Gwangsan Night Lipstick · 40 stories
I write about beauty finds and relaxed bar visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Shopping · Things to do · Cafés
Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is a brunch, pasta and wood-fired pizza restaurant in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju. On this visit the blogger finished a whole pepperoni pizza, a standard menu item, alone and browsed the kiosk menu, which lists sets such as Family Set A at ₩77,000 and Couple Set B at ₩51,000 plus wine and highballs. Bueokgan Sangmu Branch has a pretty, photogenic interior and is a solid choice for a date.
Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch is a restaurant near Pyeongdong Station in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, serving big donkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) alongside kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). In an introduction written by the restaurant itself, Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch covers its large parking lot, a self-serve bar with unlimited lettuce, side dishes and soup, donkatsu eaten in lettuce wraps, and the price and country of origin of every menu item. With the Jinsim King Donkatsu at 11,900 won and anchovy kalguksu from 8,900 won, the menu makes it easy to see the price range for group gatherings and family meals at a glance.
Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork) restaurant on the main street by Jeoncheolu Intersection in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Heukgomi ordered the half-and-half jokbal (48,000 won) with charcoal-grilled and fire-grilled spicy jokbal, added makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and steamed egg, and then won 5th place and a 5,000 won discount in the restaurant's event. Heukgomi calls Kkankkanhan Jokbal a great Yongbong-dong spot for drinks while watching baseball on the big screen and rates the chance of a return visit at 200%.
Kkankkanhan Jokbal Main Branch is a jokbal (Korean pork trotter) and bossam (boiled pork wrap) restaurant on Cheomdanjungang-ro 116beon-gil in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, and its private rooms make it a regular pick for company dinners and family gatherings. On this visit the owner had set out free coffee and ice cream so guests could help themselves, and a new dish, Sammi Bossam, had just joined the menu. With last order at 23:20 plus parking, takeout and delivery, Kkankkanhan Jokbal works just as well for a meal in Cheomdan as it does for drinks.
Yukhoe Dokjon Suwon Station Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) yukhoe bar on the 1st floor of Dream Plaza, about 317m on foot from Exit 7 of Suwon Station. Prices run from a hanwoo yukhoe (raw beef tartare) platter for two at 37,000 won to hanwoo sushi at 12,000 won and soju or beer at 5,000 won, and a notice on the wall promises a refund if the beef is not 100% hanwoo. The yukhoe melts in your mouth, so Yukhoe Dokjon works just as well for a date as for a night out with friends.
Sin Mokpo Agujjim Main Branch is an agujjim (spicy braised monkfish) restaurant on Ogam-ro, next to Peace Square in Mokpo. The writer visited with her mom during a Mokpo hotel stay after a taxi driver recommended it, and found spicy monkfish with three heat levels plus up to 10,000 won off takeout orders. For taste, value and hospitality in one place, Sin Mokpo Agujjim Main Branch is the answer.
Sicheong Geuttaegeujip is a black pork restaurant in Jeju City, a 2-minute walk from Jeju City Hall, where the pork is grilled twice at 200°C. The 2-person Jeju aged black pork set (400g) costs 54,000 won and arrives with four free extras — kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) in a stone pot, steamed egg, king oyster mushrooms and black tiger shrimp — while the lunch kimchi jjigae is 10,000 won with free refills of rice and ramen noodles. Sicheong Geuttaegeujip sits 15 minutes by car from Jeju Airport, so it works well as the first or last meal of a Jeju trip.
Kkankkan Jjokbal Suwan Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant at 44 Suwan-ro in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, where a baseball screen plays while you drink. Blogger Heukgomi has been three times and still rates the jokbal, pairing it with oyster bossam for a full dinner-and-drinks night; sets run from 48,000 won for two to 99,000 won for six. An easy choice in the Suwan district for family meals, work dinners or a night out with friends.
Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch is a grilled freshwater eel restaurant at 596 Haseo-ro in Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the first floor of a new building next to Honam Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. Deokeun Jangeo raises its own domestic eel in Muan, South Jeolla, and sells it at 5,330 won per 100g boneless after trimming, alongside eel tteokgalbi (grilled eel patties) at 10,000 won for three, a 4,000 won dessert eel soup, and closers like naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). With free parking for 80 cars, group seating and baby chairs, Deokeun Jangeo works well for both a family meal and a work dinner.
Sinjuokmi Suwan District branch is a sundae-guk (blood sausage soup) and pork gukbap restaurant in Jangdeok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, open Monday to Saturday from 7am until 3am the next morning. Gatsundae-guk costs 10,000 won and a bottle of Chamisul, Chum Churum or Jinro is 3,500 won, and the side dishes and lettuce come with free refills — the writer topped them up twice. For a hot bowl of soup with a glass of soju late at night, Sinjuokmi Suwan District branch is the answer.
Sinjuokmi Sillim Station branch is a gukbap (rice-and-soup) restaurant on Sillim-ro 65-gil in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The blogger stopped in during a business trip to Sillim and unwound with a bowl of gukbap and a bottle of soju, with unlimited banchan refills and takeout available. Sinjuokmi is an easy choice near Sillim Station on nights when dinner and drinks need to happen in one stop.
Handam Guksu Gwakji Aewol Branch is a bone-broth pork noodle restaurant on Aewol-ro in Aewol-eup, Jeju. The sagol gogi guksu (bone-broth pork noodle soup) costs 10,000 won and comes with an ocean view of the Aewol coast through the window, and the lunch rush is busy enough to bring a waiting line. On Mondays Handam Guksu closes early at 16:20, so check the day before you go.
