Plate Collector · 79 stories

Plates and Glasses

I write about meals and drinks at restaurants and bars I visit in Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Sinyongsan gomtang restaurant: cold-day set with my husband, Baekok

Baekok Yongsan is a two-level Korean gomtang (slow-simmered meat soup) restaurant between Sinyongsan Station and Yongsan Station, near Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. On a cold day the blogger and her husband ordered the Baekok pork gomtang set, which comes with a drink and 2 cabbage dumplings, plus rice warmed in the broth and generous pork. The clear, deep broth was good enough that they refilled the kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and onion-mushroom pickles, making Baekok Yongsan a satisfying, filling meal.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hangangjin burger shop: pastrami, beer, sized-up fries at Daily Fix

Daily Fix Hannam is an American-style handmade burger and sandwich shop in the Nine One Hannam food court on B2, near Hangangjin Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer and her husband shared a pastrami sandwich made with brisket cured for 72 hours and a double cheeseburger with a 300g hanwoo (Korean beef) patty, plus sized-up 18mm fries, beer and Zero Coke. The burgers were about twice the size of a fist and generously topped. Daily Fix Hannam is a satisfying choice when you crave a rich, meaty American-style burger.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Jamsil sashimi pub for couples: sweet shrimp seaweed wraps, Daegang

Daegang (대강) is an aged sashimi Korean pub and patio bar on Songni-dan-gil in Jamsil, Songpa, Seoul. The writer and her husband ordered Daegang's assorted aged sashimi for 1-2 people, sizzling-plate corn cheese and grilled chicken with a yagwanmun highball; the aged sashimi was chewy with no mushiness, though the corn cheese portion was a little small. Daegang is a good pick for seasonal sashimi with an outdoor, open-air pub atmosphere.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong barber shop for a blond foreigner's short cut: Coup Barber

Coup Barber & Coffee is a men's barber shop near Apgujeong Station in Seoul, with a coffee space in front and a one-chair barber shop in back. The writer brought her blond foreign husband for a short, polished cut, and the barber checked the style in English along the way while covering his receding M-shaped hairline. Because the cut includes a shampoo, hair massage, eyebrow trim and styling, the writer's verdict is that Coup Barber & Coffee felt like a full day of grooming.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Gangnam bar for foreign guests: board games and hut-gae tea at B LAB

B LAB Gangnam Station Main Branch is an unlimited-cocktail board game bar in Gangnam, Seoul, between Gangnam Station Exit 11 and Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6. The writer took a foreign nephew visiting Korea for a wedding to B LAB for ₩18,000 unlimited cocktails, board games and ₩5,000 butter popcorn, and the nephew said B LAB was the most fun place he had been to in Korea. B LAB is one of the more unusual bars in Gangnam, worth recommending for overseas guests and get-togethers with friends.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamsil salon digital perm for iron-damaged long hair: Only For You

Only For You Jamsilsaenae Branch is a hair salon near Exit 4 of Jamsilsaenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. After a consultation with Designer Q, the writer had the frizzy, damaged ends of her flat-iron-worn long straight hair trimmed, then got a digital setting perm for soft, natural-falling goddess curls. With a thorough consultation, constant check-ins during the perm and massage shampoo seats, Only For You Jamsilsaenae is worth recommending to anyone considering a long-hair perm.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Gangnam Station for a family of 6: 600g set at Giun

Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant grilling over bijangtan (binchotan) charcoal, about a 10-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 4 in Seoul. A family of 6 ordered the Giun Set (600g galbi samgyeop, rib-on pork belly, plus assorted vegetables), and staff grilled the meat, vegetables and even white kimchi so the family could focus on talking. Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is a recommended spot for family gatherings or wedding invitation meetups near Gangnam Station where nobody has to worry about grilling.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak pork bone stew for a team dinner: extra-large pot at Jangheon

Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak (장헌감자탕 종각본점) is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant on basement level 1 of 23 Jongno 12-gil in Jongno, Seoul, about a 4–5 minute walk from Jonggak Station. The writer's group shared an extra-large gamjatang in the spacious dining room and was struck by the savory, spicy broth and the big chunks of seokbakji (radish kimchi). For a Jonggak lunch, a work dinner or a group gathering in Jongno, Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak is worth shortlisting.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hapjeong café: English breakfast for two, pumpkin soup, Seowon Angil

Seowon Angil Hapjeong (서원안길 합정) is a large two-floor brunch café in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul, about a 4–5 minute walk from Hapjeong Station. Two people shared the Angil Breakfast plate and a small soup of the day (pumpkin soup) at Seowon Angil Hapjeong, along with a warm coffee brewed from tart, acidic beans. With its spacious rooms, colorful interior, choice of coffee beans and generous brunch plate, Seowon Angil Hapjeong is a good pick for a Hapjeong café date.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Halal lunch at Hongik Univ. Station: chicken vs combo, Halal Steaks

Halal Steaks is a halal street food restaurant on the 2nd floor at 26 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station. Ordering at the kiosk, the writer compared the Halal Steaks chicken platter with the combo platter (gyro and chicken); both come with basmati rice, vegetables and two pieces of bread, plus white sauce and hot sauce on the side so you can adjust the flavor yourself. With a roomy dining room and window bar seats, Halal Steaks is an easy, low-pressure spot for a solo lunch in Hongdae.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangsu izakaya with Ardbeg vs Ballantine's highballs: Midosawa

Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch is a Japanese and fusion Korean izakaya near Exit 3 of Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer, with a husband who can't eat raw food, compared an Ardbeg highball and a Ballantine's highball, then shared a one-person daily sashimi set and salt-grilled aged flower short rib. Midosawa Hongdae Sangsu Branch is a good Sangsu bar for highballs with both sashimi and grilled meat.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Korean bar in Sangsu with kimchi jjim and bokbunja highball: Hwanyeong

Hwanyeong (환영) is a Korean bar on Wausan-ro 15-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Sangsu Station and Hongdae. The writer and their husband ordered Hwanyeong's pork belly aged kimchi jjim (braised kimchi stew), priced in the ₩20,000 range, and a bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) highball; the well-aged kimchi and generous pork belly made it excellent value. With soft lighting and hearty Korean bar food, Hwanyeong is a good pick for a date or after-work drinks.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored