Calendar Eater · 30 stories

Meals on the Calendar

I write about visits to restaurants in Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Bars · Home & living

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken hot pot & house-made noodles for a guys' night

Ttukdak Hongdae (뚝닭홍대) is a newly opened chicken hot pot (dakhanmari) restaurant near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday evening, three guys shared 3 servings of chicken hot pot, a cheese potato pancake and house-made noodles with somaek (soju mixed with beer), and were too full to finish with the porridge. For friends who want a hearty, rich-broth chicken hot pot with drinks, Ttukdak Hongdae is a solid choice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon nacho restaurant for a hot-day dine-in lunch: Macho Nacho

Macho Nacho is a Mexican-style nacho restaurant on Huiujeong-ro in Mapo-gu, Seoul, near Mangwon Hangang Park. After a Han River walk with a friend, the writer planned on takeout, but the hot weather and a car ride home led them to eat lunch inside, sharing the Signature Nachos and Pepperoni Pizza Nachos. Macho Nacho serves filling nachos that don't feel heavy, a good pick for a light meal near the Han River.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Eunpyeong, Seoul Korean BBQ with charcoal-straw pork belly: Oktopbang

Oktopbang (옥탑방) is a pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on Seooreung-ro in Eunpyeong, Seoul, near Gusan Station. At Oktopbang, the writer had 2 servings of premium jaksal pork belly (작살 삼겹), first cooked over charcoal and then over straw fire, with staff doing the grilling at the table, and finished with Cheongdo minari (water dropwort) self-fry fried rice. The verdict: tender pork, a gentle straw-smoke aroma and fragrant minari fried rice made the full Oktopbang meal the highlight.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Old-school cutlet diner in Eungam-dong, Seoul: combo cutlet for two

Bulgwangcheon Wang Donkatsu (불광천왕돈까스) is an old-school, Western-style giant pork cutlet restaurant in an alley near Bulgwangcheon Stream in Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a weekday evening, the writer and his wife shared the cheese bomb fry with giant cutlet and the combo cutlet. The kimchi stew served instead of soup and the stretchy whole-mozzarella cheese bomb fry stood out most. Bulgwangcheon Wang Donkatsu is a generous neighborhood cutlet spot where two people can eat a hearty meal.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulThings to do

Gangnam Station party room rental for a blog class: Off Social

Off Social (강남파티룸 오프소셜) is a party room rental space on basement level 1 at Juheung 3-gil in Seocho, Seoul, about a 6–7 minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 10. The writer booked Off Social for a weekend 10 a.m. slot to teach a small blog class and was pleased with the large screen, computer, wireless mic, spacious room and color-adjustable LED Barrisol lighting. Verdict: Off Social is a Gangnam Station party room that works just as well for classes and seminars as for parties.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu, Saturday lunch for 3: itame sauce, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant with tabletop grills, located between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. At Saturday lunch opening, three friends ordered 2 striploin gyukatsu and 1 striploin steki, and the bill came to the high ₩70,000s including drinks; the special itame sauce and generous rice refills kept the meal from feeling greasy to the end. Choosing striploin over tenderloin confirmed why Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon brunch, tomato ragu set for 3 friends: The Mignon Seoul

The Mignon Seoul is a two-floor Western brunch restaurant on Gangnam-daero 102-gil, near Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Three friends shared The Mignon Seoul's 3-person brunch set (tomato ragu pasta, grilled romaine salad, popover pancake, chestnut gnocchi and drinks) on a Saturday morning. The rich ragu sauce and chewy chestnut gnocchi stood out, and the portions were so generous that nobody finished their coffee. Verdict: The Mignon Seoul is a good pick for a group with different tastes who want to share pasta and brunch in one meal.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Roomy Sinnonhyeon café for 3 friends: Einspänner, Upper and Under

Upper and Under is a large converted-house café in Gangnam, Seoul, a 3–4 minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station and also walkable from Gangnam Station, spread over the basement through the 2nd floor. Around 2 PM on a Saturday, three friends ordered one Einspänner, two iced Americanos and one cheesecake for about ₩30,000 and stayed 1.5 hours, never feeling cramped thanks to the spacious rooms and comfortable chairs. The Einspänner's nutty cream was good enough to reorder, and the dense cheesecake paired well with the low-acid Americano, making Upper and Under a comfortable pick for a long catch-up with friends.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magongnaru octopus restaurant with smoky pork belly: Songjjujip

Songjjujip Magok is a jjukkumi (spicy baby octopus) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Central Tower 2, near Exit 1 of Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a Saturday around 6 pm, a couple ordered the Sari Mongttang set for two, steamed egg and cheese fried rice, paying in the high ₩30,000s in total, and the smoky pork belly and the cheese fried rice left a stronger impression than the octopus itself. At Songjjujip Magok, order the cheese fried rice even when you're full.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station pasta spot, Saturday opening & pepper show: Brivit

Brivit Gangnam Station is a pasta and risotto restaurant between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a return visit at the Saturday 11:30 am opening, most of Brivit's seats were already reserved, and the table shared five single dishes: salmon steak pasta, bunny pasta, spicy jambon risotto, corn and scallion cream gnocchi, and a Greek yogurt tomato salad. Verdict: book ahead for weekends at Brivit, where the risotto is just as satisfying as the pasta.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam café, decaf for a pregnant friend: Something About Coffee

Something About Coffee is a large dessert café on floors 1 to 3 near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6 in Gangnam, Seoul, within walking distance of Gangnam Station. Four friends visited Something About Coffee on a weekend afternoon and ordered matcha cream cold brew, a decaf Americano, mango cream cake, butter tteok (butter rice cake) and a lemon Earl Grey financier, and the desserts were good enough that they took extra cake home. With decaf drinks and plenty of seating, Something About Coffee is a comfortable Gangnam Station café for a weekend get-together with a pregnant friend.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi with my wife in Gwanghwamun, potato croquette: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun (코끼리초밥 광화문점) is a sushi restaurant on basement level 1 of the KT Gwanghwamun Building, connected to Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer and his wife ordered 2 Elephant Sushi B sets plus an extra sweet shrimp sushi, and got a free potato croquette through a Naver receipt review event; the sweet shrimp sushi and the monkfish liver gunkan (seaweed-wrapped sushi) were the most memorable. Apart from the generous wasabi, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is worth recommending to anyone looking for quality sushi in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored