Transfer Cup Drinker · 12 stories

Cup Between Stops

I write about cafés I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

Yeonnam-dong café with Dad: strawberry trifle & drip, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a drip coffee café in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. On a weekday day off, the writer and her dad smelled Costa Rica and Ethiopia beans, then had two hand-drip coffees, a classic tiramisu (8,500 won) and an English-style strawberry trifle (9,000 won). Verdict: whichever cake you choose at Central Site Yeonnam, it pairs well with the drip coffee.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

After-work pizza and craft beer pub near Anguk Station: Bogle House

Bogle House is a craft beer and pizza pub in Jongno, Seoul, between Anguk Station and Jongno 3-ga Station on the Ikseon-dong side. After a busy week, the writer went with a friend on a Friday after work for a welcome-drink Asahi draft, a tropical craft beer, a pilsner and a bacon chorizo Cajun pizza topped with fries, dipped in garlic mayo sauce. For two people, one pizza and one beer each is plenty at Bogle House, which makes it a good spot for pizza and beer after work.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulCafés

Quiet café for reading alone in Yeonsinnae, Seoul: lap cats at Leju

Leju is a new dessert café in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a little over 10 minutes' walk from Yeonsinnae Station, with three resident cats that appear to be Maine Coons. On a solo Saturday afternoon visit, the writer read a book over an iced americano, riso gelasso and caviar tiramisu at Leju, and the cats came over to the table and onto the writer's lap on their own. Leju is a Yeonsinnae neighborhood café that suits anyone who wants a quiet solo break with dessert, a book and some cat therapy.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Late-night Hongdae izakaya, tomato nabe and soju: Kushino Kitchen

Kushino Kitchen is a Japanese-style izakaya in a basement near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station in Hongdae, Seoul. After an evening in Sinchon, two friends had a late dinner of kushino nabe (33,000 won), lemon cream karaage (15,000 won) and strawberry and mango highballs (9,000 won each). The tomato nabe broth was so good with drinks that they added a bottle each of soju and beer. Kushino Kitchen is a Hongdae izakaya where two people can eat their fill late into the night.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Samsong Station pork BBQ open till 11pm, salted hairtail: Neopttakjip

Neopttakjip Samsong Branch (넙딱집 삼송점) is a pork BBQ restaurant in front of Samsong Station Exit 3 in Goyang, about a 10-minute walk from Starfield Goyang. After winter clothes shopping at Starfield Goyang, the writer arrived just before 9:30pm and ordered the 600g mixed grill (54,000 won), grilling neck, kkodeulsal, hayansal and belly in turn, with sausage, garaetteok (rice cake), salted hairtail and grilled kimchi on the side. Neopttakjip Samsong Branch stays open until 11pm, making it a good spot for a late dinner of thick-cut pork after shopping.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong restaurant, egg in hell balancing rosé: Hôtel de Couture

Hôtel de Couture is a pasta, risotto and brunch restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. On a drizzly Friday lunch before an exhibition, the writer and a friend from her cohort shared honey whole-bacon rosé pasta (₩17,000), egg in hell (₩18,000) and honeycomb seasonal fruit French toast (₩15,000), and the sweet-and-tangy egg in hell cut the richness of the thick rosé sauce. Hôtel de Couture is a satisfying Yeonnam-dong lunch spot for both brunch and Western mains.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong tteokbokki and gimbap set with iced Illy coffee: Eungkeum

Eungkeum Tteokbokki Yeonnam Branch is a 24-hour bunsik (Korean snack food) pub in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, open every day of the year. On Hangul Day evening, the writer ordered the ₩29,900 set of tteokbokki, assorted fried snacks and sundae (Korean blood sausage) with 2 gimbap rolls and drinks, choosing wheat rice cakes at the original spice level. Because the writer was off alcohol, iced Illy coffee and a sugar-free lemon sparkling water replaced beer. The salty, punchy tteokbokki goes well with the chewy glutinous-rice sundae and bite-sized fried snacks, making Eungkeum Tteokbokki Yeonnam Branch a solid pick for dinner or a late second-round stop.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonsinnae tonkatsu with coarse salt and sauce refills: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant near Exits 4 and 5 of Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a Friday evening after work, the writer ate alone and ordered the triple katsu (18,000 won) and a bite-size aged curry (4,000 won), but the chicken karaage and cheongyang chili meatball katsu sides were already sold out before 6 pm. With thick, crunchy katsu, refillable sauce and wasabi, and coarse salt on every table, Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is an easy tonkatsu spot for solo dining in Yeonsinnae.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonsinnae Exit 6 Korean BBQ: medium-rare hanwoo sirloin, Sambaek Hanu

Sambaek Hanu Daecheop (삼백한우대첩) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant near Exit 6 of Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a Saturday evening, the writer grilled 300g of fresh hanwoo sirloin (₩42,000) to medium-rare. The meal also included a free hanwoo doenjang stew and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles) from the receipt review event. Verdict: Sambaek Hanu Daecheop serves Grade 1 hanwoo at the price other barbecue places charge for pork.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Pre-movie Korean BBQ near Hapjeong Station, fried rice finish: Ijjok

Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Seogyo-dong, a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. Before a movie with a friend, the writer ordered 2 servings of fresh pork belly, 1 serving of fresh pork neck and 2 servings of finishing fried rice à la carte, and the staff grilled the meat along with kimchi at the table. The finishing fried rice at Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal was the best the writer has had at any Korean BBQ restaurant recently.

Written Aug 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Isu Station pizza bar: Belgian witbier and green grape ade, Raymond

Raymond Isu Branch is an American-style pizza restaurant near Exit 9 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul, where slice pizzas are served with draft beer. The order was one Spicy Fusilli slice (₩8,900) and one Bacon Hawaiian slice (₩7,900), plus Mac & Cheese (₩11,900), truffle fries (₩9,900), a 400ml Belgian witbier (₩7,500) and a 665ml green grape ade (₩6,500). The slices at Raymond Isu Branch were too big to hold by hand and had to be cut with a knife, and topping them with the Mac & Cheese was the most satisfying combination.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulCafés

1L matcha latte, Dubai chocolate waffle at Ward Coffee, Gusan Station

Ward Coffee Gusan Station Branch is a café in Eunpyeong, Seoul, a short walk straight from Gusan Station Exit 2. After a PT session and workout, I recharged with a 1L Jeju matcha latte and a Dubai chocolate waffle, then took the leftover drink and desserts home to share with my family. Verdict: a great stop for oversized drinks and cream-filled rice cakes.

Written Sep 12, 2026Sponsored

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