Napkin Meal Noter · 51 stories

Meals by the Napkin

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

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
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong bossam, soju sides of stir-fried anchovies: Pyeongidambaek

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch is a bossam and kalguksu Korean restaurant at 84 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 427m from Mangwon Station Exit 1 near Hapjeong. The writer ordered a medium bossam suyuk (boiled pork) and added Namhae anchovy kalguksu for ₩5,000, and ordering Jinro soju brought free sides of stir-fried anchovies, stir-fried dried shrimp, ilmi muchim (seasoned dried squid) and pickled garlic. With tender pork and homemade side dishes, Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch is a great Hapjeong bossam spot for soju, and the writer is very likely to return.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Japanese spot: highball with aged salmon bowl and nabe, Padong

Padong is a Japanese home-style restaurant on basement level 1 in a Mangwon Market alley, 248m from Mangwon Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. At Padong, Dudu ordered the salmon bowl, kimchi cheese nabe (kimchi hot pot with cheese), karaage and a highball. The thick aged salmon piled so high the rice disappears and the cheese-loaded kimchi cheese nabe pair well with a highball, making Padong a place Dudu would gladly revisit.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Chinese restaurant for mala mapo tofu rice: Panda Dim Sum

Panda Dim Sum (판다딤섬) is a Peking duck and dim sum Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, 523m from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. The writer ordered half a Peking duck, truffle shumai and mala mapo tofu rice, and was happy with all three: crispy yet juicy duck, shumai bursting with truffle aroma and a tingly, spicy mapo tofu rice bowl. Panda Dim Sum is a clean, comfortable spot for a Chinese meal on a date or with friends, and the writer is very likely to return.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong burger date with corn cheese and BBQ sets: New York Apartment

New York Apartment is an American-style handmade burger restaurant near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a date, the writer ordered the Corn Cheese Lake Burger set and the BBQ in New York Burger set and was happy with the onion rings and thick-cut fries too. With New York-style interiors and free parking, New York Apartment is a Hapjeong date spot the writer would gladly revisit.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ: pork belly and zucchini stew, Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a Busan-born Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in five-layer pork belly and pork skin, spread over two floors near Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. At Chopilsal Pork Grill, the writer grilled pork belly and Pilsal pork skin, then paid ₩1,000 extra with a zucchini stew order for a bowl of rice mixed with spicy radish salad. Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch serves a complete meal from grill to rice, and the writer is keen to go back.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Sindang street-side bar: highballs and 3 griddle dishes at Jjeojeoseu

Jjeojeoseu Sindang Jungang Market Main Branch is a Mexican fusion bar near Jungang Market in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. With street-side seating, the writer had a beef rib platter, a rolled cheese potato pancake and griddle-grilled chicken thigh with draft beer and highballs, and liked all three dishes. Close to Sindang Station and full of outdoor-drinking charm, Jjeojeoseu is a bar the writer would gladly revisit.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Dim-lit Yeonnam-dong café with sweet potato terrine cake: Jitheunsan

Jitheunsan (짙은산) is a dessert café on Seongmisan-ro 29an-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, known for its Americano and sweet potato terrine cake. The writer went to Jitheunsan on a slow day off to rest quietly and found the dim, soft lighting and the friendly owner relaxing the whole time. Verdict: with its dense sweet potato terrine cake, Jitheunsan is a hideout café in Yeonnam-dong that suits solo downtime or quiet conversation.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae uni kaisendon eaten sushi-style with wasabi: Makise Hapjeong

Makise Hapjeong is a kaisendon (raw seafood rice bowl) restaurant on Poeun-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongdae and Mangwon. On a weekday off, the writer ate the Makise uni kaisendon, topped with flounder, salmon, yellowtail, tuna, Spanish mackerel, squid, soy-marinated shrimp, egg and uni. The writer shares two tips: put the wasabi on the rice and eat each bite like sushi, and save the strongly seasoned soy-cured and smoked sashimi for the middle of the meal or later. The fatty yellowtail and rich, creamy uni made Makise Hapjeong a place the writer is very likely to revisit.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulCafés

Yeonhui-dong financier shop for housewarming gift boxes: Yeonhui Oven

Yeonhui Oven (연희동오븐) is a bake shop specializing in financiers, madeleines and tigres, located on the basement level of a building in a Yeonhui-dong alley in Seodaemun, Seoul. Five treats went into a Yeonhui Oven gift box: double chocolate, wine fig and boneui-bam (candied chestnut) financiers, an Uji matcha crumble madeleine and an original tigre, and the wine fig financier was the best of the five. Yeonhui Oven is worth a return visit for anyone looking for a baked-treat set as a housewarming gift or thank-you present.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café, butter einspänner & butter bar: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a European-style butter dessert café on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered a butter einspänner (a cream-topped signature coffee), a chewy, dense butter bar and a butter sand filled with gourmet butter and caramel. Verdict: Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a café worth revisiting for anyone who wants European charm and butter desserts together.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Salty financier gift box and mango wakppu at a Byeollae bakery: Byway

Byway Bakers Byeollae Branch (바이웨이 베이커스 별내점) is a takeout-only bakery in Byeollae, Namyangju, near Exit 4 of Byeolgaram Station. For a thank-you gift, the writer picked up a 5-piece salty financier set and a wakppu salt bread filled with fresh mango and yogurt cream, and liked both the gift box and the financiers, crisp outside and moist inside. Verdict: Byway Bakers Byeollae Branch is a gift bakery the writer would gladly return to.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored