Mountain Road Sipper · 16 stories

Between Mountain Cafés

I write about restaurants and cafés I visit around Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon grilled fish after work, Atka mackerel & sushi: Godeungeo

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch (고등어명품이되다 수원점) is a mackerel-focused grilled fish and sashimi restaurant on the ground floor of a building on Seobu-ro, a main road in Tap-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. After leaving work on time, the blogger ordered grilled mackerel, grilled Atka mackerel and mackerel sushi, and finished every bite, including a sample plate of gochujang bulgogi, seaweed soup, sides from the self-serve bar and a dessert of sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and sikhye (sweet rice drink). Verdict: Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda is a solid after-work dinner pick in Suwon when you're craving white rice and a Korean meal.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station kalguksu: hot-plate bossam and fist-size mandu, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch (다선칼국수 본점) is an old-school kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on the ground floor along Rodeo Street near Suwon Station in Suwon. For lunch, the blogger had the Daseon kal-nakji (knife-cut noodles with octopus) in original flavor, thick style, for 2, a small suyuk bossam (boiled pork belly) served on a hot plate and a plate of fist-size kimchi mandu (dumplings) with makgeolli, and was happy with the octopus, the sauce and the tender pork belly. Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch serves a hearty lunch worth finishing to the last bite, even when you're full.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bongdam Japanese dinner after work: cream udon nurungji, Sindong Lab

Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch (신동랩 화성봉담점) is a sukiyaki-focused Japanese restaurant on the ground floor of the University of Suwon food street in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong. After work, the writer and a companion ordered a sukiyaki set, a traffic-light cream udon nabe set and a set salmon add-on (3 pieces), enjoying everything from the starter soup to cream udon nurungji (scorched rice) and dessert ice cream. Portions at Sindong Lab are generous and the sukiyaki beef is especially tender, making it a satisfying pick for dinner out or a group gathering.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYesan, ChungnamRestaurants

Extra-shishito chicken stir-fry and makgeolli at Yesan Market: Sijang

Sijang Dakbokkeum (시장닭볶음) is a shishito pepper chicken stir-fry shop on the first floor of Yesan Market in Yesan-eup, Yesan County, Chungnam. On a Yesan trip, the writer ordered boneless shishito chicken stir-fry with extra shishito peppers and quail eggs to go for lunch, but couldn't resist the smell and sat down to eat right there in the market. The sweet soy base and the clean heat of the shishito peppers make extra shishito a must-add at Sijang Dakbokkeum.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiBars

Dongtan, Hwaseong bar for fire-grilled chicken feet: Sin Gagye Maekju

Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang (신가게맥주 남광장점) is a Korean pub on the ground floor of Dongtan Namgwangjang in Bansong-dong, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On an after-work dinner date with Dad, the writer had draft beer with a minari (Korean water parsley) whelk salad made with a whole 400g can of whelks and smoky, boneless fire-grilled chicken feet with mayo rice, and both came in generous portions. If you love spicy bar food, the chicken feet and whelk combo at Sin Gagye Maekju Namgwangjang is a safe order.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Namyangju valley Korean BBQ on a half-day off: 2002 Witch's Arpeggio

2002 Witch's Arpeggio (2002 마녀의 아르페지오) is a tomato-sauce pork belly restaurant on the Myojeoksa Valley road in Wabu-eup, Namyangju, with patio tables right beside the creek. The writer took an afternoon half-day off and visited with her older brother for a weekday lunch just after the rain stopped, ordering the basic tomato pork belly at the 'Just a Bad Guy' (그냥 나쁜놈) spice level, a potato pancake crispy outside and chewy inside, and cauldron pollock roe cheese fried rice. With staff grilling the tomato pork belly and finishing it with a torch, plus a creek walk afterward, 2002 Witch's Arpeggio was a thoroughly satisfying visit.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seoulsup drive-date ice cream café: peanut butter soft serve, Mellows

Mellows is a soft serve ice cream dessert café in Seongdong, Seoul, between Ttukseom Station and Seoulsup. On a drive date to Seoulsup, the blogger sat on the Mellows patio under its shade cover with peanut butter and chocolate soft serve, an iced chocolate latte and a decaf iced americano, and the owner added a free madeleine. Mellows is a good ice cream café for cooling off and a sugar boost on a hot-day Seoulsup walk.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Eel all-you-can-eat in Suwon with icy buckwheat noodles: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Suwon Main Branch (송림복장어 민물장어 무한리필 수원본관) is an all-you-can-eat eel and meat restaurant in Gwonseon-dong, Suwon, across from the Suwon Agricultural and Fisheries Market. The writer left work right on time to treat a heat-drained boyfriend to charcoal-grilled eel, pork belly and chicken neck at Songnim Bok Jangeo, then cooled off with buckwheat noodles in icy broth. With plump eel refilled endlessly from the self-serve bar, Songnim Bok Jangeo made for a stuffed, satisfying dinner.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon katsu diner for after-work loin katsu and curry: Myeonsikdang

Myeonsikdang Mangpo Station is a Japanese restaurant serving ramen, soba, rice noodles and katsu, on the 1st floor of Golden Square right in front of Exit 3 of Mangpo Station in Suwon. After work, two diners ordered a shabu noodle and demi hire katsu (pork fillet cutlet) set and a handmade pork loin katsu and mini curry rice set; the thick handmade loin katsu came with four sauces: salt, wasabi, cumin and tonkatsu sauce. With unlimited rice refills and generous portions, Myeonsikdang Mangpo Station was a satisfying, filling dinner on the way home from work.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeoju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bulgogi set for two on the Yeoju outlet-to-IC road: Nadeulmok Yeoju

Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a stone-pot rice Korean restaurant in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on the road from Yeoju Premium Outlets to the Yeoju IC. Two of us stopped in after outlet shopping, ordered the bulgogi set and added the fried eggplant stuffed with meat, and the table filled up with four starters and pork stir-fry that come as standard. Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a good last stop for a proper rice spread before the drive home.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Nohak-dong soft tofu dinner in Sokcho with bijitchigae: Yetgoeul

Yetgoeul Sundubu is a handmade tofu restaurant in Nohak-dong, Sokcho, near Seorak Plaza CC on Mount Seorak. For a final dinner of a Sokcho trip, chodang sundubu (mild soft tofu stew), abalone jjamppong sundubu and perilla-oil pan-fried tofu arrived with cauldron rice, bijitchigae (soybean pulp stew) and nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea) all included. The side dishes at Yetgoeul Sundubu taste like home cooking, and every dish was cleared even on a full stomach.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Freshwater eel salt-grill platter in Homaesil, Suwon: 99Jangeo88

99Jangeo88 Suwon Homaesil Branch (99장어88 수원호매실본점) is a grilled freshwater eel restaurant in the Homaesil restaurant alley in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered a salt-grilled freshwater eel set, flipped the 70%-pre-grilled eel every 3 minutes, and rounded out the meal with complimentary doenjang jjigae, turmeric rice, and self-bar side dishes. A hearty pick for a body-boosting meal, dinner out, or a company dinner.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored