Rice Pot Neighbor · 54 stories

Beside the Rice Pot

I write about restaurants and everyday meals I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Japanese restaurant: late solo uni toro don, Ilpum

Ilpum Gangnam Branch (일품 강남점) is a Japanese restaurant on basement level 1 of Seocho-daero 74-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. The writer booked a table just after the lunch rush and dined solo on the uni toro don, a rice bowl topped with sea urchin, salmon roe and 5 pieces of fatty tuna belly (toro), plus a crab cream croquette. The meal came with a basic side set, mini udon and mango pudding. Ilpum Gangnam Branch is a solid pick for a proper solo meal near Gangnam Station.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok salad shop for strength training: 44g protein box, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad, poke and protein box shop on the B1 level of Lotte Castle President, connected underground to Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. A writer combining strength training with weight loss took away a Chicken Light Protein Box (287kcal, 44g protein) and a Smoked Duck Light Protein Box (445kcal, 30g protein) for dinner and the next day's lunch, and was happy with the moist chicken breast and chewy smoked duck. Why Starve Diet suits Gongdeok Station office workers and solo diners who want a high-protein, low-calorie diet that still tastes good.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café for flourless pumpkin terrine on a diet: Jitheunsan

Jitheunsan (짙은산) is a flourless terrine cake dessert café in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, right in front of the Yeonnam underpass. After nearly 10 days off desserts while dieting, the writer ordered Jitheunsan's seasonal pumpkin mascarpone terrine and a decaf Americano (500 won extra) and was happy with the natural sweetness of the blended pumpkin, the dense mascarpone cream and the coffee. For a flourless dessert in a cozy Yeonnam-dong café, Jitheunsan is well worth recommending.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gasan restaurant, rice-sommelier-approved pot rice: Gim Myeongtae

Gim Myeongtae Spicy Braised Short Ribs Gasan Branch is a spicy braised short rib and braised pollock restaurant on Gasan-ro in Gasan Digital Complex, Geumcheon, Seoul. At lunch, a couple ordered a single-serving spicy braised short rib clay pot and braised pollock with siraegi (dried radish greens), both made less spicy, and the pot rice served with the mains won over the husband, a self-described rice sommelier. Gim Myeongtae Gasan Branch is a Gasan Digital Complex lunch spot where the pot rice is as good as the mains.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok Station café at 4pm: black sesame madeleine, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a baked-goods café right in front of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, where you pick financiers, madeleines, canelés and egg tarts onto a tray yourself. On a weekday visit around 4pm, many items at Fluffy Bake Shop were sold out, but the writer still chose 2 egg tarts, a chocolate canelé and a black sesame madeleine, each wrapped individually, which also makes them good for gifts. For anyone who loves baked sweets, Fluffy Bake Shop is a fun Gongdeok Station dessert shop to browse.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Diet-friendly black pork shabu-shabu in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1, near Mecenatpolis by Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. While watching her diet, the writer and a friend ordered first-grade black pork neck and pork belly shabu-shabu sets in clear mushroom broth, plus panda-shaped bunmoja (chewy starch noodles). They enjoyed the fresh vegetables and mushrooms, refills of young radish kimchi pickles, and a finish of egg porridge and omija tea. Verdict: Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a light shabu-shabu spot you can enjoy without guilt, even on a diet.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Matcha latte café, Mangwon: Hapjeong walk to a green dessert set, PICT

PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a café in Mangwon, Mapo, Seoul, reached by walking down a flight of stairs in a residential alley between Mangwon Market and Mangwon Station. After strolling through Mangwon from the Hapjeong Station side, the writer ordered a Kyoto matcha latte and a pistachio tiramisu at PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch, and both clearly tasted of real matcha and pistachio. For a not-too-sweet matcha latte and a pistachio dessert in a calm setting, PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Mangwon bakery 10am baguettes, brioche loaf: Boulangerie Copain

Boulangerie Copain is a bakery on Huiujeong-ro in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, reportedly featured on the Korean TV show Master of Living (Saenghwarui Dalin) for its baguettes and croissants. On a first visit, the writer took home a brioche loaf, a chestnut loaf, melon cream bread and angbutter (red bean and butter bread), and was especially happy with the generously filled angbutter and the brioche loaf, which tastes good without any spread. Boulangerie Copain is a worthwhile Mangwon bakery stop, especially if you know that baguettes come out at 10am and the time sale starts at 7pm every day.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant in Gwanghwamun with yuzu and pine nut sauces: Modam

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant on basement level 1 of Deoksugung The Palace in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, suited to group gatherings. The blogger ordered the abalone and shrimp jang (soy-marinated shrimp) with butter rice set and the bori-gulbi (barley-aged dried yellow croaker) set, eating a full course from seasonal porridge to plum tea, and especially liked the sauces, such as the yuzu dressing and pine nut sauce, and the neatly arranged main table. Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is a Korean restaurant worth revisiting for a sangyeonrye (family meeting before a wedding) or a meal with parents.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon family fast food: 4 picks, 2-hour burger tip, Angry Potato

Angry Potato Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch is a potato-focused fast food counter in the B1 food hall of Hyundai Department Store Jungdong in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. The writer's family ordered a mini burger skewer, a size M chewy potato, fries and Hot Crunch chicken, ate at the tables right in front of Angry Potato, and adults and kids alike enjoyed everything, helped by free sauce refills and fast table turnover. Angry Potato Jungdong is worth a return visit before or after a movie at U-Plex, or whenever you want to sample several snacks at once.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Gwangjang Market dessert shop: free gift-box message stickers, Ssuk's

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul (쑥스초코파이 서울) is a handmade choco pie bakery near Gwangjang Market in Jongno, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Jongno 5-ga Station. The writer was pleased that Ssuk's Choco Pie uses Pop Free antibiotic-free eggs, took home a 6-pie gift set (24,800 won), and looked over the full menu, from choco pies to cheesecake, cookies and scones, plus the free message stickers added to 3-pie and 6-pie boxes. Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a good stop for a Gwangjang Market snack or a dessert to give as a thank-you gift.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiCafés

Sinjungdong bakery: pastry-like Golden Beurre loaf, Easy White Bread

Easy White Bread's Bucheon Sinjungdong branch is a bakery specializing in saeng-sikppang (soft fresh loaf bread), located by the Gyeongin Mungo bookstore near Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, and it sells loaves baked daily plus brewed drip coffee. The writer had a Golden Beurre half loaf cut 2cm thick to take home and drank a decaf brewed coffee in the shop, finding the Golden Beurre chewy yet like a pastry-style loaf. Easy White Bread is worth revisiting for bread gifts, thanks to loaves that taste great without jam and its elegant paper bag packaging.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored