Thin Ladle Keeper · 18 stories

A Thin Ladle in Mangwon

Writes about small restaurants around Seoul, mostly the ones tucked into side streets. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Jamsil 2nd-round bar: fish cake udon & tin-pot dumplings, Kkang Udong

Kkang Udong Songpa Bangi Branch is a pocha-style udon and tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) bar in the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul. After a first round of steamed crab, the writer came to Kkang Udong for a second round and ordered a large medium-spicy fish cake udon (11,000 won), fried dumplings (8,000 won) and sauce-poured tangsuyuk (18,000 won) with Chamisul soju, and the dishes arrived quickly one after another. For a light second-round drink near Jamsil that doubles as a hangover cure, Kkang Udong Songpa Bangi Branch's udon and tangsuyuk combo is the answer.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Jungnang chicken shop with 100g sauces & Dokkaebi cheese sticks: Daroa

Daroa Dongbu Market Branch is a chicken and burger shop and grocery market in Dongbu Market, Jungnang-gu, Seoul. After a nail appointment in Sangbong, the writer took home a medium Puk Chicken (500g, ₩12,900), a cheese bulgogi burger (₩3,800) and Dokkaebi cheese sticks to share with her husband, and was pleased with the 100g sauces and the sweet potato fries packed with the chicken. Daroa Dongbu Market Branch is worth a stop when you want affordable chicken and burgers to go together.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burger shop, weekday lunch with my husband: Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger restaurant on Teheran-ro 1-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On the husband's weekday day off, after a stop at the hair salon, the couple ordered a Downtowner Double Set (18,800 won) and an Avocado Burger on its own (12,700 won) at the kiosk, and the refill drinks and thick-cut fries tasted just as good as ever after a long break. Downtowner Gangnam is a reliable pick for a solo or two-person burger lunch near Gangnam Station.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro bone grill pub, Monday retry, mayo cuttlefish: Eulji Baektan

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui (을지백탄뼈구이) is a Korean pub specializing in bone grill and grilled cuttlefish, right outside Exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After giving up once because of a long wait, the writer returned around 6 pm on a Monday and shared a small bone grill at spice level 2 (38,000 won), charcoal-grilled cuttlefish (38,000 won), a rice ball and cold kimchi noodles with one other person. Both floors of Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui were full even on an early weekday evening, but the smoky bone grill and the sauce on the cuttlefish made the visit better than expected.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiBars

Sinjungdong terrace bar: pollock roe & dried pollock, Geumbyeol Beer

Geumbyeol Beer Sinjungdong (금별맥주 신중동점) is a franchise bar on Jomaru-ro 297beon-gil in Sinjungdong, Bucheon, with a large outdoor terrace. On a second-round visit, the writer had red bean ice persimmon (11,900 won), crispy grilled dried pollock (18,000 won) and salty grilled pollock roe (14,900 won) with soju, and liked the generous dried pollock portion and the pollock roe wrapped in seaweed. On a nice day, Geumbyeol Beer Sinjungdong's terrace is a good fit for a casual second round in Sinjungdong.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Seongsu izakaya for Genghis Khan lamb chops after omakase: Tenba

Tenba is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in an alley on Yeonmujang-gil near Exit 4 of Seongsu Station in Seoul, run by two chefs who are the same age and were both born in the Year of the Horse. After an omakase dinner in Seongsu, the writer stopped at Tenba for a second round of grilled Genghis Khan lamb chops (32,000 won), Sapporo draft beer and highballs, and finished every bite of the juicy medium-rare lamb despite being full. For a quiet, atmospheric izakaya in Seongsu, Tenba is a strong pick for a second round or a date.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. pizza pub after Eoreuni Market shopping: Pizza E Michida

Pizza E Michida Konkuk University Branch is a handmade pizza, chicken and beer pub on Achasan-ro 29-gil near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. After browsing Eoreuni Market (어르니마켓), the writer dropped in and ordered the half-and-half Pi-Chi Set (Philly cheese BBQ steak and Toowoomba potato shrimp pizza plus crispy boneless chicken) for 34,900 won, with an opening-event Terra slushy draft beer. With a terrace, vintage interior and pizza warmers, Pizza E Michida Konkuk University Branch was a satisfying spot for a first or second round of pizza and beer near Konkuk Univ.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom cake café in the heat: collapsed Pistachio Festival, Notldun

Notldun is a dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, near Ttukseom, run by two chefs who appeared on the Korean baking shows Cheonha Jeppang and The Dessert. On an early weekday visit, the writer took home the Signature Noix (13,000 won), Pistachio Festival (12,500 won) and Forêt Noire (12,000 won). The Pistachio Festival lost its shape on a hot day, but after a day in the fridge all three cakes still tasted superb. Verdict: Notldun's Forêt Noire, rich dark chocolate with cherry, is a must for chocolate lovers.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup pasta restaurant, 3 dishes to share at lunch: Billadeubeulleu

Billadeubeulleu Seongsu (빌라드블루 성수) is an Amalfi beach-themed brunch and casual dining restaurant on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongsu, Seoul. On a weekday lunch booked through Naver Reservation, the writer and a close older friend shared aligot cheese lasagna (22,000 won), Sicilian puttanesca pasta (19,000 won) and whole eggplant melanzane (19,000 won), and all three dishes arrived almost at once, which made sharing easy. Billadeubeulleu Seongsu beat expectations on atmosphere, menu quality and taste, making it a very satisfying pasta lunch near Seoulsup.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong burger dinner date: new truffle mushroom burger, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Euljiro is a handmade burger restaurant near Euljiro 1-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, within walking distance of Myeongdong. On a second visit, after a Myeongdong shopping date, the writer and her husband had the Double Cheese Burger (15,900 won), the new Truffle Mushroom Burger (13,900 won) and 18mm fries for dinner, and the soft lighting and beer and whiskey menu made Daily Fix Euljiro a good evening date spot. Even on a return visit, both were happy with this Myeongdong–Euljiro handmade burger restaurant.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. Station pub with self-serve fridge beer: Minji Superette

Minji Superette Konkuk Branch (민지슈퍼 건대본점) is a retro gamaek (corner-store beer) bar and pocha near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Arriving as the first customer at the 5 p.m. opening, the writer tried brothy tteokbokki, glutinous rice sundae (Korean blood sausage), boneless fried chicken, bottled beer and a 1-liter fresh lemon whisky highball. Because most snacks at Minji Superette cost under ₩10,000 and you take drinks straight from the fridge yourself, it suits anyone looking for a low-key, affordable drink near Konkuk Univ.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong Cathedral brunch spot with notepad ordering: Seventy Four

Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch is a brunch and pasta restaurant on the first floor of Familia Chapel at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer booked through Naver for an early lunch date with her husband, sat indoors because the terrace had a wait, and shared a pollock roe (myeongran) rosé pasta and a chamnamul (Korean wild herb) doenjang pasta, ordered by writing on a notepad. Missing the terrace was a pity, but Seventy Four's calm interior and two distinctive pastas made for a satisfying Myeongdong date.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored