Midblock Diner · 17 stories

Midblock Meals

Notes on restaurants visited around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Chinese spot: stone-pot mapo tofu & guobaorou, Namsogwan

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon (남소관 우육도삭면) is a Chinese restaurant in front of Exit 12 of Gangnam Station in Seoul, known for handmade dim sum and Taiwanese-style beef noodles. On a third visit, the writer skipped the dim sum and noodles and ordered Sichuan-style mapo tofu served in a stone pot (₩10,800), which was best over plain white rice, along with a mountain-high plate of guobaorou, or crispy sweet-and-sour pork (₩19,000). Verdict: Namsogwan is a good-value Gangnam Chinese restaurant, and the two dishes never get boring when eaten in turns.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Anyang shabu-shabu regulars' pick: egg-topped prawn, Shabu Siktak

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant in Dongpyeon-maeul, Anyang, Gyeonggi. The writer is a regular who returns with a friend living in Dongpyeon-maeul whenever they crave hot broth. This time they ordered the B-table set (14,000 won) with a handmade fried king prawn, topped with egg, and shiitake hasamiage (stuffed fried shiitake), then finished with porridge and a yogurt for dessert. Thanks to its clean vegetable broth and handmade sides, Shabu Siktak is the writer's favorite shabu-shabu spot in Anyang.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Budget Gangnam Station bar on a cold day: nurungji finish, Arigyegok

Arigyegok Gangnam is a valley-and-waterfall-themed Korean pub a 5-minute walk from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Three friends ordered the 3-person stamina set (₩57,600), swapped the whole fried pork for mud duck jeonbyeong (duck crepe) for ₩1,000 more, paired it with an omija infused-liquor highball and a yakgwanmun highball (₩5,900 each), and finished by adding nurungji (scorched rice) to the chicken hot pot broth. For a group night in Gangnam when the weather turns cold and you want hot dishes at good value, the Arigyegok stamina set is a solid fit.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station ramen shop, the roomiest of 3 branches: Oreno Ramen

Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a chicken-broth paitan ramen shop near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul, reportedly named to the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list 7 years in a row. On a chilly day, a writer who has been coming back for 5 years ate solo at Oreno Ramen Gangnam, ordering kara paitan (spicy chicken paitan, 13,000 won) with a soft-boiled egg and finishing by stirring the free rice into the broth. The verdict: Oreno Ramen Gangnam is the roomiest of the three branches the writer has visited, making it a good Gangnam Station ramen spot for solo meals and groups alike.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Mangwon with sesame oil bibimbap: Dwaejibangatgan

Dwaejibangatgan (돼지방앗간) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 2 of Mangwon Station in Mapo, Seoul, cooking with domestic sesame and perilla oil pressed with 18 years of oil-mill know-how. Fresh Korean pork belly and pork neck cost 16,000 won per 200g serving, and the meal also included perilla oil Jjapaghetti (instant black bean noodles), sesame oil bibimbap (mixed rice) and sesame oil bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles). Dwaejibangatgan is a good pick in Mangwon for generous flame-seared pork belly with sides that show off the mill's oils.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Market burger spot: grilled pineapple Hawaiian at Lazy Off

Lazy Off is a handmade burger restaurant on the B1 level near Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2. The writer ordered the Hawaiian burger, the shrimp burger and sweet potato fries at Lazy Off, and the flame-grilled pineapple, thick beef patty, buttery brioche bun and shrimp-packed patty stood out most. With a basic cheeseburger at 7,600 won, Lazy Off is a great-value pick for handmade burgers near Mangwon Market.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo Station Korean BBQ: 3-person set plus offal soup at Usijang

Usijang Hoegwan (우시장회관) is a charcoal-grilled beef and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant in the Dohwa-dong food alley between Mapo Station and Gongdeok Station in Seoul. The 3-person set (116,900 won) brought a beef platter, Korean beef yuksashimi (thin-sliced raw beef) and clam beef gukbap, and an order of beef offal soup was added on top; the self-serve side dish bar, free rice and thoughtful extras like hair ties and dental floss stood out. For good-value beef and offal soup with no gamey smell, Usijang Hoegwan is a strong pick for group dinners in Mapo.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae oil pasta restaurant: spicy roe vs seafood set for 2, Omil

Omil Hongdae is a fusion Western restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station. The writer ordered Omil Hongdae's set for two (2 mains, a soba maki side and 2 drinks) and tried rubber duck omurice, a spicy oil pasta with myeongran (pollock roe) and a spicy seafood oil pasta with clams, mussels and squid. At under ₩50,000 for two oil pastas plus omurice, Omil Hongdae is a good-value date spot worth recommending.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seongsu hair salon: natural vintage hippie perm at Onzon Hair

Onzon Hair Seongsu is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of the building right in front of Ttukseom Station in Seongdong, Seoul. After a consultation on hair, scalp and face shape, the writer got a cut and a subtle, vintage-style hippie perm at Onzon Hair Seongsu that styles with just curl cream, and was very happy with the result. For anyone considering a natural hippie perm, the verdict is to try Onzon Hair Seongsu while heat perms are 40% off.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Gangnam bar for 3 friends: stamina set with mud duck crepe, Arigyegok

Arigyegok Gangnam (아리계곡) is a valley-themed Korean bar-restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11, known as the original home of crescent-moon baeksuk (whole boiled chicken). Three friends ordered the 3-person stamina set, swapped the whole fried pork for mud duck crepe for ₩1,000 extra, and ate spicy hangover chicken hot pot and bubbling cheese potato pancake. At around ₩50,000–60,000 for a table full of food, the Arigyegok stamina set is excellent value for a group night out near Gangnam Station.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongridan-gil tteokbokki, medium combo, liver & sundae: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a tteokbokki shop on Yongridan-gil near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul, which began as a street stall in 2004. After a short weekend wait, the writer had the Hyeonseonine combo set: medium-spicy rice-cake tteokbokki, liver and sundae (Korean blood sausage), mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), assorted fried snacks and curly fish cake. Though it is Korean street food, the Hyeonseonine combo set felt like a proper full meal.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae pub for monsoon makgeolli & acorn jelly: Yeonnam Jumak 1987

Yeonnam Jumak 1987 (연남주막1987) is a Korean pub styled as a retro jumak (traditional tavern) in Yeonnam-dong near Hongik Univ. Station in Seoul, open until 3am. On a rainy monsoon-season day, the writer came craving jeon (Korean savory pancakes) and makgeolli and ordered Neurin Maeul makgeolli, the gopdoritang (beef intestine and chicken stew) & yuksaejeon (beef and shrimp jeon) set and acorn jelly salad; the shrimp jeon with two whole shrimp and the beef intestines packed with gop (rich inner fat) stood out most. When rain has you craving jeon and makgeolli, Yeonnam Jumak 1987 is a Yeonnam-dong bar where you can end the night without a second round.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored