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

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yanghwa Hangang Park burger and crunch chicken before a bike ride: BAS

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger chain restaurant in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, close to Yanghwa Hangang Park and Seonyudo Park. The writer stopped at BAS Burger Seonyudo on a weekend evening before a ride on Ttareungyi (Seoul's public bike). The order was the signature BAS Burger combo and 2 pieces of Crunch Big Size Chicken with ranch dip, plus the James potato chips that are free for dine-in guests. Verdict: both the burger and the chicken tasted just as good as at other BAS Burger branches.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok private-room Korean beef lunch, whole sea bream pot rice: Usu

Usu Gongdeok is a Korean beef course restaurant with only private rooms, on B2 of Lotte Castle President right in front of Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. At Usu, Lunch Course C (80g Korean beef) brought ox-and-chicken porridge simmered for 48 hours, three bite-size starters, abalone five-color gardenia noodles, 1++ striploin grilled on a personal grill, a rice set with sea bream pot rice cooked with a whole fish, and Korean melon sorbet for dessert. With calm private rooms and staff who explain each ingredient, Usu is a strong pick for a pre-wedding family meeting or a meal with parents.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station pork neck galbi & bibim naengmyeon: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul, with the refined feel of a hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant. The writer ordered 2 servings of seasoned pork neck galbi (300g) with bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and enjoyed the moist pork neck, which staff grilled all the way through, plus free pear sorbet ordered from the table kiosk. Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is a good fit for family dinners or important gatherings in Balsan and Magok.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

3-story Hongdae café with decaf Lavender Grasse: Naemyeonui Balgyeon

Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견) is a large three-story café in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, near Hongdae in Seoul. On a second visit to Naemyeonui Balgyeon, the writer explored each floor's different space and ordered the signature Forest Cloud and a Lavender Grasse switched to decaf. Naemyeonui Balgyeon is more than a pretty space: the menu gets real care too, so the writer plans to return.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongchang, GangwonRestaurants

Pyeongchang Korean restaurant, hanwoo tartare noodles: Migayeon

Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon (봉평메밀미가연) is a Korean restaurant specialising in buckwheat dishes on Gipung-ro in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, Gangwon. The meal was buckwheat boiled pork cooked in buckwheat noodle water, Miga noodles made from 100% buckwheat in a 2:8 blend, and a 100% buckwheat bibimguksu (spicy mixed noodles) topped with Daegwallyeong hanwoo beef tartare, and the food was mild without ever tasting bland. Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon suits buckwheat lovers and anyone looking for a light, clean-tasting Korean restaurant to take their parents to.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung roastery café selling beans & tableware: Coffee Dripper

Coffee Dripper is a roastery café on Nanseolheon-ro in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, tucked inside Chodang Sundubu Village. Coffee Dripper served hand-drip coffee from its own roasted beans in Gyo-dong, Gangneung from 2012 and reopened in this new space in May 2026. The writer ordered the signature Dripper Latte (white almond mocha), an iced vanilla bean latte, an iced Americano and a chocolate croffin and browsed the bean and merch corner. The verdict: Coffee Dripper is the pick for anyone after a Gangneung roastery café that takes its coffee seriously, not just a pretty space.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonShopping

Seohae home goods store for a showerhead and bath items: On Saenghwal

On Saenghwal (온생활) is a large home goods store on the first and second floors of Seonmin Building on Tagok-ro in Seohae, Incheon. The writer, a regular, came back for daily necessities like detergent and tissue, browsed showerheads and bathroom supplies, and left with more than planned, praising On Saenghwal's tidy category layout, fast-moving checkout lines and easy parking. On Saenghwal is a handy stop on any day you want to get all your household basics in one place.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong jokbal dinner and a Gulpocheon stream walk: Jangmo Jokbal

Jangmo Jokbal Bupyeong Market Station Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant near Bupyeong Market Station in Incheon. On a weekday evening, the writer ordered front-leg jokbal (half original, half garlic) and a large makguksu (buckwheat noodles). The basic table setting of seaweed soup, garlic chive salad and jokbal kimchi, the friendly service and the domestic ingredients all impressed, and the meal ended with a walk along nearby Gulpocheon. Jangmo Jokbal is a Bupyeong jokbal restaurant that is good for alternating bites of original and garlic jokbal and then strolling along Gulpocheon.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Social bar in Gangnam, Seoul with QR orders and anonymous chat: Yahwa

Yahwa Honsul Bar Nonhyeon is a solo-drinking bar and social bar on basement level 1 of a building on Gangnam-daero 122-gil, near Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer visited Yahwa Honsul Bar Nonhyeon with a friend before 11pm, ordered by QR code, had a chocolate gelato, and chatted and played a crocodile game as a group of four with the guests at the next table. Yahwa Honsul Bar Nonhyeon is a Gangnam bar worth recommending for a casual solo drink or an easygoing chat with new people.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon steak & pasta restaurant with a big lunch set: Eopu Kitchen

Eopu Kitchen (어푸키친) is a pasta and steak restaurant in Simgok-dong, Seohae, Incheon, near the Seo-gu Office (now Seohae-gu Office). The Eopu Kitchen steak pasta lunch set came with a pork neck steak in garlic dressing that was big enough for two to share, a spicy shrimp cream pasta with 5 large shrimp, and a house salad with oriental dressing. Verdict: Eopu Kitchen's lunch set is generous, well put together and good value, and the spacious dining room also suits group meals.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Station Korean restaurant: juansang without alcohol, Yangjaeok

Yangjaeok (양재옥) is a bossam and gukbap (rice soup) Korean restaurant on Nambusunhwan-ro toward Dogok-dong, near Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On the first evening of a Seoul trip, the writer and a friend skipped alcohol and ordered Yangjaeok's juansang (a spread of drinking dishes: jeyuk bokkeum, bossam, tofu kimchi and zucchini jeon) plus bibim makguksu (spicy buckwheat noodles). The freshly pan-fried zucchini jeon and the mildly seasoned bibim makguksu with big chunks of meat stood out, and Yangjaeok's juansang is filling enough to enjoy as a full meal.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Poke bowl spot near Bupyeong Market: sriracha mayo steak, Slow Cali

Slow Cali Bupyeong is a poke and bowl restaurant near Bupyeong Market Station in Incheon. On one of several return visits, the writer added sriracha mayo sauce to the top blade steak bowl and paired the signature all-in-one poke with classic sauce and wasabi oil from the self-bar. With a solo dining zone and a well-stocked self-bar, Slow Cali Bupyeong is a place worth returning to for a light but filling meal.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored