Quiet Bench Dweller · 5 stories

Quiet Bench, Sejong and Gyeongbuk Tables

Writes about restaurants, bars, and cafes across Gyeonggi, Sejong, and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area. · Writes about: Cafés · Bars · Restaurants

PlaceSejongRestaurants

Sejong Italian restaurant: pre-ordered new-potato gnocchi, Olibus

Olibus Italian Restaurant Eojin-dong Flagship is a Blue Ribbon-certified Italian restaurant in the SBC Center in Eojin-dong, Sejong. The writer pre-ordered with a reservation and had a garlic shrimp Caesar salad, a flatiron steak cream risotto and the new gnocchi made with domestic new potatoes and kabocha squash. The food arrived 10 minutes after sitting down, and every dish was satisfying. Olibus is run by young owners but cooks with the polish of veteran chefs, making it a hidden gem among Sejong's Italian restaurants.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju Bomun café: special matcha in a plate-like bowl at Bibibidang

Bibibidang Gyeongju (비비비당 경주) is a traditional tea and bingsu (shaved ice) café inside the Uyang Museum in the Bomun Tourist Complex, Gyeongju. On a heatwave weekend, the single-serving pumpkin sikhye bingsu (shaved ice with sweet rice punch) and the special matcha, served in a plate-like dawan (tea bowl), were enjoyed on the Bibibidang Gyeongju terrace, and every menu item came with dasik (traditional tea snacks). Verdict: Bibibidang Gyeongju is a great Bomun bingsu café for cooling off during a visit to the Uyang Museum.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongBars

Sejong izakaya for after-work raw shrimp and bluefin tuna: Honma

Izakaya Honma (이자카야 혼마) is an izakaya on the Dodam-dong food street in Sejong, specializing in bluefin tuna belly and charcoal-grilled skewers. On a weekday after work, the writer ordered the raw shrimp and bluefin tuna set (55,000 won) and the beef shank nabe (Japanese hot pot); the northern bluefin back cut was tender, and the raw shrimp heads came back fried after the sashimi. Izakaya Honma suits dates and small group dinners that want good-value tuna sashimi with an authentic Japanese izakaya feel.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan BBQ: Jeju pork skin and mushroom sauce refills, Jipbul Taebaek

Jipbul Taebaek Dongtan Flagship Branch (짚불태백 동탄본점) is a straw-fire Korean BBQ restaurant on the 11-ja shop alley at Jisan 2-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong. After booking a weekend dinner on Naver, the writer had udaegalbi (prime beef short rib, 32,000 won), pork belly (17,000 won) and Jeju pork skin, all grilled at the table by staff, and asked for refills of the restaurant's own neungi mushroom sauce. With guacamole tortillas, a 3-cheese steamed egg and a cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) finish, Jipbul Taebaek is a solid pick for family dinners and company get-togethers.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan kalguksu restaurant with private room seating: Yubok Haemul

Yubok Haemul Kalguksu Dongtan Direct Branch is a pufferfish-broth seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant near Gaenari Park and Central Park in Bansong-dong and Neungdong, Dongtan, Hwaseong. On a weekend early evening, two servings of pufferfish seafood kalguksu at 11,000 won each and one serving of stir-fried webfoot octopus came with house-made fresh noodles and a broth full of Tongyeong sea squirts, oysters and clams. Yubok Haemul Kalguksu is worth an early visit before mealtime to skip the wait.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored
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