Seocho Side Street Diner · 161 stories

A Restaurant Detour

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I try there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping · Stays

PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan izakaya near Gojan Station: late-spring roe crab at Susan Jang

Susan Jang (수산장) Gojan branch is an izakaya serving seasonal seafood on Gwangdeok-daero in Gojan-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan. The writer started with the complimentary grilled flounder, then had raw roe-filled flower crab at the very end of spring and a seasonal seafood platter with flatfish, sea bream, abalone and scallop, and was struck by how well aged the sashimi was and how fresh the seafood tasted. For anyone who wants to try a wide range of hard-to-find seasonal seafood, Susan Jang Gojan branch is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiBars

Ansan izakaya: mochiridofu and smoked Spanish mackerel at Izakaya Ho

Izakaya Ho Seonbu Branch is a Japanese pub-style izakaya on Seonbu Gwangjang 1-ro in Seonbu-dong, Ansan. At Izakaya Ho Seonbu Branch, the writer ordered soft mochiridofu (silky, chewy tofu) and a seasonal assorted sashimi platter that brings flounder, salmon, smoked Spanish mackerel, tuna, abalone, rock shrimp and Hanwoo cow beef yukhoe (Korean raw beef) on one plate, each piece generously sized and carefully prepared. For sashimi lovers who want raw fish and yukhoe in one go, Izakaya Ho is a satisfying Seonbu-dong izakaya.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Apgujeong DJ bar with Chita whisky and Wonsoju gin tonic: Lowkey

Lowkey is a DJ-focused cocktail and whisky bar on basement level 1 near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a second-round visit around 11 p.m., the writer had a Wonsoju-based lychee gin tonic, a coffee oolong cocktail and Chita, a Japanese single grain whisky, though Lowkey's food ingredients had already run out. Lowkey is a hip second-round spot for a light drink with music.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Borderless fine dining in Pangyo: fall course, fried broccoli, Kkweda

Kkweda Pangyo Avenue France Branch is a borderless fine dining restaurant in Pangyo, Seongnam, that tells the story of each season through a course built on seasonal ingredients. On a revisit, the fall course with a Yantai Gold highball moved between Korean, Western, Japanese and Spanish dishes, and the surprise favorite was the fried broccoli served with the hanwoo steak. Quality and flavor had improved since the last visit, making Kkweda feel like a fine dining spot that keeps refining its cooking.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Big-portion seafood izakaya in Ansan: pen shell samhap at Susanjang

Susanjang Seonbu is a seasonal seafood izakaya on Seonbugwangjang-ro in Seonbu-dong, Ansan. Instead of sashimi, the writer ordered two cooked dishes, chili rockfish tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour fried rockfish) and Jangheung butter pen shell and beef brisket samhap, and a whole grilled flatfish came out as the complimentary side dish. Susanjang Seonbu serves cooked dishes as good as its sashimi, in portions generous enough to satisfy even a big eater.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Gangnam fine dining jazz bar: ₩59,000 October course at Flat Nine

Flat Nine is a fine dining jazz bar with live performances on Gangnam-daero 65-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer had the new head chef's 7-course menu at the October discounted price of 59,000 won per person, and the katsuobushi bavarois, truffle gougère and Cebo de Campo Iberico steak stood out most. Flat Nine is a rare Gangnam Station date spot where you can eat a fine dining course while listening to live jazz.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Sinnonhyeon terrace bar: autumn spicy blue crab salad, Yeongdong Pocha

Yeongdong Pocha is an indoor pocha (Korean street-style bar) with a terrace on the 2nd floor of Hakdong-ro 2-gil, between Sinnonhyeon Station and Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Yeongdong Pocha the blogger had kkotge-muchim (blue crab tossed in spicy seasoning), made with in-season autumn male blue crab and freshly seasoned, alongside Jinro Gold soju; the crab was packed with meat and sweet with no fishy taste, and the seasoning was not overpowering. Yeongdong Pocha turned out to be more than a quick second-round stop: it is a place to properly enjoy seasonal seafood with drinks.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMokpo, JeonnamRestaurants

Mokpo seafood restaurant: flatfish and grilled octopus, Jeonghwane

Jeonghwane is a raw fish restaurant at unit 18 on the 1st floor of Bukhang Hoe Center (Mokpo Live Fish Plaza) in Sanjeong-dong, Mokpo. Two people picked a 1.6kg flatfish for sashimi and added a banjang set at the 3rd-floor chojang-jip (dining room), which brought red scallop sashimi, gaebul (spoon worm), pen shell sashimi, steamed abalone and nakji horong-gui (grilled octopus on a stick). The sweet-and-salty nakji horong-gui was the best dish in the banjang set, and Jeonghwane made a satisfying first meal for a seafood-filled Mokpo trip.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNaju, JeonnamRestaurants

Naju fermented skate takeout with rice makgeolli: Najujeil Hongeo

Najujeil Hongeo (나주제일홍어) is a takeout shop specializing in aged Korean skate (hongeo) on Hongeo Street in Yeongsanpo, Naju, Jeonnam. After visiting the National Naju Museum, the writer took home a mixed fermented skate sashimi set with Heuksando skate, domestic skate, chogochujang (sweet-spicy chili sauce) and fresh Naju rice makgeolli. The strongly fermented nose cut, chewy wing meat and clean aftertaste stood out. With smell-proof sealed packaging and delivery available, Najujeil Hongeo is a good place to pick up a gift on a Naju trip.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Seokchon Lake sashimi pub in late spring: torched sea bream at Daegang

Daegang is a Korean pub in Songni-dan-gil, Songpa, Seoul, near Seokchon Station and Seokchon Lake, serving seasonal aged sashimi Korean-style. On a late-spring evening at Daegang, the writer ordered the octopus and water dropwort salad and the mixed aged sashimi with Oneul, a distilled rice soju; the torched sea bream matsukawa, scored engawa and thick salmon stood out. Daegang is memorable less for the number of fish than for thick, well-aged cuts and a distinctive sashimi dipping sauce.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho burger joint: 450g hanwoo triple cheese, patty melt, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Seocho Gyodae Branch is a handmade burger restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, between Gyodae Station and Seocho Station, that uses hanwoo (Korean beef) patties. At Daily Fix, the blogger had the Triple Cheese Burger with three hanwoo patties (450g), the new hanwoo Patty Melt sandwich and a grapefruit ade that can be refilled with soda, and the salty cheese burger and the sweet Patty Melt paired well. Daily Fix is a Seocho burger joint for anyone who wants thick hanwoo patties.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Salad & poke shop by Gyodae Station: no-rice seafood bowl, Salering

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a salad and poke restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer, a seafood lover, ordered the seafood all-in-one bibim poke on an all-vegetable base with no rice or noodles, dressed with balsamic sauce. Her bread-loving companion chose a packed sweet pumpkin (kabocha) chicken breast sandwich, a surprising pairing of pumpkin mousse and chicken breast that worked. Salering Gyodae Direct Store made for a light, protein-rich lunch near Gyodae Station.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored