Detour Regular · 152 stories

Table for a Detour

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Shopping · Restaurants · Cafés · Home & living

PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seorae Village bakery café stroll: Summer Blend coffee, Remangdore

Remangdore Seorae Village Branch is a bakery café in Seocho, Seoul, tucked into an alley off the Seorae Village café street near a park. The writer ordered the sweet pumpkin cream cheese bread and the coffee of the day, a Summer Blend served with a sunflower drawing, and was pleased that the bread came sliced for easy eating and that the coffee was reasonably priced. Remangdore Seorae Village Branch is a good stop for unhurried bread and coffee during a walk.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Korean pub between Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon: tripe sundubu, Arigyegok

Arigyegok Gangnam (아리계곡) is a Korean pub on Teheran-ro 1-gil, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. Arigyegok Gangnam serves mud duck jeonbyeong (19,900 won), sold in a limited number each day, and gopchang sundubu (tripe soft tofu) cooked shabu-shabu style, alongside makgeolli, traditional yakju and highballs. With uncommon Korean bar food and traditional liquor, Arigyegok Gangnam is a good pick for a group night out near Gangnam Station.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burger shop: extra patty and cheddar at Bass Burger

Bass Burger Gangnam Samsung Town is a newly opened handmade burger shop on the ground floor near Samsung Town by Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer ordered the basic Bass Burger with one extra beef patty and one extra slice of real cheddar, along with unlimited James Gam potato chips, Bass Lager craft beer and a mozza cheese bar; burgers start at 6,900 won. Verdict: Bass Burger Gangnam Samsung Town is spacious and comfortable, a good place to enjoy a filling meal even on your own.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Pasta bar near Sookmyung Station: birthday mushroom pasta at B421

B421 is a port wine dining bar on Hangang-daero in Yongsan, Seoul, between Sookmyung Women's University Station and Seoul Station. For a birthday dinner, the writer booked B421 and found the table set with a wine bottle bearing the reservation name, then ordered mushroom pasta and duck steak with perilla leaf pesto alongside a Kopke Fine sampler and extra glasses of ruby and white port. Thanks to its dim lighting and thoughtful reservation service, B421 is worth choosing for a birthday or anniversary dinner near Sookmyung Station.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ with friends in Hapjeong: pork and asparagus, Jeongyukdo

Jeongyukdo (정육도) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant right outside Exit 5 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. For a get-together with friends, the writer ordered the Handon (Korean-raised pork) set of 500g grade 1 pork at a discounted ₩49,000 (regular ₩57,000), which came with a stew containing meat plus asparagus and mushrooms grilled over the charcoal. With its spacious dining room near the station and street-side patio tables, Jeongyukdo is a Korean BBQ spot worth returning to for group meetups near Hapjeong Station.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant: walk-in hitsumabushi & aged salmon, Yangsando

Yangsando Yeoksam (양산도 역삼점) is an authentic Japanese hitsumabushi (grilled eel rice bowl) restaurant on Nonhyeon-ro 85-gil, between Yeoksam Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a weekday after work, the writer walked into Yangsando Yeoksam without a reservation, ate a regular-size hitsumabushi three ways, and added aged salmon sakedon, a small bottle of Asahi beer and plum tea after the meal. With everything from bar seats to private rooms, Yangsando Yeoksam is a neat, tidy eel rice bowl spot that suits both solo meals and quiet get-togethers.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae café, fig Basque cheesecake & 3 fig drinks: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a butter sand and cookie dessert café on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. For fig season, the fig Basque cheesecake and the Royal Fig Einspänner (₩7,000) were ordered with an iced Americano, alongside a look at the brick-wall outdoor seating and the ribbon-wrapped butter sand gift sets. Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a Yeonnam-dong café worth visiting for limited seasonal desserts like its fig menu.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulCafés

Hongdae bakery price list: 13 breads & counter ordering, Mandong Jegwa

Mandong Jegwa is a bakery in the Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong area of Seoul, known for its 7,000-won garlic baguette. Many breads were already sold out on the visit, but this guide lists prices for unusual breads like the cucumber baguette (6,900 won), yakbap bread (3,800 won), Ssoktteok Ssoktteok mugwort bread (4,900 won) and jalapeño ciabatta (4,800 won), and explains which breads must be ordered separately at the counter. Even with few breads left, Mandong Jegwa's lineup is clearly different from an ordinary bakery's.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Poke shop with wine near Gyodae Station: salmon poke & pasta, Salering

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a salad, poke and wrap shop near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. At Salering Gyodae Direct Store, the writer ordered the Atlantic raw salmon bibim poke with added pasta and Salering spicy sauce, plus a glass each of white and red wine in the 5,000-won range, and the meal was far more filling than a regular salad. Salering Gyodae Direct Store is worth considering if salad alone leaves you hungry and you want a light but proper meal near Gyodae Station.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae Korean pub with yukhoe sashimi and Terra draft: Mongjubang

Mongjubang Hongdae Branch is a Korean pub on Dongmak-ro 7-gil near Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul, with outdoor terrace seats, indoor tables and private rooms. The blogger and a friend arrived around 5 p.m. and ordered braised whole pork belly with kimchi (26,000 won), yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) sashimi and Terra draft beer (2,900 won for 300ml), and the tender pork belly and well-kept draft beer stood out. Mongjubang Hongdae Branch is a good-value Hongdae bar for drinks with satisfying Korean bar food.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong kaisendon with a free grilled salmon head: Makise Hapjeong

Makise Hapjeong is a Japanese restaurant near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, serving kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and sushi. On a first visit at opening time, the writer had the 23,000-won kaisendon and 2 pieces of salmon sushi. The writer also got a free grilled salmon head, which Makise Hapjeong serves only on days the kitchen butchers salmon. Makise Hapjeong is a solid Hapjeong sushi spot for solo diners who want a variety of raw fish in one bowl and for groups choosing a set menu.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong pizzeria with corkage and full pizza prices: Pizzeria Snug

Pizzeria Snug (피제리아 스너그) is a Neapolitan pizza and pasta restaurant on a side street near Digital Media City Station in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. Pizzeria Snug has a cozy, curved interior in warm colors, terrace seats, group seating and corkage, and its pizzas range from 15,000 won for the marinara to 30,000 won for the Snug Classica. Verdict: Pizzeria Snug is a safe pick in Sangam-dong for pizza and pasta, whether for a date, a blind date or a group dinner.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored