Napkin Meal Noter · 50 stories

Meals by the Napkin

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon sashimi pub with 8-car parking: yellowtail set, Mapo Bamdada

Mapo Bamdada is a Japanese-style sashimi restaurant and pub in Mangwon-dong, Seoul, at 146 Woldeukeop-ro, Mapo-gu. Two diners ordered the large yellowtail and flounder set, which came with free starters of mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), marinated shrimp, braised half-dried pollack and clam soup, plus thick-cut yellowtail and chewy flounder sashimi. With 8 parking spaces, Mapo Bamdada is a convenient pub for seasonal yellowtail if you're driving.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Terrace pork BBQ in Baekseok, extra kkodeul-sal: Dokbul Janggun

Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch (독불장군 일산백석점) is a Jeju pork specialty-cut BBQ restaurant near Baekseok Station in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered the Jeju Hanpan, a set of kkodeul-sal, ppol-hangjeong and nakyeop-sal. They liked the chewy kkodeul-sal so much that they ordered an extra portion, and were also impressed by the complimentary cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and the owner's homemade water kimchi. For chewy kkodeul-sal and neat side dishes, Dokbul Janggun Ilsan Baekseok Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangsu pizzeria, four-flavor Quattro Stagioni: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a wood-fired pizza restaurant on Dongmak-ro 7-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Sangsu Station and Hongdae. The writer ordered the Quattro Stagioni, which puts four best-selling pizzas on one pie, and a spicy Gamberi Piccante tomato pasta with shrimp and mushrooms; the rich, nutty cheese and chewy dough stood out most. Verdict: the cheese alone makes Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza worth a return visit whenever wood-fired pizza cravings hit.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan food court burger shop: truffle mushroom set at Daily Fix

Daily Fix Hannam is a handmade burger shop inside the Gourmet 494 food court on basement level 2 of Nine One Hannam in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer ordered the truffle mushroom burger set with thin fries and a Coke Zero, and was pleased with how the truffle aroma, sautéed mushrooms and juicy patty came together. With roomy food court seating, Daily Fix Hannam is an easy, unhurried pick for a solo meal or a Hannam date, and the writer is keen to return.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong gukbap restaurant: rainy-day bone broth & suyuk, Haejeongjip

Haejeongjip (해정집) is a bone-broth gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. At Haejeongjip, the writer ordered the rich Haejeong gukbap and the rich suji (beef tendon) gukbap, added suyuk (boiled pork) for ₩5,000, and found the bone broth, simmered for over 12 hours, deep yet clean, with generous portions of meat and tendon. Verdict: Haejeongjip is a Hapjeong spot worth returning to for a solo lunch or a hot meal on a rainy day.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi restaurant in Mangwon-dong with aged kimchi fish: Beotkkot Sushi

Beotkkot Sushi Mangwon (벚꽃스시 망원점) is a small neighborhood sushi restaurant on Woldeukeop-ro 15-gil in Mangwon-dong, Mapo, Seoul, run single-handedly by its owner. For a solo lunch, the writer ordered the 12-piece special sushi set: fresh raw fish, raw fish with aged kimchi (mukeunji), aged salmon, tuna, cuttlefish, shrimp, soy-marinated shrimp (saewoojang) and eel, served with miso soup. Every piece was clean and well balanced rather than flashy, making Beotkkot Sushi Mangwon an easy choice for a relaxed plate of sushi on your own.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae brunch date café: classic soufflé and Isigny butter, Petrico

Petrico is a soufflé pancake dessert café on Jandari-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongdae and Hapjeong Station. At Petrico, the writer had the signature classic soufflé pancake, baked to order and served with syrup, blueberry jam and Isigny salted butter, alongside a hot americano, and was struck by its sweet-salty balance and melt-in-the-mouth texture. With generously spaced tables, Petrico suits a relaxed weekend brunch or a date.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Italian lunch set in Mangwon: fresh truffle gnocchi & uni pasta, Noju

Noju (노주) is an Italian fine dining restaurant in Mangwon-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer had Noju's Signature Lunch Set, a course of yuja ricotta focaccia, beet, zucchini jambon, sesame oil powder arancini, uni pasta, fresh truffle gnocchi, gabeurisal (pork jowl) and walnut ice cream. Getting fresh truffle and sea urchin dishes in a course at this price makes Noju a place the writer would gladly revisit.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae ochazuke restaurant: kombu-cured salmon and pork, Ochaya

Ochaya is an ochazuke (rice in broth) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Wausan-ro 13-gil, between Hongdae and Sangsu in Seoul. At Ochaya the writer ordered the Butanokakuni ochazuke topped with a whole piece of braised pork and the sake chazuke with kombu-cured salmon, eating half of each wrapped in seaweed and the other half with broth poured over. Ochaya is a Hongdae Japanese restaurant worth revisiting for a light, neatly prepared meal or a date.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Market burger restaurant with an open kitchen: Lazy Off

Lazy Off is an American-style handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 near Mangwon Market in Mangwon-dong, Seoul. The writer ordered a Hawaiian burger, original fries and a Coke at the kiosk. The writer enjoyed the juicy handmade patty, the sweet-and-salty mix of grilled pineapple and bacon, and the freshly fried, lightly salted fries. Verdict: Lazy Off is a regular go-to whenever a handmade burger craving hits.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Seogyo-dong BBQ: baby octopus jjusam and pa-kimchi jjagyechi, Mapo Gui

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ and grill restaurant on Woldeukeopbuk-ro in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Mapo Gui Madang, 2 servings of spicy baby octopus (bul-jjukkumi) and 1 serving of frozen pork belly were grilled together with bean sprouts as a jjusam combo, alongside steamed egg and jjagyechi (black bean instant noodles with egg and cheese) topped with well-fermented scallion kimchi. Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a Seogyo-dong drinking spot worth revisiting for the scallion kimchi and jjagyechi pairing alone.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Course restaurant in Mangwon for wedding invitation meetups: Noju

Noju is a good-value fine dining course restaurant on the second floor of a building near Exit 2 of Mangwon Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer had the 55,000 won lunch course, from yuja ricotta focaccia and thick-noodle anchovy pasta to the signature truffle gnocchi, Iberico and lemon sorbet, and found Noju's clean, sunlit room with floor-to-ceiling windows well suited to anniversaries and wedding invitation meetups. Verdict: Noju's lunch course is an affordable Mangwon course meal worth returning to for special occasions.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored