Mapo Pocket Mapper · 10 stories

Pocket Map

I write about places I visit and things to do in Daejeon and Chungcheong. · Writes about: Things to do · Bars · Restaurants

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon nacho shop: one Signature order fills two, Macho Nacho

Macho Nacho (마초나초) is a nacho shop on Huiujeong-ro in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, near the Han River. Two friends picked up one 13,900-won Signature nacho with 3,000-won extra guacamole, an 8,000-won Jim Beam highball and a 4,000-won draft beer for a spring picnic at the Mangwon Han River, and on the owner's advice, one nacho order left both of them full. With torched-cheese flavor and ice packed with the takeout, Macho Nacho makes a great snack stop for a Han River outing.

Written Apr 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Korean pub: kimchi jjim with a foreign friend, Bongmaruji

Bongmaruji Hapjeong (봉마루집 합정점) is a new Korean pub on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, specialising in galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) and kimchi jjim (braised aged kimchi). The writer visited at 5 p.m. with a kimchi-loving foreign friend and ordered the aged kimchi jjim for 2 (32,000 won) at spice level 1 with a soft steamed egg (5,000 won). The meat was not tough, and the portion was so generous they had leftovers. With soju at 5,000 won and 2 highballs for 12,000 won, Bongmaruji Hapjeong is a good-value spot for dinner and drinks near Hapjeong Station.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae gukbap spot for a late dinner with a sick sibling: Yukjeon

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch (육전국밥 서교점) is a gukbap (rice and soup) restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station. The writer went late one evening with a younger sibling who was feeling unwell and shared a beef gukbap topped with yukjeon (pan-fried beef slices) and a hambak gomtang (beef bone soup loaded with suyuk boiled beef and ox knee). Well-aged kkakdugi and the deep gomtang broth made Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch a hearty, restorative meal that also worked as a hangover cure.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong Korean pub with bamboo liquor and wide seats: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) is a Korean pub on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Hapjeong and Sangsu. The cabbage roll hot pot (22,000 won) has a clean broth that pairs well with drinks, and the bamboo liquor (8,000 won), picked from the drinks fridge, is a little sweeter than Chungha with a subtle bamboo aroma; the shrimp potato pancake (16,000 won) can be ordered with extra cheese for 2,000 won. Newly opened, spotless and with wide spacing between tables, Dambaek Jujeom is an easy Hapjeong date pub for conversation.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu poke spot: staff-pick Saea Bowl with steak, Le Vegie Wang

Le Vegie Wang Seongsu Space (르베지왕 성수공간) is a poke and salad bowl shop on Yeonmujang 1-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. On the staff's recommendation, the blogger topped a Saea Bowl with flat iron steak (5,500 won extra) and added a Singha sparkling water (2,500 won), and was impressed by a sauce unlike the usual chain poke shops, ripe avocado and fresh vegetables. Verdict: for a healthy lunch in Seongsu that still tastes great, the Saea Bowl with steak at Le Vegie Wang is the one to order.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sharosu-gil gyukatsu restaurant, last-order protein meal: Izawa

Izawa Sharosugil Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul. Looking for a protein-packed meal, the writer and a friend arrived around last order and had a gyukatsu set and a gyukatsu curry set: tender gyukatsu grilled on personal stone plates and a thick, mildly spicy curry. Izawa Sharosugil Branch served a filling dinner that left a friend, once let down by gyukatsu, wanting to come back.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ in Seoul with three side-dish refills: Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a pork belly and dwitgogi restaurant on Donggyo-ro near Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. The first order has to be 3 servings, so two servings of salted ogyeopsal (skin-on pork belly, 120g for 12,000 won) and one of jinjja dwitgogi (120g for 10,500 won) filled it out, plus a half-bundle of minari (water celery) and a 4,500-won double cheese egg custard, with the pickled radish wraps, perilla leaves and radish salad refilled three times. The side dishes alone make Chopilsal worth the trip, and the pork skin is next on the list.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Bar in Hongdae, Seoul where four friends get split up: Woo Woo

Woo Woo is a solo drinking bar (혼술바) on Wausan-ro near Sangsu Station in Hongdae, Seoul, with a two-table layout that holds up to 30 people. The writer went with four friends, but partway through the night the staff reshuffled the seats completely, so each person ended up talking to someone new, and Woo Woo also runs a free chicken-snack starter, a quest that gives you an extra cocktail if you stay over 3 hours, and balance-game cards. For anyone who finds going alone intimidating, Woo Woo is the rare bar where coming with friends still doesn't leave you stuck in your own group.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonThings to do

Escape room in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon: level 4 horror theme at Cube

Cube Escape Daejeon Dunsan is an escape room café on the 5th floor of a building in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, with 6 themes rated difficulty 3 to 5. On a family trip the writer took on the level 4 theme 'Obsession', a mix of deduction and horror with a 1-hour time limit, and narrowly failed to escape. Three kinds of locks, up to 3 hints, a locker for each theme and a 1,000 won per-person discount for cash make Cube Escape Daejeon Dunsan worth a try even for first-timers.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong izakaya Sootmakase pasta set for 3–4 at 38,900 won: Soottori

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is an izakaya bar in Mapo, Seoul, for skewers and a wide range of drinks. Four of us shared the 3–4 person charcoal omakase Japanese pasta set, draft beer, sours, and dessert for 38,900 won. Verdict: a generously portioned spot for drinks and a second round without moving elsewhere.

Written Sep 9, 2026Sponsored
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