Lunch Queue Regular · 13 stories

Around the Lunch Counter

I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon Indian curry date: A course & jalapeño refills, Meno Kamena

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is an Indian curry course restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Yeonse-ro 11-gil in Sinchon, Seodaemun, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Yonsei University. The writer, a Sinchon university student, went with her boyfriend on a weekday evening and ordered the A course for two at 25,000 won per person: chicken mushroom soup, samosa, tandoori chicken and king prawn, masala curry with butter naan, and lassi. Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is worth recommending when you want proper curry and naan somewhere quiet in Sinchon, whether for a date or a student meal meetup.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo shabu-shabu with yeolmu refills in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is an upscale shabu-shabu restaurant on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1 by Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. A longtime regular visited with her boyfriend in early winter and ordered the hanwoo (Korean beef) shabu-shabu set in clear mushroom broth, with refills of yeolmu muchim (seasoned young radish greens), then finished with egg porridge and omija tea. Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a comfortable pick for a cold-day date or a meal with parents or kids.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Busan-born Korean BBQ in Hongdae: dwitgogi and pork belly, Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a pork grill restaurant on Donggyo-ro near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, a brand that started in Busan before coming to Seoul. On her younger brother's recommendation (he had eaten at the Busan location), the writer ordered 3 servings of salted five-layer pork belly, a ₩4,500 double cheese steamed egg and 1 serving of real dwitgogi (pork cuts from around the back of the head). Verdict: Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch serves crispy-skinned pork belly and richly flavored dwitgogi in a quiet spot just off the busy Hongdae streets.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pizza pub before a midterm: no-beer Raymond Set at Raymond's

Raymond's Hongdae is an American-pub-style pizza restaurant on Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil, near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The night before a midterm, after studying at a café, the writer and a hungry friend skipped beer and ordered the signature Raymond Set; it is listed as 2 servings but is at least 3, so the leftover pizza went home in a single-slice pizza box. Raymond's Hongdae is a good pick when you want pizza and chicken together in one big, filling meal.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Hapjeong for 3: 600g pork set twice, Geumseong Hoegwan

Geumseong Hoegwan Hapjeong Main Branch (금성회관 합정본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, between Hapjeong Station and Sangsu Station. Staff grill the meat for you, and a free soft tofu stew (sundubu-jjigae) comes with any meat order. The writer and two companions ordered the 600g Hangeun Set of bone-side pork belly and 1% pork neck twice, then added seolhwa galbi and gave up on a second stop. The writer usually doesn't enjoy pork neck but called the 1% pork neck at Geumseong Hoegwan Hapjeong Main Branch the most tender they have ever eaten.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo seafood restaurant: salt-grilled prawn holiday lunch, Mapo Bada

Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada (제철담은 마포바다) is a seasonal seafood and sashimi restaurant on Baekbeom-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Daeheung Station. For a public-holiday lunch, two people ordered the Mapo Bada Value Set for 2 (79,000 won), a course of assorted sashimi, abalone innards porridge, grilled gizzard shad, salt-grilled live prawns and fried prawn heads. Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada is a good pick for family gatherings and company dinners when you want a filling meal of autumn prawns with sashimi.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Family Korean BBQ after Pilates near Mapo Station: Usijang Hoegwan

Usijang Hoegwan is a Korean BBQ and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on Samgae-ro in Mapo-gu, Seoul, between Mapo and Gongdeok stations. After a Pilates class, three family members shared the assorted 3-person set: jingalbisal (rib finger meat), seasoned LA galbi (short ribs), fresh saenggalbisal, 1++ beef sashimi and clam beef gukbap. They drank soju mixed with Bongbong grape drink, and the portions were so generous they skipped a second round. With quality meat, generous portions and Korean side dishes, Usijang Hoegwan suits both team dinners and meals with older relatives.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae sports bar with 4 screens, salt chicken and beer: Kkoko Land

Kkoko Land (꼬꼬랜드) is a two-floor outdoor chicken-and-beer bar on Wausan-ro 19-gil near Sangsu Station and Hongdae in Mapo, Seoul. A university student watched the Korea–Uruguay friendly there with more than 50 other guests from a bar table facing four large screens. The student ordered the charcoal-grilled salt chicken BBQ with a 2-beer set and the signature charcoal sauced chicken neck. The verdict: Kkoko Land is one of the best bars in Hongdae for watching a match with a group over chicken and beer.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Chuseok lunch Korean BBQ in Hongdae, Seoul: Gogikkun Gimchunbae

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, right beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park, where hanwoo (Korean beef) and hanp'on pork are grilled together. On a Chuseok holiday afternoon the writer stopped in after a walk, took a window table and ordered the hanwoo and pork set for two (250g pork neck, 200g galbisal, 150g beef of the day, 600g in total), refilling the seasoned bean sprouts twice. With half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdugi fried rice to finish, lunch at Gogikkun Gimchunbae felt like a picnic by the forest path.

Written Sep 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seogyo-dong group dinner spot for pork belly: Mapo Gui Madang

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a frozen pork belly BBQ restaurant in Seogyo-dong by Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. A group of friends ordered whole pork belly (200g, 13,900 won) and frozen pork belly (200g, 9,900 won) and finished three rounds of the frozen belly, and the best bite was wrapping it in the scallion kimchi billed as one of Korea's three best. With a wide hall and gentle prices, Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is an easy call for student gatherings or work dinners.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sunday family burger lunch near Daeheung Station: Bored & Hungry

Bored & Hungry Mapo is a burger restaurant next to Gyeongui Line Forest Path near Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. A family of four visited for Sunday lunch, waited for a table, and shared the Bacon Deluxe, O.G. Champion, and Double Classic Cheeseburger with seasoned fries, plus gloves, hot sauce, and free drink refills. Recommended for a day when you want a properly greasy American-style burger with a beer.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Mangwon Market café in Seoul with no one-drink-per-person rule: PICT

PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a specialty roastery café in the basement of a brick building near Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul. A group visit on the weekend tried the americano, café latte, mint lemon ade, and pistachio tiramisu, and since there's no one-drink-per-person rule, everyone could order dessert freely. The wide basement space lets in light through a big window wall, making it good for studying, dates, or group hangouts alike.

Written Sep 9, 2026Sponsored