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PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju eel restaurant, salt-grilled eel & soup set: Deokeun Jangeo

Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch is a grilled eel restaurant on Haseo-ro in Yangsan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, where diners pick and pay for their eel at a basement (B1) market, then grill it at a table on the 1st floor. The writer salt-grilled the hand-picked eel, added salad and fruit from the self-bar, and finished with an eel soup set meal. For anyone who wants to check eel freshness with their own eyes and enjoy a hearty, restorative meal, Deokeun Jangeo is a satisfying choice.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeoju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yeoju chicken BBQ with large pine nut makguksu and dumplings: Seorak

Seorak Makguksu Chuncheon Dakgalbi Yeoju IC Branch is a Korean restaurant on Sejong-ro in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, that serves charcoal-grilled dakgalbi (marinated chicken) alongside makguksu (buckwheat noodles). The reviewer ordered charcoal-grilled marinated dakgalbi, a large jatmul makguksu (buckwheat noodles in pine nut broth) and half-and-half dumplings, enjoying the marinade and smoky char, the nutty pine nut broth and two kinds of dumplings. Seorak Makguksu Chuncheon Dakgalbi is worth remembering for a filling chicken BBQ meal with noodles and sides near Yeoju Outlets or Namyeoju CC.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Burgers & Kiri cream cheese onion rings in Sangmu, Gwangju: Downtown

Downtown Gwangju Sangmu is a craft burger restaurant on Uncheon-ro in the Sangmu district of Seo-gu, Gwangju, near Uncheon Station. On a weekday lunch, the order at Downtown Gwangju Sangmu was two burgers (Egg Bulgogi Smash and a Downtown Burger with the double upgrade) and two sides (Kiri cream cheese onion rings and jumbo mozza sticks), and the Kiri cream cheese onion rings were the most memorable. From mains to sides, everything at Downtown Gwangju Sangmu was well made, enough to make a return visit a sure thing.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju octopus buffet with pork belly mayo wraps: Sin Jjukkumi

Sin Jjukkumi Unlimited Refill Duam Branch (신쭈꾸미 두암점) is an all-you-can-eat, buffet-style jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and pork belly restaurant in Duam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. The writer helped themselves to octopus, fresh pork belly and thin-sliced pork belly, wrapped them with mayonnaise, and enjoyed the free rice balls and fried rice. Sin Jjukkumi Duam Branch is an easy fit for a regular meal, a night of drinks or a group dinner.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwasun, JeonnamRestaurants

Summer cold noodles at a Hwasun pork cutlet house: Jinsim Wang

Jinsim Wang Donkkasu Hwasun branch is a king pork cutlet (wang donkkasu) restaurant on Ssangchung-ro in Hwasun-eup, Hwasun, Jeonnam. On a hot day the writer ordered the Jinsim king pork cutlet with the sauce on the side, wrapped pieces in lettuce with ssamjang (dipping paste) and chili peppers from the self-serve bar, and added the summer menu's cold jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles). Verdict: at Jinsim Wang Donkkasu, the king pork cutlet with cold jjolmyeon is the combo most worth ordering.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan, Hwaseong izakaya: mild daechang hot pot & gyoza, Horangigul

Horangigul at Lotte Department Store Dongtan is a Japanese-style izakaya on basement level B1 in Dongtan, Hwaseong (Gyeonggi), specializing in hanwoo daechang jeongol, a Korean beef large-intestine hot pot similar to Japanese motsunabe. The writer ordered the large daechang hot pot at the mild (Jin Ramen) spice level, got extra meat through a review event, and added the original gyudong (beef rice bowl) set and chicken-skin gyoza; even the mild broth was rich, and the daechang was nutty with no gamey smell. If you want a gopchang (beef offal) hot pot or a Japanese-style izakaya in Dongtan, Horangigul is worth at least one visit.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday Japanese lunch, Munjeong: gaeu-sauce abalone rice, Gome Mui

Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong (고메무이 송파문정) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in pot rice and tonkatsu, on basement level 1 of Tera Tower at Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit, the live abalone pot rice stood out for its gaeu (abalone innards) sauce and firm, chewy kamameshi-style rice, and the hirekatsu (pork tenderloin cutlet) was moist with no dryness at all. Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong is worth a visit when you want a lunch near Munjeong Station that feels like a proper treat.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon brunch café with rainy-day lake views and aglio e olio: Barefoot

Barefoot Gwanggyo is a brunch, pasta and craft beer spot right next to Gwanggyo Lake Park in Suwon, near Gwanggyojungang Station. On a rainy-day visit, the writer ate basil salad pasta, aglio e olio and two iced Americanos while looking out over Gwanggyo Lake Park through floor-to-ceiling windows, and both the food and the atmosphere were satisfying. For a Gwanggyo Lake Park date that pairs brunch with a lake view, Barefoot Gwanggyo is a good fit.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon bakery café: pumpkin cheese campagne & mojito at Cork Bake Bar

Cork Bake Bar (코르크베이크바) is a wood-toned bakery café on Dongsuwon-ro in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon. The writer stopped in for drinks only, but the smell of fresh bread led to adding a sweet pumpkin cheese campagne, while the yuja grapefruit sunset sparkling and the lemon lime mojito were bright and packed with chewy fruit pulp. Cork Bake Bar suits anyone in Suwon who wants a cozy atmosphere, fruity drinks and proper bakery bread in one stop.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju duck BBQ with clam shabu and perilla dip: Hyangchon Duck

Hyangchon Duck (향촌오리) is a charcoal-grilled duck restaurant near Lotte Mart in Cheomdan, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. At Hyangchon Duck, the writer ordered the whole duck set and grilled it at the table, then cooked a clam shabu-shabu with vegetables from the self-serve bar and finished with house-made buckwheat noodles. A chojang (vinegared chili paste) sauce mixed with perilla seed powder cut the richness of the duck. Hyangchon Duck is a recommended family dining spot for grilled duck, shabu-shabu and noodles in one meal.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGokseong, JeonnamRestaurants

Donkatsu restaurant in Gokseong: face-size double katsu, Jinsim Wang

Jinsim Wang Donkatsu Okgwa Branch (진심왕돈까스 옥과점) is a king-size donkatsu (Korean pork cutlet) restaurant on Cheonbyeon-ro in Okgwa-myeon, Gokseong, Jeonnam. After the Gokseong Rose Festival, the writer ordered the Jinsim King Double Donkatsu, spicy anchovy kalguksu, cold jjolmyeon and 3 pieces of fried peppers, made lettuce-wrap katsu from the self-serve lettuce bar and packed the leftover donkatsu at the self-serve packing station. Jinsim Wang Donkatsu Okgwa Branch is a good place in Gokseong for a generous meal with family or a partner after the festival.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju Korean pub with female crab and free sea squirt: Geumho Pocha

Geumho Pocha (금호포차) is a seasonal seafood pocha (Korean pub) on Uncheon-ro 17beon-gil in Geumho-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. During female crab season, the writer ordered steamed blue crab weighing 1kg or more at Geumho Pocha and got female crabs packed with roe and innards, homestyle side dishes, and free sea cucumber and sea squirt. Geumho Pocha is a good fit if you want in-season steamed female crab with a drink in a cozy pub setting.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored