the Piccadilly CGV building, right in front of Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. At Cham Dwaejitgan, the writer ordered 2 servings of black five-layer pork belly during the after-work rush and let staff grill it from start to finish. The pork was eaten with grilled kimchi, minari and sliced potato, followed by soy sauce egg rice topped with 2 fried eggs and kimchi stew. Verdict: Cham Dwaejitgan is a satisfying Jongno black pork belly spot for work dinners, dates and nights out with friends.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Sejong University dinner bar with magic-sauce yukhoe: Yukhoe Gongjakso

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a Japanese izakaya-style yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and yakiniku bar on Gunja-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Sejong University. For a dinner meetup, the writer ordered the Salmon Yukhoe Yakiniku Set, with magic-sauce yukhoe, raw salmon, top blade beef grilled on a tabletop brazier, 5 skewers, make-your-own rice balls and 2 highballs, then ordered more heart skewers. Verdict: Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a good-value set-menu bar where dinner and drinks are covered in one go.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Charcoal boneless chicken feet at Garodeung, a Jeongneung pub in Seoul

Garodeung Jeongneung Main Branch (가로등 정릉본점) is a Korean pub near Jeongneung Station and Jeongneung Market in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where charcoal-grilled boneless chicken feet draw a waiting line. The Garodeung boneless chicken feet set (33,000 won) brings fresh chicken feet grilled over charcoal, a clam soup packed with hard clams and mussels, and rice balls, and a spicy chili ramyeon (5,000 won) makes a good finish. For chicken feet with somaek (soju and beer) in Jeongneung, Garodeung is an easy, confident recommendation.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored