Jung-gu Door Pusher · 83 stories
I write about meals and visits to restaurants in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Things to do
Kitsune Yubu Daejeon Dunsan is an inari sushi (rice in sweet fried tofu pouches) shop near Exit 7 of City Hall Station in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer avoided the break time and packed 9 single inari pieces priced from ₩1,500 to ₩3,000 like a picnic lunch box, finding them loaded with toppings and filling after just a few. For a cheap, hearty lunch in Dunsan-dong, Kitsune Yubu is a recommended pick.
Unagiwa is a Japanese-style eel rice bowl restaurant a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a Monday evening at Unagiwa, the writer worked out the difference between unadon and hitsumabushi. The writer then ordered hitsumabushi in Mini (half an eel) and Sang (one whole eel) sizes and enjoyed the evenly brushed tare sauce, the moist eel and the ochazuke finish. Verdict: Unagiwa's hitsumabushi beat the one the writer ate in Japan, so order at least the Sang size rather than the Mini.
Bakerist Brown is a large bakery café in Gangnam, Seoul, spread over four floors (B1 to 3F) between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station. On a Monday afternoon sugar run, the writer tried the 8-piece Gangnam Sand set (19,000 won), an apple French pie and an iced black sesame latte, and browsed a smash-to-eat dessert and character candles at about 1,000 won each. Bakerist Brown is an easy Gangnam bakery for dessert gifts and group visits alike.
Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad and protein-meal restaurant on B1 of Lotte Castle President in Mapo, Seoul, connected underground to Gongdeok Station Exit 2. On a Monday after a weekend of eating three full meals a day, the writer ordered a Chicken Light Protein Box drink set with a canned soda and a 9,900 won grilled smoked duck salad, both on a vegetable-only base; the chicken breast was not dry at all and the smoked duck was light and tender. With two salads for under 20,000 won, Why Starve Gongdeok is worth a return visit for anyone looking for a diet lunch near Gongdeok Station.
Obang Tongdak is an electric rotisserie whole chicken restaurant on the 2nd floor near Sindang Jungang Market, between Dongmyoap Station and Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekend evening walk after the rain, the writer ordered the signature Golden Chicken and a side of rest stop noodles; the Golden Chicken, topped with garlic flakes and whole garlic cloves, had chewy skin and tender meat, and the rest stop noodles, piled with fried tofu, tasted just like a street-stall bowl. Obang Tongdak suits days when you want roast chicken instead of fried, with a hot bowl of noodles on the side.
Doasis is a four-story bakery café near Deokjeong Station in Yangju, Gyeonggi. On a drive up from Seoul, the writer sat on the 2nd floor among Christmas trees that go up in October and ate walnut bread, Chocococo (₩4,800), the Alligator (₩8,000), blueberry brioche and sausage bread with a hot coffee. With generous loaves, self-serve ovens, free parking and a nursing room, Doasis is an easy large café for families with kids.
Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant on Songnang-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, serving a weekday lunch special (11:00–15:00) for ₩19,000 per person: pork galbi, doenjang sulbap (soybean-paste stew with rice) and cold noodles to finish. The writer ate the Manpo Galbi lunch special and a yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl) in a 2nd-floor room, with free yukhoe and yukjeon side dishes, a 2nd-floor self-serve bar, and puffed-rice ice cream and coffee for dessert. Verdict: the Manpo Galbi lunch special is a filling, good-value meal of meat, rice and dessert for under ₩20,000.
Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a pasta, risotto and steak restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Nongogae-ro in Namdong, Incheon. On a brunch drive, the writer ordered hot shrimp garlic pasta, spicy crab risotto (16,000 won) and pork neck steak (20,000 won), and got a full-size order of cheese balls through the review event. With most dishes priced in the 10,000-won range, 2 hours of free underground parking and a stylish dining room, Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a solid pick for a wedding invitation dinner or a blind date.
One & Only Hair Gwacheon Government Complex Station is a hair salon on basement level 1 of Hanyang Sujain in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, right in front of Exit 1 of Government Complex Gwacheon Station. For hair damaged by hot blow-drying in the changing season, the writer had a consultation with Head Manager Bom and received a mix clinic: Milbon Aujua Quench for steps 1 and 2, and Aujua Fillmellow for steps 3 and 4. Hair that had been too tangled to comb out came out as soft as if the treatment had been left in, making this Aujua clinic at One & Only Hair a very satisfying visit.
Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Euljiro 1-ga Station and Myeongdong Station. After a weekday Naver booking, the writer ordered the Emperor Jokbal (58,000 won), with Original Jokbal in the center ringed by 8 sides such as salad, mung bean jelly, gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and radish kimchi like a gujeolpan (nine-section platter), then boiled the free kimchi bean sprout kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). With tender meat and chewy skin, Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch makes it easy to see why there's often a wait.
Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap and Korean snack shop in Seocho, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Gyodae Station Exit 1. It was formerly Auto Gimbap, with only the name changed. The writer dined in on a double cheese egg gimbap with dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken), a single Spam gimbap and the katsuobushi broth served only to dine-in guests, and concluded that Halls Gimbap is a filling Gyodae pick for a solo lunch or a meal on the way to work.
Mom's Touch Uijeongbu Haengbok-ro branch is a chicken and burger restaurant on the 2nd floor of Rodeo Street, near Exit 5 of Uijeongbu Station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. On a weekend drive, the writer picked up chef Hu Deok-juk's new collaboration item, the XO Whole Mozzarella Shrimp Burger (₩7,600 on its own), along with a regular Hot Cheese Thigh Boneless Chicken, cheese balls, corn salad and ranch sauce, and was especially happy with the tender boneless thigh meat and the clean shop. The Mom's Touch XO Whole Mozzarella Shrimp Burger, with its shrimp and mozzarella double patty, is worth trying at least once if you're tired of the Thigh Burger.
