Small Tray Circuit · 16 stories

Compact Tray, Seoul-Chungcheong Rounds

Writes about bars, restaurants, beauty spots, and cafes across Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Daejeon-Chungcheong. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Korean restaurant a regular loves, yuja sorbet lunch: MUSEO

MUSEO (무제오) is a Korean dining restaurant on basement level 1 off Gangnam-daero 47-gil, near Yangjae Station in Seocho, Seoul. A regular at MUSEO ordered the premium lunch baekban (set meal with rice and side dishes) for 49,000 won and had steamed egg, Hanwoo ox foot with sauce, handmade sorbet, Hanwoo chuck tender tartare namul bibimbap and an ice cream dessert. Because the menu changes often with seasonal ingredients, MUSEO is a Yangjae Korean course restaurant worth coming back to again and again.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Kanto-style eel bowl: Gochang eel & counter seats, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese restaurant specialising in Kanto-style eel rice bowls on Seolleung-ro 82-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, where Gochang freshwater eel is grilled once, steamed, then charcoal-grilled twice more. At weekend opening time the writer ordered two whole-eel bowls (39,000 won each) and found that Manmok's secret sauce paired well with the rice, while the pudding-like steamed egg and the green tea and black tea ice cream dessert were also satisfying. With counter seats, Manmok is an eel bowl restaurant in Gangnam well suited to an upscale solo meal.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant, lunch for a cancer-free friend: Wongiok

Wongiok Gwanghwamun (원기옥 광화문점) is a Korean restaurant on basement level 1 of D Palace in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, known for gomtang (beef bone soup) and boyang jeongol (stamina hot pot). To treat a friend who had fully recovered from cancer to healthy food, two of us shared the Hearty Set (110,000 won) at a weekday lunch, and the meat-stuffed fried peppers, the octopus stir-fry with beef tendon and the herb pot rice stood out. Wongiok Gwanghwamun is worth recommending when you want to treat someone to a meal that is both tasty and healthy.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong Chinese restaurant revisit: butter tangsuyuk, Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong (보보식당) is a Blue Ribbon Chinese restaurant on Eonju-ro 174-gil in Apgujeong Rodeo, Seoul, featured on Culinary Class Wars 2. On a weekday revisit booked for opening time, the writer reordered the scored cucumber salad they had fallen for last time (₩9,000), then tried the pork butter tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, ₩35,000) and dongpo pork (₩45,000) for the first time. Verdict: Bobo Sikdang is an upscale Chinese restaurant whose clean, light food lets you eat plenty without feeling heavy.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam hair salon lunchtime repair magic setting perm: Park Jun

Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch is a hair salon on Gangnam-daero 110-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, that calls its repair perms and repair magic (straightening) "Ribbon perm" and "Ribbon magic." The writer, whose hair had turned frizzy and dry from constant blow-drying, went at lunchtime for a Ribbon repair magic setting perm with a junior stylist, who showed and explained each Shiseido product at every step. With the sides straightened and the ends curled into a natural C-curl, the writer left Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch completely satisfied.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon hotel Korean restaurant: ₩27,000 abalone pot rice set at Modam

Modam Itaewon is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant with private rooms on the ground floor of the Mondrian Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. The writer and a friend ordered the Modam pot rice set with abalone (₩27,000) and the doenjang-marinated charcoal-grilled maekjeok set (₩37,000), and enjoyed the basic spread of mushroom tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour mushrooms), perilla-oil buckwheat noodles and perilla leaf and lime sorbet. Modam Itaewon offers hotel atmosphere at ordinary restaurant prices, making it a Korean restaurant in Itaewon worth visiting.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Ttukseom burger spot revisit: top 3 burgers compared at Reel Burger

Reel Burger (릴버거) is a handmade burger restaurant on Jayanggangbyeon-gil in Gwangjin, Seoul, across from the rabbit tunnel underpass to Ttukseom Han River Park. On a return visit just after 1pm with no wait, the writer ordered Reel Burger's three most popular burgers (cheeseburger 9,400 won, classic burger 12,800 won, jalapeño cumin burger 13,500 won) along with the signature onion rings. The verdict: first-timers at Reel Burger should start with the cheeseburger or the classic burger.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Shabu-shabu above Tim Hortons at Seoul Station Grand Central: Yunseul

Yunseul is a shabu-shabu and hot pot restaurant on the 1st floor of Grand Central at Seoul Station, in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the 59,000 won set for two with the minari and cod roe pancake, then finished with gondeure porridge (Korean thistle rice porridge) and bulgogi kimchi fried rice; the pancake and the gondeure porridge stood out most. With all-booth seating by floor-to-ceiling windows and a full 24,000 won set per person, Yunseul is a Seoul Station restaurant that will please anyone you bring, whether for a date or a group meal.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Chinese: sirloin steak and mala eggplant at Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a fusion Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 of the KT Building on Sejong-daero in Jongno, Seoul, run by Chef Jang Bo-won of Culinary Class Wars 2. Two friends booked a Sunday table right after the break time and shared mala-sauce fried eggplant (29,000 won), sirloin-cap steak with gochu japchae (stir-fried peppers, 48,000 won) and cucumber salad. The writer, who dislikes mala, enjoyed the food. Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a Chinese restaurant suited to Korean tastes and is full even on weekend evenings, so a reservation is essential.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel rice bowl late lunch with GFC Mall parking: Unagiwa

Unagiwa is a hitsumabushi (grilled eel rice bowl) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer and a friend came for a late lunch around 2 PM, ordered two regular hitsumabushi at 38,000 won each, and received complimentary shrimp plus a matcha pudding for writing a receipt review. Unagiwa's regular hitsumabushi is as generous as a large size elsewhere, making it an eel rice bowl spot worth a return visit.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Garak-dong, Sindang vs flagship: Jinseong Hanwoo

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship (진성한우곱창 가락본점) is a Korean beef gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in Garak-dong, Songpa, Seoul. A longtime regular of the Sindang branch visited the Garak Flagship, which offers 2 hours of free parking, at 7 PM on a weekend, waited about 10 minutes, and ordered 2 servings of gopchang, 1 of daechang and kkakdugi yangbap, enjoying the pickled minari garlic sauce, the 3 house-made kimchis and the free egg custard most. At 19,000 won for 220g, Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship is a Garak-dong gopchang spot the writer will definitely return to.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Garosu-gil izakaya with Jeju croaker spicy stew: Negi Silbi Sinsa

Negi Silbi Sinsa is a casual, pocha-style seafood pub on Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. On a rainy weekday evening, two friends ordered the Jinju-style sea bream makhoe (roughly sliced raw fish, medium, 52,000 won) and the Jeju giant croaker spicy stew (42,000 won), and finished both even though the staff warned the portions were large. The Jeju croaker spicy stew broth explains why Negi Silbi Sinsa fills up before 6 p.m. even on a quiet Garosu-gil.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored