Noon Tray · 4 stories

Rice Tray at Noon

I write about restaurant meals in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do

Daehak-ro board game café before a play: pool and Rummikub at Hero

Hero Board Game Cafe Daehangno Branch is a board game café on the 2nd floor of 12 Daehak-ro 10-gil in Jongno, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Hyehwa Station Exit 2. With time to spare before a play, the writer ordered chamomile (₩4,000) and peach oolong tea (₩4,500) and faced off with a partner at pool and Rummikub, paying ₩3,000 for the first hour. With board games, Nintendo Switch, arcade machines and pool, Hero Board Game Cafe is a good indoor date spot in Daehak-ro on a cold day or before a show.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan tteokbokki shop, gentle Pepero Day lunch: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a bunsik (Korean snack food) restaurant in Yongsan, Seoul, an 11-minute walk from Yongsan Station Exit 2, said to have started as a street stall around 2004. On a Pepero Day lunch with a partner, the writer waited about 15 minutes and ordered the Hyeonseon Combo Set (26,000 won) in mild, a heaping spread of tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), sundae (Korean blood sausage), 5 kinds of fried snacks, mini gimbap and fish cake, and despite a weak stomach ate comfortably by sticking mostly to the gimbap and fish cake. With generous portions and fast service, Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a retro snack bar worth a gentle recommendation for a tteokbokki lunch in Yongsan.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gentle clear-broth mandu hot pot for gastritis in Jongno: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu is a handmade dumpling and mandu hot pot restaurant a 5-minute walk from Exit 15 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. Because spicy soup is hard on gastritis, the writer ordered the half-and-half broth hot pot (14,000 won) and ate only from the clear side, while a partner added a portion of kalguksu noodles (3,000 won) to the spicy broth. With plenty of vegetables in the pot, Jongga Mandu is an easy, warming choice on a chilly day even for a sensitive stomach.

Written Sep 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Private-room Korean omakase in Dongtan for a birthday: Gise Dongtan

Gise Dongtan is a Korean omakase fine-dining restaurant in the Alicevill retail building by Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, where every seat is in a private room. For a partner's birthday the writer booked the lunch tasting course (99,000 won each), which ran from amuse-bouche to straw-fire grilled eel and a hot pot rice table setting and a lettered cheesecake, and noting the birthday in the reservation request brought a bowl of seaweed soup as well. With private rooms and serving paced to the table, Gise Dongtan is an easy pick for a birthday or anniversary meal.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored

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