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

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu Korean BBQ lunch specials from ₩9,000: Cheonpo Hoegwan

Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is a pork belly restaurant with free-flow minari (water dropwort) in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, 225m from Uijeongbu Station Exit 1. The lunch specials run 11:00–15:00 — bulgogi set with stone-pot rice ₩12,000, sundae gopchang hotpot with stone-pot rice ₩12,000, and ttukbaegi bulgogi ₩9,000 — but the grill won out, so the meal was two servings of 200g pork belly at ₩16,000 each, with domestic Haenam kimchi, a two-person portion of yukhoe (raw beef tartare), and self-cooked kimchi pancake. For a family get-together over Korean BBQ, Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is an easy recommendation.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido snack restaurant, instant vs regular tteokbokki: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a Korean snack restaurant on basement level 2 of IFC Mall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, linked underground to Yeouido Station on Lines 5 and 9. Torn between instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes simmered at the table) and regular tteokbokki, the writer ordered the easier-to-carry regular set at the kiosk and ate it at home, where the fried snacks came in a stacked container so they stayed grease-free and the sauce never leaked. The verdict: unless you truly love rice cakes, the regular version at Hyeonseonine wins because you get fried snacks, sundae and gimbap alongside.

Written Sep 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Onnuri voucher payment at Dalgom's, a Uijeongbu dakgangjeong shop

Dalgom's is a dakgangjeong (Korean sweet crispy fried chicken) shop a one-minute walk from the old terminal at Uijeongbu Jeil Market in Gyeonggi. A Friday night takeout order of 1.5 chickens cost 24,000 won and mixed three flavors — spicy garlic, cheese mustard and garlic soy — and Dalgom's takes Onnuri gift certificates and Zero Pay, with comfortable chairs in a small waiting area inside. The open kitchen at Dalgom's looked cleaner than a home kitchen, which made the food easy to trust.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Free-corkage dumpling bar in Hongdae for solo takeout: MANDOO BAR

MANDOO BAR is a handmade fusion gyoza (Korean dumpling) bar and restaurant on Red Road in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul. Visiting alone, I ordered Ppuring Gyoza and a half-and-half steamed dumpling set of meat and kimchi (8,000 won) from the giant QR menu, waited on the first floor, picked up on the second, and ate on Red Road itself — toppings burst through the wrappers and the portions were generous. With pickled radish salad seasoned just right, MANDOO BAR is a great-value takeout spot in Hongdae worth returning to.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gwangjin ramen restaurant, abura soba vs mazesoba: Mentsuru

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen and Japanese restaurant near Children's Grand Park Station and Sejong University in Gwangjin, Seoul. From a solo bar-table seat, the writer ordered abura soba and chicken karaage for 7,000 won at the kiosk, found the oil noodles full-flavoured even without the kombu vinegar, got whole fried chicken thigh, and learned how abura soba differs from mazesoba. Mentsuru is worth recommending as a Konkuk University-area lunch spot for solo diners, groups and families with kids alike.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu meat buffet with ₩5,900 unlimited soju: Muhan Paldo Daepae

Muhan Paldo Daepae Uijeongbu Millak Branch is an all-you-can-eat daepae (thin-shaved pork) restaurant at 394 Millak-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. The Premium Unlimited Daepae course costs 18,900 won per person and covers 6 cuts of pork, a Hangang ramen machine, lettuce wraps and a sauce bar with flavors from all 8 Korean provinces, with unlimited soju at 5,900 won and a fluffy bomb egg custard on the side. With a kids' playroom and free parking behind the building, Muhan Paldo Daepae is an easy pick for a family dinner.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju café after Heyri: fruit croissant and rail cookie, On the Rail

On the Rail is a large bakery café beside the train tracks on Imjingak-ro in Munsan-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi. After touring Heyri Village, the writer drove over to Munsan and had a fruit croissant, a 3,000-won rail cookie, a caffe mocha and an iced americano on the terrace, watching a train roll past right on the posted schedule. With free parking and hours until 2am, On the Rail is an easy last stop on a Paju drive.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Crispy potato pancake at a Namyangju valley BBQ: 2002 Witch's Arpeggio

2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a dog-friendly, creekside restaurant in Namyangju, Gyeonggi. Visiting on an open run in September, the writer tried medium-spice tomato-jang pork belly at ₩20,000 per serving, crispy potato pancake, and stone-pot pollack roe fried rice, with staff slicing the meat and torching it for extra smoky flavor. It flipped the assumption that a creek view means overpriced food, and a return visit is on the cards.

Written Sep 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju Ojeong army stew with sausage & ham add-on: Choi Budae Jjigae

Choi Budae Jjigae is a Korean restaurant in Okjeong, Yangju, serving budae-jjigae, budae-bokkeum, kimchi jjigae, and mandu-guk. I added sausage and ham to a two-person budae-jjigae order, refilled the rice and side dishes, and loved that the broth was neither overly salty nor sweet. Verdict: Choi Budae Jjigae is where I’d return when I’m craving extra ham and plenty of rice.

Written Sep 11, 2026Sponsored
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