Drink Companion · 35 stories

Over a Drink

I write about bars I visit in Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Bars · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi, veggie-loaded sashimi rice bowl: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant in the basement of the KT Building at Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekend visit booked in advance, the writer had the veggie-loaded hoedeopbap (sashimi rice bowl, 18,000 won) and the Elephant B set (28,000 won), which brings 12 pieces of assorted sushi with noodles. The hoedeopbap, with sashimi and vegetables that just keep coming, is worth going back for on its own. For a date or a solo meal in Gwanghwamun, the hoedeopbap and B set combination at Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a filling choice.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulCafés

Imun-dong bakery café: preservative-free loaf at Easy White Bread

Easy White Bread is a preservative-free fresh-loaf bakery café on the ground floor of the Imun I'Park Xi shopping arcade in Imun-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul. The writer had the signature Golden Beurre loaf sliced to the thickness they wanted and packed to go, along with a brewed coffee made to order with an acidic, fruity bean, and found the bread nutty and moist even without jam. For breakfast bread and coffee near Kyung Hee University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Easy White Bread is a good choice.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Pasta dinner near Anguk Station with Mom: spicy Alfredo, Low Five

Low Five Anguk is a pizza and pasta restaurant near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul, on the road toward the Constitutional Court from Exit 2. Three adults, including the writer's mom, came for dinner and ordered Alfredo cream pasta (₩18,000), corn pizza (₩25,000) and vongole pasta (₩18,000), adding one serving of cilantro per person. After loving the pizza last time, the writer was just as happy with the pasta and recommends Low Five Anguk for dates and get-togethers near Anguk Station.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae gnocchi spot: sausage-mushroom Gnocchi Lover & rolls, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Hongdae Branch is a pasta, risotto and gnocchi restaurant near Exit 6 of Hongik Univ. Station and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the Gnocchi Lover at spice level 0.5 with added sausage and mushrooms, plus a green salad, and especially liked the fluffy, potato-rich gnocchi and the soft morning rolls dipped in the cream sauce. With 20% off for dine-in and takeout and a 14,625 won one-person set, Pasta Go Hongdae Branch is a good-value Hongdae pasta spot for both dates and solo meals.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Saejeol Station ramen shop: free cilantro, egg-topped rice, Oreno

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점) is a chicken-broth ramen shop on Bulgwangcheon-gil in Eunpyeong, Seoul, near Saejeol Station. Its menu has just two bowls, tori paitan (creamy chicken broth ramen) and karai paitan (the spicy version), at ₩12,000 each. The writer and her husband ordered both, piled on the free cilantro, added a soft-boiled egg, and finished with free rice and a broth refill. For cilantro lovers, Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is a must-stop on a Bulgwangcheon stroll.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam-dong wood-fired pizza: salsiccia friarielli at Pizzeria Snug

Pizzeria Snug is a wood-fired pizza restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, close to Exit 9 of Digital Media City Station. The writer and her husband arrived at 5 pm on a weekend, right as the break time ended. They ordered the Burrata & Cherry Tomato (16,000 won) and a Salsiccia Friarielli pizza (28,000 won), with three sauces for the pizza crusts and a complimentary glass of red wine. The taste is what has kept Pizzeria Snug a long-loved Sangam-dong favorite.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo Station Korean BBQ, waitlist #7, sea blite wraps: Moyeon Mapo

Moyeon Mapo (모연 마포본점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant on Tojeong-ro near Mapo Station in Seoul, where every meal is served in a private room. After taking waitlist number 7 at weekday lunch opening, the writer had the charcoal-grilled marinated hanwoo pot rice set for two and a bowl of Pyeongyang mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth, 16,000 won), with abalone-and-butter pot rice and sea blite–topped beef wraps. Moyeon Mapo is a good place in Mapo to treat someone to a neat, well-prepared meal.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangpyeong, GyeonggiCafés

Large café in Yangpyeong: kids' care zone and sandwich set, Dotorigol

Dotorigol Yangpyeong Garden Cafe (도토리골 양평정원카페) is a large two-floor garden café on Gopdani-gil in Danwol-myeon, Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi. The writer explored the outdoor grounds, the floor-to-ceiling window views and the 2nd-floor kids' care zone, then tried the old-style patbingsu (15,900 won) and the Americano + Dotorigol sandwich set (13,900 won). For a Yangpyeong outing with children, Dotorigol Yangpyeong Garden Cafe covers both dessert and a meal in one stop.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae date restaurant with ₩10,000 corkage & terrace: Hey Joji

Hey Joji is a Western-style date restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, a walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. On this visit the blogger ordered the waffle chicken (₩15,000) and sweet potato fries (₩8,000) with a bottle of Stella lager (₩7,000), and confirmed that Hey Joji charges ₩10,000 corkage per bottle of wine. Hey Joji is a good Yeonnam-dong pick for a date-night meal out on the terrace in the evening air.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seoulsup soft serve café for two: deep Jeju matcha latte, Mellows

Mellows is a soft serve ice cream café in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, on the alley from Ttukseom Station toward Seoulsup, and it also serves an evening menu of cocktails and whisky. Two people tried three soft serves, peach (₩4,500), peanut butter (₩4,000) and matcha (₩4,000), plus a vanilla latte and a matcha latte (₩3,500 each), and the Jeju matcha latte was the deepest, richest matcha latte the writer had ever tasted. Mellows suits Seoulsup visitors who want good prices and good flavour in one Seongsu café stop.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

New halal spot in Sangam-dong, Seoul: lamb steak fries, Zilhal Bros

Zilhal Bros Sangam is a New York street food-style halal restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, serving over rice, burritos, kebabs and sides. The writer ordered onion rings (5,500 won), steak and fries (14,700 won) and a chicken burrito (10,800 won), and rated the lamb steak fries, loaded with white and red sauce, as a main rather than a side. For a filling lunch in Sangam-dong, the steak and fries at Zilhal Bros Sangam is the dish to order.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

City Hall Station Chinese restaurant for extra coriander: Huhugwan

Huhugwan is a Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor at the start of Jeongdong-gil, by Exit 10 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekday visit after work, Huhugwan's dinner-only dongpo pork (braised pork belly) and beef noodle soup were sold out. Instead there was mapo tofu rice (12,000 won), an eggplant rice bowl (13,000 won) and water spinach stir-fry (9,000 won) with coriander added three times, plus a free spring roll from a Naver notification coupon. Generous portions and well-balanced seasoning make Huhugwan a crowd-pleasing Chinese restaurant near City Hall Station.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored