Empty Highball, Seoul Bars — Highball Log

Hanwoo restaurant in Gongdeok: BYO sake for boyfriend's birthday, Usu

Usu is an all-private-room hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant on B2 of the Lotte Castle President arcade, connected to Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. For the second year in a row, the writer celebrated her boyfriend's birthday at Usu. She brought sake under the free corkage policy and ordered the Dinner B course for two with the beef changed to 150g, and Usu added a celebration drink, a Polaroid and an extra dessert. Usu's course is generous enough that 150g of beef was hard to finish, and it was satisfying enough to trust with a birthday two years running.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ at opening on a chilly day, 200g sirloin: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점) is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant serving hanwoo (Korean beef) and handon (Korean pork) on the 3rd and 4th floors of a building on Hongik-ro 3-gil, near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a chilly weekday, the writer booked through Naver Reservation and came right at opening for a date, ordering the hanwoo/handon set for two (hanwoo sirloin, fresh galbi-sal and five-layer pork belly), mixed naengmyeon and kkakttukbap, with staff grilling all the meat. Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is a solid pick for dates and group dinners when you want hanwoo and Korean pork together at a reasonable price.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

DMC Station izakaya for chicken heart yakitori after a movie: Hanamato

Hanamato Sangam DMC is a Japanese-style yakitori izakaya a 2-minute walk from Digital Media City Station in Mapo, Seoul, open Monday to Saturday until 3am. After a three-hour late movie, a hungry couple ordered Sapporo draft beer, mentaiko (pollock roe) cheese potato, tsukune (chicken meatball skewers) and five kinds of yakitori. They loved the tender chicken heart so much that they ordered it twice more, then added kushikatsu and bisque sauce pasta. Hanamato Sangam DMC is a good stop when you're craving shichimi-dusted yakitori and a draft beer late at night.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored