Coffee Pauser · 58 stories

Pause for Coffee

I share stories from visits to cafés in Gangwon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Shopping · Stays · Home & living · Bars

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu army stew for four, my husband's office-area pick: Songtan

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch is a retro-style army stew (budae jjigae) restaurant on the 2nd floor of the building right by Seongsu Station Exit 1 in Seongdong, Seoul. On the recommendation of the blogger's husband, who works in Seongsu, four friends ordered four servings at ₩13,000 per person with rice included; the ham and scallions were generous with no extra toppings, and the spicy Jin Ramyun noodle add-on and free cola slushie dessert rounded out the meal. Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae is worth a return visit for anyone in Seongsu looking for a filling army stew lunch.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae noodle shop: mill-pressed perilla oil makguksu, Seonbawi

Seonbawi Memil Jangteo Yangjae Branch is a 100% buckwheat makguksu (cold buckwheat noodle) restaurant a short walk from Exit 2 of Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul. For a late lunch the blogger ordered perilla oil makguksu (12,000 won), dongchimi makguksu (11,000 won) and myeongtae-hoe suyuk (23,000 won), and the aroma of the Korean perilla oil pressed in-house at a mill and the generous spicy pollack salad stood out most. For anyone looking for buckwheat noodles with 0% wheat flour and 0% starch, Seonbawi Memil Jangteo Yangjae Branch is a lunch spot worth returning to.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Dogok-dong walnut pie shop, back again for Premium MIX1: Hodu Kkakki

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까기형제) is a takeout-only pie shop specializing in walnut pie, near Exits 3–4 of Yangjae Station in Dogok-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. The writer returned to Hodu Kkakki Brothers to buy the Premium Nut Pie MIX1 (₩34,900) as a gift for a younger sibling, shared it with family, and found the pies generously loaded with walnuts and naturally sweet. For a less sweet gift pie made without refined sugar, Hodu Kkakki Brothers is worth recommending.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jukjeon Korean restaurant after a family photo shoot: bossam at Bodeul

Bodeul Sikdang (보들식당) is a Korean restaurant in Sinju Plaza, Jukjeon-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, specializing in perilla sujebi (hand-torn dough soup with perilla seed broth) and Korean pork belly bossam (boiled pork wraps). After a family photo shoot near Jukjeon, the writer brought a baby for a late weekend lunch, ordered perilla sujebi, black soybean kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup) and one plate of bossam, and loved all three even though Bodeul Sikdang was still full at 2 pm. With high chairs and free underground parking, Bodeul Sikdang is a family lunch spot worth recommending.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gamjatang with meaty bones and pear kkakdugi in Songpa: Taeneung

Taeneung Gamjatang Garak Market Station branch is a newly opened Korean restaurant near Exit 3 of Garak Market Station in Songpa, Seoul, specializing in Taeneung-style gamjatang (pork bone stew), braised pork bones and grilled pork bones. The writer had the medium Taeneung-style gamjatang (38,000 won) and the new yukhoe bibimbap (seasoned raw beef rice bowl, 11,000 won), and was very pleased with the meaty, tender pork bones, the rich yet clean broth and the crunchy pear kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). With parking, no break time and baby chairs, Taeneung Gamjatang Garak Market Station branch is a gamjatang spot worth revisiting for a date or a family meal.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chicken kalguksu for two near Gachon University: Cheongdam Dak

Cheongdam Dak Kalguksu (청담닭칼국수) is a chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and chicken gomtang (chicken soup with rice) restaurant in Bokjeong-dong, Seongnam, near Bokjeong Station Exit 2, between Dongseoul University and Gachon University. On a late-evening visit for two, a Gachon University graduate ordered the egg Cheongdam Dak Kalguksu (11,900 won), chicken gomtang (11,500 won) and king meat mandu (dumplings, 6,900 won), loved the rich chicken broth simmered for over 12 hours, and refilled the kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) two more times. Verdict: Cheongdam Dak Kalguksu is worth a return visit for a filling bowl of soup on a chilly day.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Mangpo Station café with big-window daylight & latte art: Hongrad

Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a retro-style café on the 4th floor of a building right outside Exit 6 of Mangpo Station in Suwon. A family of four visited Hongrad in the daytime and drank an iced Americano (5,500 won), a café latte (6,000 won), a strawberry latte (6,500 won) and a summer latte (7,000 won) in the natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows; the warm café latte's latte art and soft milk foam stood out most. The verdict: Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a café worth revisiting near Mangpo Station if you want both atmosphere and good coffee.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin sundaeguk spot for a sundae-free meal with grandma: Yetnal

Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Gorim Branch (옛날경성순대국 고림본점) is a newly opened sundaeguk (pork and blood sausage soup) restaurant in Gorim-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, and the brand's main branch. The writer shared 3 bowls of the sundae-free sundaeguk (₩11,000 each) with grandma and mom, enjoyed the rich broth with no gamey smell, the generous meat, the self-serve bar and the homemade sikhye (sweet rice drink) for dessert, and bought 2 uncooked takeout portions (₩18,000) for a younger brother. Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Gorim Branch is a strong pick for family meals with picky elders and babies.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seorak IC Korean restaurant, Gapyeong: pollack stew for 4, Jingogip

Jingogip Donghae Dongtaetang & Kodari Jorim, Gapyeong Seorak branch, is a Korean restaurant specializing in dongtaetang (spicy pollack stew) near Seorak IC in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, and it opens daily at 9am. On the last day of a trip, four of us ordered dongtaetang (₩12,000) at opening time on a weekday morning; it came generously filled with pollack, roe and milt in a hearty broth just slightly spicier than Shin Ramyun. For an early, filling breakfast before leaving Gapyeong, Jingogip Donghae Dongtaetang is a good choice.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mangpo Station Korean BBQ with grandma & baby: pork neck, Olheun Gogi

Olheun Gogi Suwon Main Branch (옳은고기 수원본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 6 of Mangpo Station in Suwon, serving Korean Hanwoo beef and Handon pork. A family of grandma, mom, younger brother and a baby ordered the Olheun Pork Set (118,000 won) plus 2 extra servings of 150g Handon pork neck, and the Olheun Gogi staff grilled everything to the end while a high chair kept the baby comfortable. The verdict: the tender pork neck at Olheun Gogi tasted even better than the pork belly.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dakgalbi restaurant by Nami Island, no break time, baby & dog: Hanok

Hanok Dakgalbi Gapyeong Main Branch is a restaurant right in front of the Nami Island ticket office in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, serving iron-griddle Chuncheon dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) under traditional hanok roof tiles. On a family trip with a baby and a dog, the blogger's group stopped at Hanok Dakgalbi at 3 PM on a weekday, thanks to its no-break-time hours, and ordered 4 servings of griddle Chuncheon dakgalbi at ₩16,000 each, makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and flying fish roe cheese fried rice, then tried the owner's tip of tucking makguksu into a dakgalbi lettuce wrap. With baby chairs, dogs allowed and ample parking, Hanok Dakgalbi is an easy family meal stop on a Nami Island trip and worth a return visit.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDanyang, ChungbukCafés

Danyang bakery, Seongsu-level salt bread: Black Garlic Salt Bread

Black Garlic Salt Bread is a salt bread bakery inside Gugyeong Market (구경시장) in Danyang, Chungbuk. During a family trip, the writer waited about 20 minutes on a weekend, then tried the original, garlic and black garlic salt breads in Set 2 (13,000 won), and found the French butter aroma and salty finish as good as the famous salt bread spots in Seoul's Seongsu. Black Garlic Salt Bread earns its line and is worth revisiting on any trip to Danyang.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored