Open Door Rover · 20 stories

Open Doors, Seoul

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

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Euljiro bar with beef mala hot pot and egg fried rice: Baegyeonhonghwa

Baegyeonhonghwa Euljiro Main Branch (백연홍화 을지로본점) is a Chinese-style bar on the 2nd floor of an Euljiro alley on Chungmuro 5-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul. Two people ordered the skewer mala hot pot for two (₩18,800 × 2) with extra beef (₩7,300) and Baegyeon egg fried rice (₩7,300); the hot pot held 10 skewer ingredients, two of each, and the mild egg fried rice balanced the numbing mala broth. Baegyeonhonghwa is a satisfying Euljiro Chinese bar for anyone who loves malatang or hot pot.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Korean BBQ with a hanwoo platter and pine mushrooms: Yeongpo

Yeongpo Hwa-ro Ingye Branch (영포화로 인계점) is a charcoal-grilled hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant on Hyowon-ro 291beon-gil in Ingye-dong, Suwon. On a reservation for two, the writer ordered two hanwoo platters at ₩49,000 each and grilled them over charcoal, comparing eyelash cut (jebichuri), brisket, flap meat and rib meat. The meal finished with doenjang sul-bap (rice in soybean paste stew) and kodari mul naengmyeon (cold noodles topped with spicy semi-dried pollock). Yeongpo Hwa-ro Ingye Branch is a good-value Ingye-dong pick for tasting several hanwoo cuts in one meal.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon outdoor-table bar for daedoritang with glass noodles: Ryu-eun

Ryu-eun (류은) is a Korean pub on a side street in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, with outdoor street-side tables and a chandelier-lit indoor room. Two people shared hanwoo daedoritang (25,000 won) with added glass noodles, a Spam rice bowl (1,500 won), a glass of chestnut makgeolli (6,000 won) and an Earl Grey highball (13,000 won), and left full. Ryu-eun is a good Haenggung-dong bar for daedoritang and makgeolli at an outdoor table on a cool evening.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Euljiro wine bar with homemade Basque cheesecake: Chin & Nose

Chin & Nose (친앤노즈) is a wine bar in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd floor of a building 1 minute from Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 10. Two friends shared white ragu pasta (₩18,000) and homemade Basque cheesecake (₩10,000) with glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon red and Chardonnay white (₩9,000 each), and the dim lighting made it easy to focus on conversation. With food this good, Chin & Nose is worth recommending for a date or a second round with friends.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon City Hall Station katsu spot, ₩12,000 work lunch: Gyewondang

Gyewondang Ingye Branch is a handmade pork cutlet and Korean set-meal (bansang) restaurant near Suwon City Hall Station in central Ingye-dong, Suwon. For two, we ordered the Boneless Maepdori Bansang (spicy set meal) and the Handmade Pork Loin Cutlet, each 12,000 won, served with black rice, miso soup, seasonal side dishes and egg fried rice. Gyewondang Ingye Branch is a good-value lunch, and the office-worker lunchtime crowd makes sense.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Post-movie shabu-shabu dinner at Giheung Station ICT Valley: Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Giheung Station Branch is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant on basement level 2 of ICT Valley, next to Giheung-gu Office and Giheung Station in Yongin, Gyeonggi. After a movie at the Giheung Station CGV, two diners ordered two servings of spicy mushroom kalguksu at 10,000 won each and added 190g of shabu beef for 10,000 won, eating a full course of vegetables, beef, noodles, dumplings and egg fried rice. With a free yogurt to finish, Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu is a safe bet for a meal straight after the cinema.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiThings to do

Ring studio in Suwon's Haenggung-dong: friendship rings at Loventa

Loventa Suwon Haenggung is a ring-making studio on the 3rd floor at Jeongjo-ro 861beon-gil in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. Visiting with a friend to make friendship rings, you pick a design and ring size in your own private room and spend about an hour filing, sanding, and polishing the metal yourself, after which a professional craft staff member finishes the ring and hands it over about two hours later. Loventa Suwon Haenggung works well as an indoor date course in Haenggung-dong, even on a rainy day.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored
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