Lamp Shelf Browser · 42 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

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
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo pork BBQ: 5-cut half pig and bibim naengmyeon at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch (한마음정육식당 김포장기점) is an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant in Janggi-dong, near Janggi Station in Gimpo. The half pig (500g) lets you try pork belly, five-layer pork belly, neck, jowl and gabrisal (pork collar strip) in one go, with free refillable doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and steamed egg, plus bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) served with broth on the side. When you want to compare several pork cuts at one table, the half pig at Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch is a great fit.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Hagik-dong bulgogi spot: naengmyeon dessert and meal kits, Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi (동추원불고기) is a Korean beef bulgogi restaurant in Hagik-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, near Singi Market. The Korean beef bulgogi set came with side dishes such as gat-kimchi (mustard-leaf kimchi) and musaengchae (spicy radish salad), plus shredded scallion salad and fresh vegetables, and naengmyeon (cold noodles) and omija tea followed as dessert. With seating that runs from solo tables to private rooms, Dongchuwon Bulgogi is a good fit for a meal with parents or a family gathering.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongridan-gil tteokbokki, open-window vibe vs. Yeouido: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack bar with a pojangmacha (street-tent pub) feel on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul. On the evening before a public holiday, the writer and a friend ordered the mild Hyeonseonine combo set with tteokbokki, mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), fritters, liver-only sundae (Korean blood sausage) and fish cake broth with rice cakes, enjoying an open-window, outdoor-pub feel in a space much bigger than the Yeouido branch. Even the mild Hyeonseonine combo is delicious enough that the writer wants to come back to Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch for draft beer.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju Western restaurant: blue cheese burger holiday dinner at Yolk

Yolk Wonju Musil is a two-story Western brunch restaurant on Mandaegongwon-gil in Musil-dong, Wonju, Gangwon. On a public holiday evening, two people booked ahead and ordered kimchi pilaf, a blue cheese burger and snow cream cheese pasta à la carte; the portions were large, but they ate almost everything. With attic-like second-floor seating and friendly service, Yolk Wonju Musil is worth recommending for a date or a family meal.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong seafood jjim in a private room, with wasabi soy: Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang (해물명가 동해해물탕) is a seafood jjim (spicy braised seafood), monkfish jjim and seafood stew restaurant on Bupyeongmunhwa-ro in Bupyeong, Incheon. On a weekend visit, the writer ordered a small seafood jjim that came with mussel soup and a spread of side dishes, then dipped the milt, blue crab and webfoot octopus in wasabi soy sauce, and especially liked how the sauce was neither too sweet nor too spicy. With a large second-floor room, free valet parking and an option to add extra seafood, Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is a solid choice for group gatherings and company dinners in Bupyeong.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong beef BBQ: snowflake galbi and braised carrot side, Nocheongol

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch (노천골 부평본점) is a two-story charcoal BBQ restaurant on Buheung-ro near Bupyeong Market Station in Incheon. On this dinner visit, a returning regular ordered unmarinated beef snowflake galbi (short ribs) for two instead of the usual galbi for the first time. Staff grilled the beef from start to finish and cut it off the bone, and the handmade side dishes, including a new braised carrot dish, were a hit. Verdict: the fresh beef at Nocheongol tastes great even without sauce and is worth a return visit.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Duck BBQ near Bakchon Station with grilled garlic wraps: Ganaandeok

Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a duck BBQ restaurant near Bakchon Station in Gyeyang, Incheon, grilling Korean-raised duck over oak charcoal. The writer booked a weekend dinner for two with her mom and had a whole fresh charcoal-grilled duck (700g) with miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), grilled garlic wraps and charcoal-roasted sweet potatoes, then took the generous leftovers home. With duck that has no gamey smell and a large parking lot, Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a solid pick for duck near Bakchon Station.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored