Spoon Holder Diary · 41 stories

The Seoul Rice Spoon

Writes about restaurant meals around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Army stew B set for 2 eaten solo, Gangnamdae Station: Uncle Johnson

Uncle Johnson Budae-jjigae Yongin Main Branch is a budae-jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant on the 2nd floor of KC College Point, in front of Gangnam University in Giheung-gu, Yongin. The writer went alone and ordered the B set (33,000 won), which includes army stew for 2, rice, a ramen add-in and a rolled omelet, then ate generously, switching between ramen, rice and the sausage rolled omelet. Uncle Johnson is an army stew spot near Gangnamdae Station where you can eat a hearty meal even solo on a very hungry day.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu tuna restaurant: junmai sake on a rainout night, Jongno Darang

Jongno Darang is a bluefin tuna course restaurant at 46-1 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, near Jungangno Station. On the day the Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions playoff Game 1 was rained out, the writer and his older sister ordered the bluefin tuna course for two (50,000 won per person) and a bottle of Junmai 750 sake, moving from salad and chawanmushi through bluefin by cut, abalone, ramen and tempura to gomtang (beef bone soup). Jongno Darang is a Jongno, Daegu tuna spot made for a relaxed evening of tuna and sake.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDalseong, DaeguRestaurants

Technopolis, Daegu galbi lunch special on a business trip: Galbijeong

Galbijeong (현풍 갈비정) is a galbi (marinated rib) restaurant in Technopolis, Yuga-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu. On the last day of a business trip, the writer and coworkers ordered the Galbijeong lunch special galbi and kimchi stew set with extra galbi, doenjang (soybean paste) stew, steamed egg and naengmyeon (cold noodles), and enjoyed the staff-grilled galbi, the yukjeon and seasoned crab side dishes and the wasabi shiitake sauce. Galbijeong is worth a return visit whenever you want a filling, easy galbi lunch special.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Cheoin-gu BBQ drive date, couple set and leftovers to go: Rustic Smoke

Rustic Smoke House Yongin Yangji Branch is a standalone BBQ and steak restaurant in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi. On a weekend drive with his girlfriend, the writer ordered the couple set: a platter, pasta or rice, 2 drinks and a house salad. The portions were too big to finish, so the leftovers were packed to go. With easy parking and a pretty interior, Rustic Smoke House Yongin Yangji Branch is a good pick for a couple's date or a stop on a drive.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGumi, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gumi black goat restaurant, clear soup on a business trip: Irojeong

Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant specializing in black goat (heukyeomso) on Bakjeonghui-ro in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. Worn out by the heat on a Gumi business trip, the writer walked in at the 11 a.m. opening and ordered the Sansam Black Goat Suyuk Set (wild ginseng black goat soup with boiled sliced meat). The black goat soup broth was clear without a strong gamey smell, and the pumpkin sikhye in the waiting room and the takeout sikhye and sujeonggwa kept the meal flowing well. Irojeong is a stamina lunch in Gumi that is easy to recommend even to first-timers to black goat.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin pork gukbap restaurant, 3 special bowls for work lunch: Yennal

Yennal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Yongin Main Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) and pork gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant at the entrance to the sundae alley in Yongin Central Market, Yongin. Three coworkers each had the special pork gukbap (13,000 won) at a weekday lunch; the generous head meat and mild broth suited even the coworker who rarely eats gukbap. For a filling group work lunch, the special pork gukbap at Yennal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Yongin Main Branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Haebangchon Western restaurant for a 1-hour weekday date: Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is a Western-style dining spot inside Sinheung Market in Haebangchon, Yongsan, Seoul, with seating on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors plus outdoor tables. On a one-hour weekday break, the writer and his girlfriend ate the BTS meal (105,000 won: steak, Bodmi shell pasta, a mini cheese plate and 2 drinks) on Sugar Hill's 1st floor. Sugar Hill suits anyone after a memorable date meal who values atmosphere and composition over value for money.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant by Samseong Station before Jamsil baseball: Obongjip

Obongjip Samseong Branch (오봉집 삼성점) is a Korean restaurant on Teheran-ro 81-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Samseong Station and COEX. Before heading to Jamsil Baseball Stadium with his girlfriend, the writer arrived at weekend opening time and ordered the Squid Obongjip Special: fire-grilled stir-fried squid served with bossam (boiled pork slices) and makguksu (buckwheat noodles). They filled up on extra rice and seaweed soup from the self-serve bar. The Squid Obongjip Special is a good fit for two people who want to share spicy, mild and tangy flavors at one table.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Haebangchon cocktail bar with a fireplace and live singing: Check-in

Check-in is a cocktail and whisky bar at the entrance to Haebangchon in Yongsan, Seoul. After a first and second round, the writer and his girlfriend stopped at Check-in for a Dohwa cocktail, a non-alcoholic Hurukku highball, cheese jerky and chocolate, and enjoyed the fireplace back room, the bar's two dogs and live songs from the owner, a former singer. For an atmospheric last round in Haebangchon, Check-in is a great fit.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Namhansanseong café for a date drive and apple cinnamon tea: Sum

Sum (카페 숨) is a large bakery café on Ojeon-gil in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, at the start of the Namhansanseong drive course. The writer drove there with his girlfriend on an uncongested route through Mohyeon in Yongin and ordered scones, yeontan bread (briquette-shaped bread), salt bread, a strawberry yogurt smoothie and apple cinnamon tea; the apple cinnamon tea, with crunchy apple pieces and little sweetness, was the favourite. With its spacious rooms and forest views, Sum is a great Namhansanseong date café for a relaxing forest getaway.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin Korean buffet for a work lunch: budaejjigae ramen at Daedong

Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak (대동한식뷔페&도시락) is a Korean buffet on Jubuk-ro in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. The writer went there for lunch with coworkers and enjoyed the large parking lot, the wide choice of side dishes, and ramen cooked in the broth of that day's special, budaejjigae (army stew). Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is a good fit for group work lunches.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon noodle restaurant for a ₩34,000 work-trip lunch: Myeongimong

Myeongimong is a tteokgalbi (grilled short-rib patty) and house-made makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant on Sinpyeong-ro in Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi. During a work trip to Pocheon, the writer had the 34,000 won lunch set of one large bibim makguksu (spicy mixed noodles), one regular mul makguksu (cold broth noodles) and one tteokgalbi, and noted the large car park, EV charger and nearby red bus route. Myeongimong suits anyone on the move in Pocheon who wants a filling meal.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored