Lamp Shelf Browser · 37 stories

A Lamp Shelf Through Seoul and Gangwon

Writes about restaurants, cafes, shopping, bars, beauty spots, and things to do around Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Solo ramen after IMAX in Yongsan: dongpo chashu, staff-ID perk, Menya

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is a ramen restaurant on the 7th-floor restaurant floor of I'Park Mall, connected to Yongsan Station in Seoul. After an IMAX movie at CGV, the writer went alone for a weekday lunch and ordered Menya Seoul's signature original dongpo chashu ramen à la carte, made with a rich broth said to use 25 ingredients and topped with 100g of dongpo (braised pork belly). The verdict: delicious to the last spoonful, though the writer regretted ordering it without a drink.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonCafés

Gyesan Station café for a less-sweet Jeju matcha latte: Dalgeuraem

Dalgeuraem (달그램) is a new bakery café near Gyesan Station in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, selling baked sweets, salt bread, pastries and cakes in a European-style space with large windows. The writer ordered a mango yogurt cake, a Jeju matcha latte made less sweet and a decaf iced Americano, and each person also received a free cold brew to celebrate the opening. For a comfortable setting and good desserts near Gyesan Station, Dalgeuraem is worth a visit.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju soy crab restaurant on a train trip: first guest at Hanjamae

Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang Jeonju Hanok Village Main Branch (한자매간장게장) is a Korean restaurant specializing in soy-marinated crab and seafood on Gyeonggijeon-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju. Arriving by train, the writer walked in as the first customer at the 11am weekday opening and ordered the mixed soy crab set; the roe-packed female crab and the soy-marinated salmon mixed into egg rice were the highlights. A bowl of rice disappeared in no time, and Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang is on the list for the next trip to Jeonju.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Gyesan-dong burger spot to share limited chicken burgers: Bas Burger

Bas Burger Incheon Gyeyang District Office Branch is a handmade burger restaurant near Gyeyang District Office in Gyeyang, Incheon. Two friends ordered and shared the chicken burger, sold in limited quantities each day, and the crunch chicken burger, and helped themselves to free self-serve fries with ketchup and mayonnaise. If you love chicken burgers, the chicken patty lineup at Bas Burger Gyeyang District Office Branch is well worth a try.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Salad takeout at Jonggak Station: mustard duck & wasabi beef, Wystab

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is a protein box, salad and poke shop at B1, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul. On a weekday lunch the writer took out a Smoked Duck Light protein box (445kcal, 26g protein) and a Beef Light protein box (261kcal, 29g protein), both ready in 3–5 minutes, with mustard sauce pairing well with the duck and wasabi sauce with the beef. Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun serves diet food that still delivers on portion and flavor, an easy solo or takeout lunch in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok Station salad takeout, a Gwanghwamun fan returns: Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad and protein box shop on basement level 1 of Lotte Castle President by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. After falling for the food at the Gwanghwamun branch, the writer visited the Gongdeok shop for takeout: a Beef Light protein box (261kcal, 29g protein) with wasabi mayo sauce and a Chicken Light protein box (287kcal, 44g protein) with teriyaki sauce. With fresh vegetables, juicy meat and quick preparation, Why Starve Gongdeok delivered a healthy meal that got both taste and portion size right.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Cheonggyecheon café for vanilla Basque cheesecake & decaf: Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a three-floor bakery café on Mugyo-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Cheonggyecheon and City Hall Station. The writer ordered a vanilla Basque cheesecake and a decaf iced americano and loved the pairing: a cheesecake halfway between dense and soft, with a decaf that never tasted watery. Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is worth recommending if you want an atmospheric dessert café near Gwanghwamun or simply love Basque cheesecake.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok café: AOP butter financiers & Dubai egg tart, Fluffy Bake

Fluffy Bake Shop is a baked-goods dessert café right in front of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer browsed the cases of financiers, madeleines, salt bread, egg tarts, Dubai egg tarts and canelés, took a gift box home, and found a rich butter flavor in desserts the shop says are made with AOP butter. For distinctive butter desserts or gift-ready baked goods near Gongdeok Station, Fluffy Bake Shop is a good fit.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Solo sushi lunch in Gwanghwamun, table kiosk and B set: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant in a basement on Sejong-daero in Jongno, Seoul, with a kiosk at every table that makes dining alone easy. The writer went alone around 1:30pm on a weekday and had the Elephant Sushi B set (12 pieces of sushi with broth, salad and noodles) plus a highball, and found the portion generous and the fish fresh. Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a good stop for a quiet solo sushi meal in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Takeout-only Jongno bakery: garlic-butter & rich coffee bread, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a takeout-only neighborhood bakery on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Jongno 3-ga and Ikseon-dong. The writer waited briefly to enter the small Munhwa Bakery shop, which fits about two groups at a time, and took home its signature garlic bread and coffee bread. The big garlic bread generously spread with garlic butter and the strongly coffee-scented coffee bread were both satisfying, making Munhwa Bakery a good pick for anyone looking for a bakery in Jongno that gets the basics right.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Japanese restaurant for couples: chicken okonomiyaki at UWA

UWA Hongdae Main Branch is an open-kitchen teppanyaki Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor on Wausan-ro 21-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. After booking ahead, two people sat at the bar seats and shared a tomato chicken okonomiyaki made with yam instead of flour, shio shrimp yakisoba, a cranberry & lemon highball and a cassis orange. UWA Hongdae Main Branch is a filling date-night spot where the griddle at every seat keeps the food warm to the last bite.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo shabu-shabu buffet late lunch, staff sauce picks: Sangsangcheom

Sangsangcheom Songdo Triple Street Branch is an all-you-can-eat hot pot (huoguo) and shabu-shabu restaurant in Building D of Triple Street in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. On a weekday late lunch, the writer split the pot between two broths, tried a sauce combination recommended by the Sangsangcheom staff, helped themselves to skewers and fried food from the self-bar, and finished with fruit for dessert. Even as an all-you-can-eat spot, Sangsangcheom served fresh meat and vegetables, making it a place worth coming back to.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored