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I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do

PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siheung Korean restaurant with new octopus-beef gopchang: Maepsi Nakji

Maepsi Nakji Mulwang Reservoir Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in stone-plate octopus near Mulwang Lake in Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a weekend when Maepsi Nakji was almost full with families, the writer had the new stone-plate octopus with beef gopchang (small intestines) at mild spice and a 35cm octopus-shrimp pancake, and enjoyed refills of side dishes, rice and sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) from the self-serve bar. Maepsi Nakji is a good choice for a Korean family meal with parents.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Haenggung-dong, Suwon dinner course with pancetta carbonara: Hado

Hado is a pasta and steak course restaurant in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. The writer ordered Hado's basic course, swapping one pasta for a classic carbonara topped with pancetta and paying extra to upgrade one steak to chuck flap, and also enjoyed the lemon lavender ade and Earl Grey ice cream. With its dim lighting, Hado is a good pick for an anniversary, date or blind-date dinner.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Station pizza, Prosciutto e Rucola and two pastas: Pizzeria O

Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is a Neapolitan pizza and pasta restaurant near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, baking 72-hour-aged dough in a 485°C wood-fired oven. Over a weekend lunch the writer ordered the Prosciutto e Rucola pizza, Aglio e Olio and Gamberi Rosé Crema pasta; the pizza came heaped with rucola and never felt greasy, and both pastas were light and clean-tasting. If you love rucola, the Prosciutto e Rucola pizza at Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is well worth ordering.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido blind date Italian: vongole and salumi pizza at Cuisine R

Cuisine R (퀴진 알) is an Italian restaurant serving pasta, pizza and risotto on the 2nd floor of the Baeksang Building in Yeouido, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit, the writer ordered the vongole pasta, an oil-based pasta rich with clam flavor, and Cuisine R's signature salumi pizza topped with a large burrata, and enjoyed both. With wide table spacing, private rooms and soft classical music, Cuisine R is a solid choice for a blind date, a wedding invitation get-together or an anniversary date.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido Japanese spot: premium kaisendon & Japonica unagidon, Ilpum

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is a Japanese restaurant on basement level 1 of the Anwon Building near National Assembly Station in Yeouido, Seoul, serving kaisendon (seafood rice bowls), unagidon (eel rice bowls) and sushi. The writer ordered the premium kaisendon topped with kelp-aged sashimi and the whole-eel unagidon with an entire Korean freshwater eel, and both came with chawanmushi, cold udon, chicken karaage and mango pudding for a filling meal. The verdict: both bowls at Ilpum Yeouido Branch were satisfying.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Chinese restaurant: half Peking duck for two at Gang's Duck

Gang's Duck (갱스덕) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in Peking duck in Ingye-dong, Suwon, near City Hall Station. On a weekend, two people shared half a Peking duck and the best-selling Hong Kong-style egg noodles; dipping the Peking duck skin in sugar and the pancakes separated one by one with plastic sheets stood out. With clean-tasting Peking duck and a complimentary fried duck side, Gang's Duck is a good-value Chinese restaurant in Ingye-dong worth recommending.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo tofu rice and mala eggplant at Apgujeong Chinese Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong is a Chinese restaurant with private rooms on the first floor of the Robin Myeongpumgwan building, near Exit 6 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit we ordered mala-sauce eggplant fritters (without cilantro), mapo tofu rice and dongpo pork. The eggplant fritters stayed crispy even as they cooled, and the mapo tofu rice, with its punchy mala aroma, was the best dish of the meal. If you love mala, order both of these at Bobo Sikdang.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Iberico and octopus at a Children's Grand Park grill: Osteria Hyeon

Osteria Hyeon is an Italian restaurant near Exit 6 of Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, and a Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon pick for three years running. The writer ordered porcini mushroom cream pasta, grilled octopus and grilled Iberico pork, and the juicy grilled Iberico pork was the best dish of the day. With an outdoor terrace and a spacious, quiet dining room, Osteria Hyeon also works for dates, blind dates and wedding-invitation gatherings.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Bukchon indoor date perfume class: nickname on the label, Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is a perfume-blending studio a 6-minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 4 in Jongno, Seoul, open daily from 12:00 to 22:00. A first-time perfume maker smelled top, middle and base notes along with Muhwawon's Korean scents, blended wild grape and osmanthus over three rounds, and had a nickname engraved on the bottle label. Muhwawon is a satisfying indoor date course for a hot summer or a cold winter day in Seoul.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
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