Brimming Cart Rider · 9 stories

Full Cart, Seoul and Busan Rounds

Writes about bars, restaurants, cafes, things to do, and shops across Seoul, Busan/Gyeongnam, and Daejeon/Chungcheong. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon fresh pasta, roomier than Jungangno: 4 plates for two, Plate

Plate Dunsan Branch (플레이트 둔산점) is a fresh pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. After falling for the Jungangno branch, the writer visited Plate Dunsan Branch with one other person. They ordered a steak cream ragu set, abalone innards cream pasta and Cheongyang chili vongole cream gnocchi, added kimchi fried rice, and got truffle ice cream through the receipt review event. Verdict: Plate Dunsan Branch's big windows make it roomier and more pleasant than the Jungangno branch, and it suits both dates and group meals.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGongju, ChungnamRestaurants

Gongju Korean BBQ for group dinners: 30-person room at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Meat Restaurant Gongju Wolsong branch is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Singeum 1-gil in Gongju, Chungnam, known for meat wet-aged at 2℃ for 144 hours. The writer booked a table at opening time and ate the beef half set, o-samgyeop pork belly, gabrisal (pork jowl), yukhoe bibimbap (beef tartare rice bowl) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), and also checked out the included doenjang jjigae, the self-serve bar, the 30-person group room and the kids' zone. Verdict: Hanmaeum Meat Restaurant Gongju Wolsong branch is a recommended pick for company dinners and family gatherings near Wolsong-dong in Gongju.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Pho restaurant at Isu Station with thin-noodle bun cha: Bangbaedong

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is an open-kitchen Vietnamese pho restaurant a 3-minute walk from Exit 10 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer had spicy beef-belly pho (12,000 won), bun cha with thin noodles (14,000 won) and 4 summer rolls (6,000 won); bar seats and tables for two made eating alone easy, and rice was free. Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is a clean, generous pho restaurant near Isu Station.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Isu Station pub for real gopchang stew and bokbunja tonic: Balgil

Balgil Sadang Station Main Branch is a hanok-style Korean pub inside the Isu Station food alley in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, between Sadang Station and Isu Station. On a chilly day the writer ordered Balgil's pressure-cooker "real gopdori-tang" (spicy chicken stew with beef small intestine), served whole in the pressure cooker, with bokbunja (Korean black raspberry wine) mixed with tonic water; the stew had real beef gopchang rather than daechang (large intestine), alongside tender chicken. Verdict: with privacy-screen seats and friendly service, Balgil is a good Isu Station pub for drinks over a proper soup-based dish.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Mannyeon-dong Chinese restaurant Course A for two: Macheonchwi

Macheonchwi is a course-style Chinese restaurant in Mannyeon-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. A couple ordered Course A for two, which ran from salad through ryusanseul (stir-fried seafood and vegetables in clear sauce), chili shrimp, Peking-style tangsuyuk, jjajangmyeon and jjamppong to ice cream. The food and lineup were good, but the meal portion was small enough that they added fried dumplings, and their center-hall seat was noisy. Verdict: Macheonchwi's food is worth recommending, but it is better to go with 3 or more people, ask for a quiet table or private room, and order à la carte.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanBars

Retro bar in Gwangalli, Busan: rock-paper-scissors at Maenggu Pocha

Maenggu Pocha Gwang-an Main Branch is a retro-themed Korean pub (pocha) tucked into an alley in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan. Each table at Maenggu Pocha gets Maenggu coins to swap for old-school Korean snacks, and you can win more coins by beating staff at mukjjippa (a Korean rock-paper-scissors game), while the food included limited-quantity raw shrimp sashimi, fried shrimp heads (+5,000 won) and spicy doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice soup). Maenggu Pocha Gwang-an Main Branch suits a night out when you want good drinking food and games in one place.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café: Egg in Hell and bacon toast stack, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a vintage-style brunch café in a Millak-dong alley in Suyeong, Busan, near Gwangalli Beach. The order was smoked salmon toast, Egg in Hell and bacon scramble toast, and the bacon scramble toast tasted best stacked on the Egg in Hell sauce as a custom combo. For brunch in Gwangalli with both atmosphere and flavor, Famous Benny is well worth a visit.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Octopus restaurant in Isu, Seoul with egg yolk mayo dip: Isu Jjukkumi

Isu Jjukkumi Main Branch is a hot-plate baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant near the food alley by Isu Station (Chongshin University Entrance Station) in Dongjak, Seoul. At Isu Jjukkumi, the baby octopus and pork belly is dipped in a special mayo sauce made by mashing boiled egg yolk into mayonnaise, with a generous side of udon and cheese fried rice to finish. With a self-serve side dish bar and a lunch discount, Isu Jjukkumi Main Branch is a solid pick for a lunch meetup near Isu Station.

Written Sep 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang gopchang restaurant for a meal without drinks: Bareun Hwangso

Bareun Hwangso Gopchang is a 7-table beef gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in the Sadang Station food alley in Dongjak, Seoul. An order of assorted gopchang for two and buldak tongtong noodles (thick, fiery chicken-flavored noodles) brought beef heart, hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang and daechang (large intestine). The leftover noodles were then stir-fried on the gopchang-fat-coated griddle with chives and onion. Wrapping daechang with the buldak tongtong noodles is the combination that defines Bareun Hwangso Gopchang.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
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