Margin Scribbler · 17 stories

Menu Margin

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean set meal in Chowol, Gwangju: barley rice set for 2 at Bomseol

Bomseol (봄설) is a hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant in Chowol, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, the town that is home to Hwadamsup (Hwadam Forest). After a weekend visit to Hwadamsup with older family members, the writer ordered Bomseol's barley rice set for 2 and Manjo cockle salad, which came with more than 12 side dishes, mega-size stone-pot rice and barley rice refills from the self-serve bar. The writer recommends Bomseol for family meals when you want a homey, countryside-style spread.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Halal spot in Sangam, Seoul: midterms on TV & onion rings, Zilhal Bros

Zilhal Bros Sangam is a New York street-style halal restaurant on the 1st floor of Building B at Savoy City in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Zilhal Bros Sangam, the writer ordered a full spread of lamb over rice, a chicken kebab, a chicken burrito, onion rings and a Dr Pepper, eating while the in-store TV showed coverage of the US midterm elections. With parking support for customers, Zilhal Bros Sangam is a good fit for Sangam-dong office workers after a filling, out-of-the-ordinary meal.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

New Paju brunch café on a rainy day, bacon potato pizza: Four & More

Four & More is a large new brunch café on Soraji-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi, spread across the basement to the 6th floor. On a heavy-rain weekend, the writer ate the wood-fired bacon potato pizza, sangtugwaja (Korean almond-paste cookie), pain au gramme, an Americano with the nutty bean and a matcha latte; the clouds spoiled the Imjingang river view, but the pizza's wood-fired crust was good enough to go back for. Four & More is a Paju café best saved for a date on a clear day at sunset.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong monkfish jjim restaurant: 3 bottles of soju for two, Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang (해물명가 동해해물탕) is a restaurant specializing in seafood jjim and monkfish jjim (spicy braised monkfish) on the seafood stew street in Bupyeong, Incheon. On a weekday early evening, two people ordered a small monkfish jjim for two (₩45,000). The portion was generous, the fish came already prepped and easy to eat, and the spicy flavor carried them through 3 bottles of soju. The writer's verdict: for monkfish jjim in Bupyeong, nothing matches Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Korean restaurant for guests: tteokgalbi with doraji at Modam

Modam Itaewon is a Korean set-meal (hansik) restaurant on the ground floor of the Mondrian Hotel in Yongsan, Seoul, with hall tables, private rooms and course-style set meals suited to meetings with future in-laws and meals with elders. Before hosting important guests the following month, the blogger visited Modam Itaewon to try the grilled deodeok and charcoal tteokgalbi set and the charcoal Beopseongpo barley-dried yellow croaker (boriguulbi) set, and the tteokgalbi paired with doraji and the perilla leaf sorbet stood out most. For a meal where formality, budget and taste all matter, Modam Itaewon is worth considering.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeongdeungpo lamb buffet date, grilled eggplant: Yangnam Yanghwa

Yangnam Yanghwa (양남양화) is an all-you-can-eat lamb rib restaurant on a side street in Yangpyeong-dong 1-ga, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, between Mullae Station and Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station. After spotting Yangnam Yanghwa on social media, the writer went late on a weekday with his girlfriend and had charcoal-grilled lamb cooked by staff, garlic rice, grilled eggplant, bibim-myeon (spicy mixed noodles), seafood ramyeon and hallabong sherbet. Yangnam Yanghwa was packed even in its early days, so booking through Naver rather than Catch Table is the smart move.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan Station Chinese pub: black pepper beef & highballs, Yongyong

Yongyong Seonsaeng Dangsan Station branch (용용선생 당산역점) is a Hong Kong-style retro Chinese pub in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Dangsan Station on Lines 2 and 9. On a weekday evening date, the writer and his girlfriend had mandarin and peach gaoliang highballs, mala king dumplings and the set for two (volcano mala hot pot, black pepper beef brisket and soy sauce egg rice), and parking was easy at the paid Samheung Building lot in front. Yongyong Seonsaeng Dangsan Station branch is an easygoing Dangsan Station bar for dates and group dinners alike, even for people who find mala too much.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon noodle shop, bone kalguksu over gamjatang: Pyeongidambaek

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in bone kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup with pork bones) and bossam suyuk (boiled pork slices), on Yanghwa-ro 7-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Mangwon Station and Hapjeong Station. On a rainy weekend evening, the writer, who wanted kalguksu, and his girlfriend, who wanted gamjatang (pork bone stew), settled on Pyeongidambaek and ordered spicy bone kalguksu, Namhae anchovy kalguksu, a medium bossam suyuk and complimentary eoriguljeot (spicy salted oysters). Even for a writer who had tried two other branches, the main branch's bone kalguksu and thin-sliced suyuk were as generous and satisfying as expected.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang hot pot set for 2 in Mokdong, ₩3,000 E-Mart parking: Omokgyo

Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a garlic gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in the food alley near Omokgyo Station (Line 5) in Yangcheon, Seoul. A couple ordered the 2-person gopchang jeongol set (mixed gopchang, stone-pot gopchang hot pot and fried rice) and loved the fresh raw liver served as a side dish and the sweet, fat-soaked garlic gopchang. Omokgyo Gopchang has no parking of its own, but the E-Mart Mokdong lot (₩3,000 with a certain app) makes the trip easy.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna eel buffet at Elim Art Center, three-meat samhap: Songrimbok

Songrimbok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Cheongna Direct Branch is a charcoal-grill, all-you-can-eat eel restaurant on the ground floor of the Elim Art Center, next to Cheongna Lake Park in Seohae-gu, Incheon. The writer took freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck from the Songrimbok self-serve bar and grilled them together on a cast-iron charcoal grill to eat as a samhap (three-way combo), and praised the spacious dining room, 2 hours of free parking and good ventilation. Verdict: Songrimbok's Cheongna branch is a hidden gem for a proper summer stamina meal.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ after a rainy-weekend movie: Cham Dwaejitgan

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the ground floor of the Piccadilly CGV building in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. After a movie on a rainy weekend, we waited about 10 minutes for Boseong Nokdon pork belly and pork neck, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and fried rice, and the staff at Cham Dwaejitgan grilled everything from start to finish. With a roomy, clean dining room, Cham Dwaejitgan is an easy Jongno pick for a group dinner or a date.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan–Seonyudo izakaya with a Suntory-listed plum highball: Atashi

Snack Bar Atashi Dangsan Station Main Branch is a Japanese local-style izakaya in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, between Dangsan Station and Seonyudo Station at the start of Yanghwa Bridge. On a weekday evening at the bar counter, the writer paired a plum highball from a bar selected for Suntory's Highball Myeongga 100 and draft beer with sake-steamed clams (with added pasta noodles) and raw shrimp sashimi, and the shrimp heads came out separately, fried in butter. Snack Bar Atashi is a strong pick near Dangsan Station if you want atmosphere, good bar food and highballs all in one place.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored