Errand Pause · 26 stories

Cafés Between Errands

I write about café visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Shopping

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon mini-terrace café: pumpkin injeolmi pie, Upper and Under

Upper and Under is a large dessert café near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with seating from the basement level up to the 2nd floor plus outdoor terraces. On a weekday visit with her older sister, the writer sat on the 2nd-floor mini outdoor terrace and ordered a café latte, a pistachio cream latte, a pumpkin injeolmi pie (pie with roasted soybean-powder rice cake) and a vanilla canelé, and the rich, creamy signature pistachio cream latte stood out most. Upper and Under is a good Gangnam café for taking a break over baked desserts and coffee on a terrace with tree views.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sashimi bar in Sangbong: jumbo flounder & seafood ramyeon, Hoepanjang

Hoepanjang Sangbong (회판장 상봉점) is an aged sashimi restaurant near Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. After work, the writer and a friend shared a jumbo aged flounder platter that came with complimentary grilled saury, corn cheese, silkworm pupae and tempura, then added seafood ramyeon and Hallasan soju. Hoepanjang Sangbong's chewy, deeply savory aged flounder and mini-course spread made for a satisfying night out.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Chungmuro bossam spot: Tabling wait & radish wraps, Nagwon-ui Soba

Nagwon-ui Soba Bossam Kalguksu Chungmuro Station Main Branch is a restaurant specializing in house-made buckwheat soba and bossam (boiled pork wraps), on the 2nd floor at 2 Seoae-ro in Chungmuro, Seoul. After a weekend wait through Tabling, two diners shared lemon soba and a small bossam: the lemon soba had a clean broth with a strong lemon aroma and chewy noodles, and the moist bossam was wrapped in seasoned dried radish and cabbage. For a cool lemon soba and bossam pairing on a hot day, Nagwon-ui Soba is a Chungmuro restaurant worth recommending.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiCafés

Café in Uijeongbu with 100+ parking, sunset latte & Basque: Forerest

Forerest is a large, forest-style café on Nogyang-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, with parking for 100+ cars and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The writer visited Forerest in the late afternoon for an iced americano, an iced café latte and a Basque cheesecake said to be aged in the fridge for 16 hours, and enjoyed the sunset atmosphere. Forerest is a roomy Uijeongbu café worth the drive for relaxing with a forest view.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Myeonmok Market chicken shop: sauce tossed to order, Pyeongjeong

Pyeongjeong Dakgangjeong (평정닭강정) is a market chicken shop tucked inside Myeonmok Market near Sagajeong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. The writer ordered a large dakgangjeong (crispy fried chicken in sweet glaze) with medium-spicy sauce, and the owner tossed freshly fried chicken in his own simmered homemade sauce on the spot. At home the takeout box turned out generous, crunchy and free of any off smell. Thanks to the sweet, gently spicy sauce, Pyeongjeong Dakgangjeong became the writer's favorite dakgangjeong shop.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Hangover soup spot, Euljiro 3-ga: sisters' seonji & shank, Paldal

Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in haejangguk (hangover soup) and gukbap (rice soup) on Chungmuro in Jung-gu, Seoul. Two sisters shared the Salsal Eolkeun Sunsal Gukbap (spicy boneless beef rice soup), Naengkeum Arong Suyuk (boiled beef shank) and seonji haejangguk (ox blood hangover soup) with draft beer. The broth was rich and spicy without being salty, and the suyuk was chewy and generously portioned. For spicy gukbap with tangy shank suyuk, Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a good choice.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulShopping

Daehak-ro custom phone case shop: dog photo couple MagSafe at Casedby

Casedby Hyehwa is a custom phone case shop at 37 Daemyeong-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Hyehwa Station in the Daehak-ro theater district. After seeing a play in Daehak-ro, the writer and their partner made MagSafe couple cases from photos of their dog Mongi at Casedby Hyehwa; the cases were ready in under 3 minutes, with sharp prints and a clean finish. Casedby Hyehwa is a quick, easy way to add a keepsake to a Daehak-ro theater date.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Junggok-dong Chinese restaurant with Mom: glossy tray jajang, Miseong

Jungsikdang Miseong (중식당미성) is a Chinese restaurant on Gingorang-ro in Junggok-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, whose cooking it credits to a former head Chinese chef of the Blue House. On a weekday visit with her mother, the writer ordered aged pork loin tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), crispy outside and moist inside, plus samseon gan jajang, which she describes as jjaengban jajang (platter-style black bean noodles) with a glossy, generous sauce. Her verdict: Jungsikdang Miseong is an easy, comfortable choice for a family meal with Mom in Junggok-dong.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung cookie café: coffee sand with an Americano—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a sand cookie (cream sandwich cookie) dessert café on Seonggokgoyang-gil in Gangneung, Gangwon, known for cookies stamped with "Gangneung Sand" in English. After a coastal drive, the writer checked the address to avoid a similarly named business, took home the signature coffee sand, ate it with an Americano and then shared the rest with friends. Thanks to its mild coffee aroma and non-greasy cream, Gangneung Sand's coffee sand was a Gangneung souvenir that had friends asking where it came from.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung makguksu restaurant on a weekend drive: DIY bowls, Samgyori

Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch (삼교리동치미막국수 남항진점) is a sea-view dongchimi makguksu (buckwheat noodles in radish water kimchi broth) restaurant in Namhangjin, Gangneung, near Anmok Café Street. On a weekend drive to Gangneung, the writer ordered makguksu, pollock sashimi makguksu and memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe rolls) for lunch, mixing the house-made dongchimi broth and spicy sauce to taste. Building your own makguksu bowl while looking out at the sea made Samgyori a very satisfying Gangneung lunch.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung roastery café since 2012 near Gangmun Beach: Coffee Dripper

Coffee Dripper is a roastery café on Nanseolheon-ro in Gangneung, Gangwon. Coffee Dripper has served hand drip coffee from beans it roasts itself since 2012 in Gangneung's Gyo-dong, and reopened in a new space in May 2026. The writer tried an Americano, a café latte, a financier and coffee soft serve at Coffee Dripper, about a 10-minute walk from Gangmun Beach, and named the rich coffee soft serve the must-order. Verdict: with both the coffee and the desserts this good, Coffee Dripper belongs on any list of Gangneung cafés.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Spicy vegetable gopchang and draft beer in Yongin: Taeyang Gopchang

Taeyang Gopchang Yongin Yeokbuk branch is a new restaurant specialising in Korean pork gopchang (pork small intestines) and specialty cuts, on the Yeokbuk-dong food street in Cheoin-gu, Yongin. The writer, who can't handle spice, ordered the spicy vegetable gopchang and draft beer for 2, and the fiery sauce and generous portion meant there was no room left for the fried rice. Taeyang Gopchang suits anyone wanting spicy gopchang for a first round or a late second round.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored