Jung-gu Door Pusher · 84 stories

Through the Restaurant Door

I write about meals and visits to restaurants in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceGyeongsan, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongsan sushi restaurant, 5-piece futomaki and 3,000 won soba: Sonsi

Sonsi Sushi Yeungnam University Main Branch is an aged-sushi restaurant on Daehak-ro in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. On a weekday lunch visit, the order was the premium 12-piece aged nigiri set for 18,500 won, futomaki (thick sushi roll) for 10,000 won and a large cold soba for 3,000 won. Single pieces of octopus gunkan, tamago, grilled salmon and eel were added on top. Sonsi Sushi fills up before lunch even starts, but its reasonable sushi prices make it worth a return visit.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang Chinese restaurant: level-1 jjamppong, runny-egg jjajang rice

Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch (짬뽕지존 서오릉점) is a Chinese restaurant with a large parking lot on Seooreung-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. On a weekend drive out from Starfield Goyang, the writer ordered a level-1 spicy Jijeon Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) for 13,000 won, jjajang rice (black bean sauce rice) topped with a runny fried egg and a medium tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), plus rice, zha cai, bean sprouts, omija tea and blue lemonade from the self-bar. Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch had even a diner with no expectations of a franchise saying 'delicious' again and again.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Air-conditioned City Hall ramen: kelp-vinegar abura soba at Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 10 of City Hall Station. On a hot summer evening after work, the writer ordered tori paitan (₩12,000), abura soba (₩12,000) and a side of karaage (₩7,000), and was seated side by side in the basement because the first floor was full. With abura soba dressed in kelp vinegar, juicy karaage and strong air-conditioning, Mentsuru City Hall Branch is worth returning to for an after-work dinner near City Hall.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Namdaemun kids' clothing shop size chart and directions: Apple Smile

Apple Smile is a kids' clothing shop for ages 1 to 10 in stall 12 of the Bourdaine Kids' Clothing building at Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a fall shopping trip, the blogger walked over from Hoehyeon Station Exit 6, checked Apple Smile's size chart from size 3 to 15, and browsed windbreakers, long pants, boys' outfits and elastic-waist skirt pants. With a wide size range, plenty of boys' clothes and a friendly owner, Apple Smile is a Namdaemun kids' shop worth making a regular stop.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsil baguette sandwich shop, egg sando split two ways: Town Sandwich

Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is a baguette sandwich shop an 8-minute walk from Jamsil Station in Songpa, Seoul. On a stroll, the writer and a partner shared the Town Sandwich (8,800 won) and the Town Egg Sando (7,300 won), and appreciated that Town Sandwich cuts each sandwich into as many pieces as you ask for and that drinks start at 2,900 won. For anyone who loves a crunchy baguette, Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is an easy pick for brunch or a solo meal.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Sinseol-dong Korean restaurant open over Chuseok: Hansang Charyim

Hansang Charyim Bapsang Sinseol-dong is a Korean restaurant near Sinseol-dong Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul, serving bossam (boiled pork wraps) and galbi (braised short rib) set meals as a full spread of side dishes. The writer waited in line on the Chuseok holiday weekend, then shared the bossam set with plain rice for two and got a generous spread of small banchan (side dishes), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and bossam pork. For a bossam set meal in Sinseol-dong that stays open through the holidays, Hansang Charyim Bapsang is a good choice.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Chili vs plain mozza sticks at Samseong Station burger restaurant: Bas

Bas Burger Samseong Station Branch is a burger restaurant on Teheran-ro 114-gil near Samseong Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with seating from solo counters to four-person tables for both solo diners and groups. The double bacon cheeseburger combo costs 14,300 won, and the sides tried at Bas Burger included crunch chicken, chili and plain mozzarella cheese sticks, and 4-piece buffalo wings, with free in-store refills on potato chips and sauces. The verdict: if you always order sides, the combo is the better deal than the set.

Written Aug 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

After-work hair treatment at Uahan Meori, a Wangsimni hair salon

Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch is a hair salon on the 1st floor of Tenz Hill at Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul, known for its layered cuts. On an evening visit after work, the treatment was a design cut plus a 3-step layered clinic, with 40 minutes to an hour of steam and nourishment in a private shampoo room, finished as swishy glazed hair. Uahan Meori is a good choice when you want after-work downtime and damaged-hair care in one sitting.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songpa gopchang hot pot at spice level 2 with tofu pockets: Horanggul

Horanggul Bangi Branch is a gopchang (beef tripe) hot pot restaurant in the Bangi dining alley in Songpa, Seoul. This visit ordered the Horanggul gopchang hot pot for two at spice level 2, about as hot as Shin Ramyun, and added 500-won yubu pockets (fried tofu pouches) to soak in the fiery broth, with no broth refills allowed. A 500-won Tico ice cream after the meal cleared the heat and closed the night neatly.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Korean BBQ with 12 sides and crab doenjang stew: Beefjeong

Beefjeong Gogi Jip is a beef and pork Korean BBQ restaurant in the alley across from Chungmu Art Center near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. A dinner here brought pork belly, buldak fire noodles with beef brisket, "grandma's" doenjang stew (fermented soybean paste stew) with a whole blue crab in it, an old-school lunchbox, and 12 basic side dishes. Beefjeong also makes meat cakes and lets you pick your own apron, so it works well for a birthday dinner, and the friendly service makes it worth a second visit.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulThings to do

Gangnam wedding hall with fresh-flower decor and photo guestbook: Arbe

Arbe Wedding Hall is a small house wedding venue on Bongeunsa-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Seonjeongneung Station. As a guest, I walked through the first-floor welcome drink zone and four-cut photo booth, then the basement's fresh-flower photo table, bride's waiting room and 150-seat hall, and finished at a banquet buffet with Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Western dishes. The fresh-flower scent filling the hall and the grilled lamb ribs and flat iron steak are what stayed with me at Arbe.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

The Hyundai Seoul food court burger: onion rings at Lil' Burger

Lil' Burger The Hyundai Seoul is an orange food-truck-style burger stand inside the basement 1 food court of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The visit covered a cheeseburger, a jalapeño mayo burger, a classic burger and crispy onion rings at 13,800 won, and the beef patty worked well with the moist bun while the whole-onion rings were especially generous. Lil' Burger is an easy meal stop at The Hyundai Seoul, whether you come with kids or eat alone.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored