A Seat by the Register

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Food & snacks · Hair & beauty salons · Home & living · Beauty products · Bars · Shopping · Kids & baby

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese spot with high chairs at Isu Station: fish cake udon, Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch is a Japanese restaurant serving house-made udon and tonkatsu near Isu Station Exit 9 in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer came for dinner with her husband and 15-month-old baby and, instead of the usual tonkatsu, tried umuk udon (udon with fish cakes) with extra tempura for the first time, plus king shrimp katsu and two pieces of fried shrimp; high chairs and baby tableware made eating with the baby easy. Kosi Isu Branch is a good Isu Station pick for families with young kids who want chewy house-made udon alongside hefty king shrimp katsu.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Poke takeout in Bangbae during morning sickness: Botanic Market

Botanic Market is a salad and poke shop on Bangbaecheon-ro 2an-gil in Bangbae-dong, Seocho, Seoul. A writer in mid-pregnancy who still had morning sickness took home Botanic Market's new açaí bowl and chipotle salmon poke, and was happy with the fresh raw salmon, the spicy chipotle dressing and the crunchy granola in the açaí bowl. When your stomach feels bloated and you have no appetite, Botanic Market is a good choice for a meal that isn't too strong.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang Chinese restaurant: Friday baijiu & cold noodles, Baoro China

Baoro China Sadang Branch is a Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor near Exit 13 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, with private rooms and 2 hours of free valet parking. On a Friday evening the writer, her husband and their daughter paired Songhwagangju baijiu with Chinese cold noodles, chili jajang and Hong Kong-style crab fried rice, and the chili jajang, loaded with chili peppers, was the favorite. Baoro China Sadang Branch is a good Chinese restaurant near Sadang Station for a Friday night out over summer cold noodles and chili jajang.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Black goat tonic meal in Sadang while pregnant: Paolo Black Goat Farm

Paolo Black Goat Farm Sadang Branch is a restaurant specialising in black goat (heukyeomso) tonic dishes on Bangbaecheon-ro in Seocho, Seoul, near Exit 13 of Sadang Station. Feeling run down after becoming pregnant, the writer went early in the morning with her mom and ordered the Paolo set: black goat soup with warm seasoned goat (onmuchim). She found the broth rich but not harsh, with almost no gamey smell. Paolo Black Goat Farm is a safe choice for first-time black goat eaters or a restorative meal with parents.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang beef gopchang, no grilling, extra potatoes: Bareun Hwangso

Bareun Hwangso Gopchang (바른황소곱창) is a beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul, where the gopchang is cooked in the kitchen, so you don't grill it yourself. At a patio table, the writer and her husband had 2 servings of mixed gopchang with beer, got a refill of the fish cake soup, and a staff member brought extra potatoes after noticing how much she enjoyed them. On a cool evening, Bareun Hwangso Gopchang suits anyone who wants beef gopchang without the work of grilling.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Friday-night gyukatsu at Isu Station with chili radish pickle: Hurato

Hurato Sikdang Isu Branch (후라토식당 이수직영점) is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor near Isu Station Exit 9 in Dongjak, Seoul. On a Friday night the writer and her husband ordered Set 2 at Hurato Sikdang, grilled the gyukatsu themselves on a personal grill, swapped the rice bowl for Japanese-style omurice, and swapped the drinks for Kirin draft beer and ramune. With a chili-dusted pickled radish side that looks like kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) as a quiet highlight, Hurato Sikdang Isu Branch is a good gyukatsu spot for a dinner for two or a family meal.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Isu octopus restaurant, torch-grilled pork belly lunch: Isu Jjukkumi

Isu Jjukkumi Main Branch (이수쭈꾸미 본점) is a hot plate baby octopus restaurant near Exit 13 of Isu Station in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. On a weekday lunch, a married couple ordered the new Garlic Bomb hot plate baby octopus and pork belly; the owner grilled the pork belly with a torch right at the table for a smoky flavor, and the fried rice for two that followed was especially memorable. For a lunch date near Isu Station, Isu Jjukkumi Main Branch is worth it, as long as you finish the octopus and pork belly with the fried rice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored

ProductHandongFood & snacks

Kids' calcium jelly with no bitter taste: Handong Antler Calcium Stick

Handong Antler Calcium Stick from Handong Nokyong Research Institute (Handong녹용연구소) is a yogurt-flavored jelly stick for children that packs calcium, zinc and Russian deer antler extract into one pouch. An active, slightly picky child noticed almost no bitter or fishy antler taste in Handong Antler Calcium Stick, asked for it like a snack, and the individually wrapped sticks were easy to carry on outings. For kids who dislike supplements, Handong Antler Calcium Stick is a deer antler product easy to give every day thanks to its taste and convenience.

Written Jun 8, 2026Product provided

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Baby-friendly pasta dinner in Hongdae: mild Gnocchi Lover at Pasta Go

Pasta Go Hongdae Branch is a casual pasta and risotto restaurant on Wausan-ro 33-gil near Exit 7 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a Hongdae outing with a baby, the writer ordered Gnocchi Lover, a garlic butter cream risotto with bacon, fries and a soda for dinner, all at the mild, not-spicy level. The baby ate well too, and the bill came to under 30,000 won. Because Pasta Go Hongdae Branch lets you adjust the spice and keeps prices low, eating out there with a child felt easy.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Baby-friendly Japanese rice bowl lunch near Konkuk Univ.: Hekbap

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점) is a Japanese rice bowl and set meal restaurant on the 2nd floor at 127 Neungdong-ro, near Exit 3 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Over lunch with a baby, the writer ordered the cube steak rice bowl set and the zaru soba tonkatsu set; the spacious dining room and in-store restroom made the meal easy, and the baby happily ate the tonkatsu. Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is an affordable, stress-free Japanese spot for family meals with kids near Konkuk Univ.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly pizza pub near Isu Station, Seoul: Raymond Set for three

Raymond Isu Branch is an American-style pizza pub on Dongjakdae-ro 23-gil near Chongshin University (Isu) Station in Dongjak, Seoul. Three of us — me and my parents, plus our dog Lucky — shared the [Signature] Raymond Set with 4 pizza slices, a 20-inch half tray, boneless fried chicken and truffle fries, and my mom added a peanut butter porter ale. The salty American-style pizza suited my dad perfectly, and the portion was just right for a family of three.

Written Sep 21, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Combo pho and chicken fried rice near Isu Station, Seoul: Bangbaedong

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is a pho restaurant near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. With little appetite in the late stages of pregnancy, the writer and her husband shared a mixed pho and chicken fried rice on a quiet weekend lunch, and one sip of the warm broth kept the chopsticks moving, with the self-serve rice and side dishes just as satisfying. It remains her go-to spot near Isu Station since it first opened.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored

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