Calendar Eater · 33 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

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
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong pork galbi, no neck meat, refillable banchan: Gatgalbi

Gatgalbi Mapo Sangam DMC is a pork galbi restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 9 of Digital Media City Station, which uses only rib cuts and never mixes in neck meat. Two diners ordered 3 servings of marinated galbi, plus doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and rice to finish. The savory marinade and the side dishes they kept refilling stood out most. Anyone let down by neck-heavy pork galbi should give Gatgalbi Mapo Sangam DMC a try.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sinsa noodle shop, cold vs hot perilla buckwheat noodles: Sammiri

Sammiri Makguksu Jamwon (삼미리막국수 잠원점) is a buckwheat noodle restaurant in Jamwon, Seocho, Seoul. The restaurant makes its own noodles and is a 7–8 minute walk from Sinsa Station Exit 4. The writer ordered cold perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles), hot perilla seed onmemil (buckwheat noodles in warm broth) and crispy pan-fried dumplings to see how the same buckwheat noodles change when served cold and hot. For a mild yet filling meal, the three-dish combination at Sammiri Makguksu Jamwon was satisfying.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

After-work chicken stew for two near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office: Doriyeon

Doriyeon Dakdoritang Yeongdeungpo-gu Office branch is a dakdoritang (spicy chicken stew) restaurant about 2 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After work, two diners ordered the medium size (one whole Korean size-11 chicken) with extra boneless chicken thigh at spice level 2, then added the free silken tofu and bean sprouts instead of noodles and finished with fried rice without cheese. At Doriyeon Dakdoritang, one whole chicken alone is plenty for two, so choose any add-ons based on how hungry you are.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangsu ramen shop for a rainy Saturday date: chashu-men, Ramen Truck

Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch (라멘트럭 상수본점) is a Japanese ramen restaurant near Exit 4 of Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a pouring Saturday evening, a couple sat at the bar and ordered Shin Ramen, chashu-men (ramen topped with braised pork) and a mini chashu don (pork rice bowl). They especially loved the generous chashu that covers the bowl and the broth that stays hot to the last spoonful. Ramen Truck Sangsu Main Branch is a good Sangsu ramen pick when a rainy day has you craving hot broth.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seafood kalguksu restaurant in Oido on the way to Daebudo: 52 Degree

52 Degree Kalguksu Oido Main Branch is a seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Oido, Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a public holiday lunch stop before Daebudo, the writer waited about 1 hour, then ordered seafood hot pot kalguksu for 2 and a chive pancake. The iron pot came packed with octopus, abalone, crab and thin-sliced beef brisket, a staff member prepped the crab, and the portion was more than two people could finish. Verdict: the 1-hour wait at 52 Degree Kalguksu was worth it, and next time the writer would come back with a reservation.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Weeknight noodle dinner for two near Eungam Station: Songa Kalguksu

Songa Kalguksu (송아칼국수) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on a Bulgwangcheon alley near Eungam Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a weekday evening, the writer and his wife ordered chicken kalguksu, jang kalguksu (soybean-paste noodle soup) and regular bibim-mandu (crispy dumplings with seasoned vegetables), comparing the clean chicken broth with the spicy jang broth. For two people, two kinds of noodles plus one bibim-mandu at Songa Kalguksu made a filling, satisfying dinner.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong eel restaurant: staff-grilled salt eel for a couple, Ryeok

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점) is a freshwater eel restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near DMC Station. On a hot day the writer and his wife ordered salt-grilled eel for two, and staff served the eel fully grilled, with a free pollack soup and generous side dishes such as scallion kimchi, shredded ginger and pickled radish wraps. Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom suits anyone who wants an easy, restorative eel meal without grilling over the fire themselves.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon brunch restaurant, cream pasta with shrimp salad: Nonchalant

Nonchalant Lounge is a brunch and Western restaurant on Jeongjo-ro in Paldal-gu, Suwon, near Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion. On a weekend morning the writer ordered truffle bulgogi risotto, chicken thigh alfredo cream pasta, a shrimp salad and a cola; the restaurant was already busy before noon, and the shrimp salad balanced the two cream dishes well. For atmosphere and a filling meal during a Suwon Hwaseong Fortress outing, Nonchalant Lounge is a good choice.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Mexican weekend lunch: hot mozzarella sticks at Taco Dot

Taco Dot Mangwon Market Main Branch is a Mexican restaurant in Mangwon-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2. On a weekend lunch, a married couple ordered four dishes at Taco Dot: a chimichanga, a paprika sauce enchilada, 4 buffalo wings and Nashville hot mozzarella sticks. They alternated between crispy and soft bites. If you have only had tacos at Taco Dot, mixing fried dishes, oven-baked dishes and sides is worth a try.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored