Lunch Memo Keeper · 8 stories

Quiet Fork, Seoul/Gyeonggi Cafes and Restaurants

Writes about cafes and restaurants she visits around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam DMC kalguksu spot where a spice fan chose perilla: Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Sangam Branch is a minari (water dropwort) shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Woori Technology building in Sangam-dong DMC, Mapo, Seoul. A diner who usually prefers spicy broth booked a table on a day off work early, ordered perilla kalguksu for two with 180g of extra beef, and found the rich, nutty perilla broth so good that the dipping sauce went unused. Even spicy-broth fans should try the perilla broth at Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Sangam Branch at least once.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro burger date after work: double cheese & curry ranch, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Euljiro is a handmade burger restaurant on the ground floor of a building on Namdaemun-ro 9-gil, near Euljiro 1-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After work, the blogger and her boyfriend shared a Double Cheese Burger set with 18 Fries and cola, plus Chicken Strips. She regretted ordering only one Double Cheese Burger because its two 100% Hanwoo (Korean beef) patties were so good. Daily Fix Euljiro is worth remembering when you want a burger and a beer somewhere with a good atmosphere after work.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

After-work burger joint in Gwanghwamun, no Yeouido line: Reel Burger

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on the first floor of G TOWER on Sambong-ro in Jongno, Seoul. The writer had never managed to eat Reel Burger because of the long wait at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, then finally went to Reel Burger Gwanghwamun after work with her boyfriend. They ordered a jalapeño mayo burger, El Taco Burger, crispy onion rings and maple sweet potato fries by QR code. Verdict: Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is an after-work burger spot whose flavor explains why people queue for it, with a good atmosphere and friendly staff to match.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Chinese restaurant: Sichuan mapo tofu at Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a Chinese restaurant in the style of Korea's ethnic Chinese community, on basement level 1 of KT Gwanghwamun Building WEST, directly connected to Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. After work, the writer ordered fried eggplant in mala sauce, butter tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and Sichuan-style mapo tofu. The mapo tofu stood out for its numbing mala aroma and tofu as soft as silken sundubu. If you want Chinese food in Gwanghwamun that leans authentic rather than fusion, Bobo Sikdang is worth a visit.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Gwanghwamun café for trip planning, Geisha cold brew: Center Coffee

Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a specialty coffee café on B1 of Seoul Finance Center (SFC), near Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. The writer has visited Center Coffee Gwanghwamun many times and stopped by on a date to plan an upcoming trip, ordering an iced praline latte, a Geisha cold brew and a plain butter bar, and was again happy with the cold brew's lack of bitterness and the butter bar's pairing with coffee. For drip coffee lovers, Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a Gwanghwamun café worth returning to for its taste, atmosphere and fair prices.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Korean restaurant with a room for 24 and burdock purée: Modam

Modam Itaewon (모담 이태원점) is a hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant on the first floor of the Mondrian Seoul Itaewon hotel, near Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The charcoal-grilled handmade tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) set and the charcoal-grilled barley gulbi (dried yellow croaker) set came to ₩98,000 in total. Modam Itaewon stood out for its course-style pacing, perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and private rooms that start at 4 seats and open up to 24 when the partition is removed. Modam Itaewon is a fitting Itaewon Korean restaurant for important occasions like meeting the in-laws or family gatherings.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam Korean restaurant for Sunday dinner kongguksu: Sangam Hoegwan

Sangam Hoegwan (상암회관) is a kongguksu (chilled soybean noodle soup) specialist Korean restaurant in the basement 1 food court of Sangam IT Tower in Mapo, Seoul. On a Sunday at 6pm, two bowls of the signature kongguksu, a kimchi pancake and 4 dumplings came to ₩34,000, and the Sangam Hoegwan kongguksu tasted richly of soybeans without any salt or sugar added. With clean-tasting kongguksu and a squid kimchi pancake, Sangam Hoegwan is worth recommending for a summer meal.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Station sushi via Starfield's subway link: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is a sushi restaurant on the first basement floor of Starfield, connected directly to Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a weeknight visit, the mixed sashimi (40,000 won) and the premium top-grade sushi set (33,000 won) arrived with all 17 sushi pieces topped with thick cuts of fish, uni (sea urchin) included. Because the subway connects straight to the restaurant, you stay cool even on hot days, which makes Choe Uyeong Sushiya a great after-work meetup spot.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
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