Meal Memo · 45 stories

Meal by Meal

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I eat in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Friday izakaya in Jonggak: beer to Saerro soju, wagyu tataki at Ilsim

Ilsim is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on the 2nd floor of the 94 Building at 94 Sambong-ro, Jongno, Seoul, a 3–5 minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 2. On a Friday night at Ilsim, the writer started with draft beer, switched to Saerro soju, and ordered wagyu tataki (36,000 won) and seafood cheese tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes, 23,000 won) with mussels, shrimp and clams. Ilsim is not cheap, but the dishes and portions justify the price, making it a good Jonggak izakaya for after-work drinks.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Pork bone soup and soju dinner at Seoul Station: Cheongnyeon Gamjatang

Cheongnyeon Gamjatang Sundaeguk Seoul Station branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in gamjatang (pork bone stew), pork bone hangover soup and sundae soup (blood sausage soup) on Sowol-ro 2-gil in Huam-dong, near Seoul Station. On an evening visit, the writer ordered pyeonyuk (sliced boiled pork) and the 11,000 won pork bone soup, stirred rice into the broth and drank soju alongside, and found the dried cabbage greens and thick cuts of meat generous. Cheongnyeon Gamjatang Sundaeguk Seoul Station branch is worth considering near Seoul Station for a filling bowl of soup or a light after-work drink.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Station noodle shop, window-seat dinner for ₩25,800: Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) Jonggak Station branch is a knife-cut noodle and dim sum restaurant on the ground floor of Le Meilleur Jongno Town, near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. At a second-floor window seat one evening, Sichuan-style beef noodles (₩11,000), xiaolongbao soup dumplings (₩9,800) and a bottle of soju came to ₩25,800, with the wide knife-cut noodles and big chunks of beef standing out. For an evening of beef noodles, dim sum and a drink near Jonggak Station, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a good choice.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Guro bar till 6 a.m. for cheese chicken and seafood ramyeon: Eulji

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is a retro-themed Korean pub (pocha) near Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station in Guro, Seoul. The writer paired a ₩5,000 Cass draft beer with a ₩13,000 half plate of snow cheese chicken and seafood ramyeon. The sweet-salty cheese-seasoned chicken, old-school cabbage salad and loaded, spicy ramyeon all went well with the beer. For chicken, beer and a hot soupy side dish, Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch, open until 6 a.m., is a solid choice.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Pot rice restaurant by Gudi Station: steak & kimchi pancake, Solsot

Solsot Guro G-Valley branch is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant on the 2nd floor of G-Valley Biz Plaza, near Exit 3 of Guro Digital Complex (Gudi) Station in Guro, Seoul. On October 17, 2026, the writer ordered the steak pot rice (17,000 won), mixed it with egg yolk and chopped scallions, had a free kimchi jeon (kimchi pancake) from the receipt review event with a glass of Saero soju, and finished with sungnyung (scorched rice tea). Solsot Guro G-Valley branch suits Gudi office workers who want a hearty meal, from pot rice to sungnyung.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak sushi and Saero soju: thick tuna sashimi, Choe Uyeong

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is a sushi and sashimi restaurant on the B1 level of Tower 8, near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. Here, a plate of sushi topped with uni (sea urchin), eel and tuna came with thick-cut tuna sashimi and assorted tempura, washed down with Saero soju and Cass beer; sushi sets range from 13,000 won for the assorted set to 33,000 won for the premium set. Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is a good pick near Jonggak Station for lunch or sushi and a light drink after work.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Kkachisan Station: black pork and ramen, Gwangseonjip

Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant for special pork cuts on Gomdallae-ro in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo, Seoul, where the kitchen pre-grills the meat and serves it on an iron plate. The writer ordered black pork ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly, 17,900 won) and kkodeulsal (a chewy pork cut, 15,900 won) à la carte. The meal went on to draft beer, spicy clam doenjang (soybean paste) stew, iron-plate fried rice and ramen. Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station is a good pick for two pork cuts with different textures and a generous meal without doing any grilling yourself.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Guro Station jokbal: ₩50,000 half-and-half & egg soup, The Jokbal

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) and bossam restaurant on the first floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio shopping arcade, between Sindorim Station and Guro Station in Seoul. On a weekend evening the writer ordered the half-and-half jokbal (plain and spicy, ₩50,000), which came with egg soup in an earthenware pot and a sample of cold jokbal, so three styles of jokbal in one meal. The Jokbal is not cheap, but the cold jokbal sample was the most memorable dish, and the writer wants to order it on its own next time.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo hair salon women's short cut + side down perm: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon on Seolleung-ro 161-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 5 of Apgujeongnodeo Station. A grown-out women's short cut that had turned heavy at the sides and back kept its length, with only the line tidied by a cut, and a down perm then calmed the sides that were sticking out. Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo's short cut and down perm is a good choice for anyone who wants a neat short cut without going shorter.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Western dinner course with sea bream & Shine Muscat: Vinovine

Vinovine is a Western course restaurant with all private-room seating, on the B1 floor of the Hyojin Building near Exit 3 of Seocho Station in Seoul. The 65,000-won-per-person dinner course runs from chicken liver croquettes through sea bream with Shine Muscat grapes, cured salmon, a pecorino genovese spaghetti that tastes like jangjorim (soy-braised beef), sirloin steak and a hojicha ice cream dessert. Vinovine is a good pick near Seocho Station for a quiet, special evening such as an anniversary or a date.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

European-style restaurant with parking near Isu Station: Dooblock Isu

Dooblock Isu is a European-style Western restaurant near Exit 5 of Isu Station in Seocho, Seoul. Bored of ordinary pasta, the writer ordered the signature jambon (ham) cabbage salad (₩15,800), the signature honey cod (₩15,800) and the meljeot (Jeju salted anchovy) oil pasta (₩24,800), and checked the white-and-orange interior plus the mechanical and backup parking options. Dooblock Isu is a good Isu Station pick when you want unusual dishes and a stylish setting together.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeoju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Yeoju Outlets: window seat & fern wraps, Hwassi2192

Hwassi2192 Nam-Yeoju Branch 2 is an oak-wood-fired Korean BBQ restaurant on Yeojunam-ro in Ganam-eup, Yeoju, a convenient place to eat near Yeoju Premium Outlets. At dinner, the blogger ordered the Hanpan set for two (59,000 won: pork belly, pork neck and pork jowl), which came with a complimentary steamed egg, then added doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), while staff grilled the meat at the table. The verdict: the meat at Hwassi2192 is good enough that the blogger would stop by again on the next trip to Yeoju.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored