Open Door Rover · 20 stories

Open Doors, Seoul

I write about things to do around Seoul. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido pasta spot after a Han River walk: red wine & risotto, MOI

MOI is a pasta, risotto and brunch restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gongjak Sangga (공작상가) near Yeouinaru Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Two people ordered chamnamul (Korean wild parsley) vongole pasta (₩23,000), chicken mushroom risotto (₩23,000), bread with seaweed butter (₩6,000) and a glass of red wine (₩13,000). The food arrived within 10 minutes, and the red wine paired especially well with the earthy mushroom risotto. MOI is a recommended date spot for wine and pasta after a walk in Yeouido Han River Park.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon lunch izakaya: Hanwoo daechang hot pot & risotto at Horangi-gul

Horangi-gul Yeongtong Station branch is a gopchang and daechang hot pot (motsunabe) izakaya on Cheongmyeongnam-ro in Yeongtong, Suwon, that opens at 11:30 for lunch and daytime drinks. The writer ordered the signature Hanwoo daechang (Korean beef large intestine) hot pot at 15,500 won per person at medium spice and finished with cheese risotto for 3,900 won; the Shin Ramyun-level heat cut through the rich daechang cleanly. For lunch or day-drinking near Yeongtong Station, Horangi-gul's Hanwoo daechang hot pot followed by cheese risotto is a solid pick.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Korean BBQ: white kimchi wraps & pine mushrooms, Olheun Gogi

Olheun Gogi Suwon Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Mangpo Station in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, serving everything from pork belly to beef and Hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare). The writer ordered the 118,000-won Olheun pork set, with a pork assortment grilled by staff, Hanwoo yukhoe, grilling cheese and doenjang stew, and especially enjoyed the white kimchi pork belly wraps and the pine mushrooms grilled in pork belly fat. Olheun Gogi Suwon Main Branch has private rooms that suit team dinners and family meals, but it is always busy, so a reservation is a must.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station dakgalbi with no smell on your clothes: Dakgalbijeon

Dakgalbijeon Gangnam Branch is a dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gangnam Diovill, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, known for Gamssachidak, cheese dakgalbi wrapped in a perilla-leaf potato pancake. The writer ordered the Gamssachidak set for two (40,000 won), added cheese rice cakes and sweet potato, and because the dish arrived fully cooked, no smell clung to their clothes. For different, good-value dakgalbi near Gangnam Station, the potato pancake combo at Dakgalbijeon Gangnam Branch is worth trying.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Hyehwa Korean pub for groups of up to 20: gopdori-tang, Hyehwahwa

Hyehwahwa is a straw-fire Korean pub on the 2nd floor on Daemyeong-gil near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul, and Hyehwahwa takes reservations for groups of up to 20, making it a good fit for group gatherings and work dinners in Daehangno. Two diners ordered the signature straw-fire spicy tteok gopdori-tang (spicy chicken stew with gopchang and rice cakes, 26,000 won), potato gratin (15,000 won), gimgaru ttukbap (pot rice with seaweed flakes, 3,000 won) and Kelly beer (6,000 won), and the smoky, spicy broth paired well with the cheese-loaded potato gratin. For drinks after a play or a group gathering in Daehangno, Hyehwahwa is worth recommending.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station scallop oil pasta & banana popover: The Mignon Seoul

The Mignon Seoul is a casual Western restaurant on Gangnam-daero 102-gil, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. Two of us ordered the seafood oil pasta (23,000 won), a popover pancake with banana and blueberries (18,000 won) and a lychee omija (five-flavor berry) ade (8,000 won), so we had both savory and sweet dishes. For a light, non-greasy oil pasta with chewy scallops, a European-style exterior and a modern dining room, The Mignon Seoul is a good fit.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kalguksu lunch in Gomae-dong, Yongin with misutgaru slush: Jangwongap

Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch is a kalguksu (Korean knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Gomae-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin, near Lotte Premium Outlets Giheung. At lunch, two diners waited about 20 minutes behind 10+ groups, then shared two servings of brisket and minari (Korean water parsley) wrap kalguksu and a whole-shrimp seafood pajeon (savory pancake), plus free perilla oil radish kimchi fried rice and a dessert of gangjeong (sweet puffed rice snack) and misutgaru (roasted grain powder) slush. Jangwongap Kalguksu earned a place in the writer's personal top 3 kalguksu restaurants.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Animal-welfare chicken hot pot lunch near Migeum Station: Sugyeokok

Sugyeokok Bundang Migeum (수계옥 미금본점) is a dak hanmari (whole chicken hot pot) restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Migeum Station in Bundang, Seongnam. Two people shared the 38,000 won set of chicken neck-meat nurungji (scorched rice) porridge, dak hanmari and kalguksu noodles; the writer praised the broth, simmered for over 8 hours with chicken feet and vegetables, for getting richer as it cooked, and the chicken for being tender with no gamey smell. With parking for 5 cars out front and group seating, Sugyeokok Bundang Migeum suits everything from office lunches to meals with parents and team dinners.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin BBQ after market shopping: soybean-powder pork skin, Sikkkeop

Sikkkeop Yongin Gimnyangjang-jeom is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant in Gimnyangjang-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, near Yongin Jungang Market, serving aged domestic Korean pork. The fresh pork platter for two (pork belly, chewy pork neck, skirt and loin cap, 500g, ₩44,000) and marinated pork skin (₩10,000) came with free cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), friendly service and parking in front of the restaurant. After shopping at Yongin Jungang Market, Sikkkeop is a good choice for trying several pork cuts in one meal.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mangpo Station Korean BBQ: spicy cold noodles with broth, Olheun Gogi

Olheun Gogi Suwon Main Branch (옳은고기 수원본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Handon (Korean-raised pork) near Exit 7 of Mangpo Station in Suwon, where staff grill the meat for you. A party of three ordered the Olheun Pork Set at 118,000 won, with Hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), pork belly, pork neck, pork loin trim and grilled cheese, then finished with bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) served with cold noodle broth. Olheun Gogi Suwon Main Branch is a good pick for work dinners and family meals when you want to try several cuts at once without agonizing over the menu.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Namyeong-dong wine bar for two: rare flat iron steak and gambas, B421

B421 is a wine, whisky and cocktail bar in the Namyeong-dong food alley in Yongsan, Seoul, 2 minutes from Exit 6 of Sookmyung Women's University Station. Two people at B421 shared mushroom cream pasta (₩17,000), rare flat iron steak (₩25,000) and gambas al ajillo (₩19,000), with an APA beer (₩11,000) and Kopke Fine Ruby port on ice (₩9,000). B421 is quiet with generous space between tables, making it a good choice for a date or a first or second round near Sookmyung Women's University Station.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanBars

Suyeong Station octopus bar: jokbal bibim noodles, Dari Yeodeolgae

Dari Yeodeolgae (다리여덟개) is an octopus bar near Suyeong Station in Busan that boils live octopus as soon as it is ordered and serves it as sukhoe (blanched sliced octopus). On a summer vacation in Busan, the writer had a medium octopus sukhoe for 44,000 won and bibim noodles for 9,000 won with Daesun soju, and was very happy with the complimentary side dishes such as clam soup and with the bibim noodles topped with jokbal (braised pig's trotters). For fresh octopus sukhoe and a drink in Busan, Dari Yeodeolgae is well worth recommending.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored