Neon Backstreet Sipper · 8 stories

Neon Tab, Seoul Bars and Restaurants

Writes about Seoul's neighborhood bars and restaurants, from late-night tabs to quiet weekday tables. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan Korean BBQ: pork set and butter soy egg rice at Muttuk Sookdae

Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch is a corkage-free Korean BBQ restaurant on Cheongpa-ro in Yongsan, Seoul, near Exit 10 of Sookmyung Women's Univ. Station, where staff grill the meat for you. Two friends looking for a hearty, restorative meal ordered the 600g Handon (Korean pork) assorted set for 69,800 won and butter soy egg rice for 4,000 won, and staff expertly grilled pork skirt, pork neck and then pork belly, so there was nothing to do but eat. Pork belly with minari (Korean water parsley) sauce was the standout, and with a back area that groups of 10 or more can take over plus full-venue rental, Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch is a solid pick for year-end team dinners.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong kaisendon date set with yellowtail and uni: Makise Hapjeong

Makise Hapjeong is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (a sushi rice bowl you scoop up bite by bite), in an alley across from Mecenatpolis near Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On an after-work date, the writer ordered the 50,000-won A set with kaisendon for two, cheese fries and one drink. The seasonal yellowtail with uni and the cheese fries with their honey-like sauce stood out. Makise Hapjeong is a Hapjeong kaisendon spot where the bite-by-bite style makes eating easy on a blind date or any date.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gyeongbokgung Station noodle house: oyster perilla noodles at SABAL

SABAL is a Korean noodle and rice restaurant in the Gyeonghuigung-ui Achim Complex 3 shopping arcade near Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer took their parents to SABAL for the signature chicken noodles (16,000 won) said to have been featured on the TV show Wednesday Food Talk, plus seasonal oyster, mushroom and black sesame perilla soup noodles (17,000 won) and mini tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes, 8,000 won). The tidy plating, mild and clean flavors and free parking made it a satisfying family meal. Families looking for gentle, non-spicy Korean food will find SABAL worth booking ahead.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro hangover soup spot: rib suyuk & somaek, Palpal Neoguri Haejang

Palpal Neoguri Haejang (팔팔너구리해장) Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in haejangguk (hangover soup) right in front of Exit 8 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer had bone-in pork rib suyuk (boiled sliced pork, ₩55,000) and Salsal Boneless gukbap (rice soup, ₩12,000) with somaek (soju mixed with beer); both the mild suyuk, deboned by staff at the table, and the spicy, broth-warmed gukbap were satisfying. Palpal Neoguri Haejang is an Euljiro Korean restaurant worth revisiting for a lunchtime hangover cure or an evening meal with drinks.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak date-night sashimi restaurant with 3rd-floor window seats

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch (숙썽수산 종로본점) is an aged sashimi restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building in Jongno, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4. Amid an all-black interior, curtained seats and window-side seats with a view, the small aged sashimi platter (69,000 won) and the seasonal raw shrimp (39,000 won) were standouts, with a name tag on every kind of fish and especially good bluefin tuna and large olive flounder. Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is well worth it for a sashimi date near Jonggak Station when you want both atmosphere and flavor.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hannam sandwich shop, wasabi tuna jalapeño brunch: Dance Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Hannam is a takeout-focused sandwich and brunch shop on the ground floor along Dokseodang-ro in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul. For a weekend brunch at home, the writer took out the basic baguette sandwich (₩8,900) and the new tuna jalapeño sandwich with wasabi (₩11,900): the baguette sandwich was soft, and the tuna jalapeño was spicy with an addictive, nose-tingling wasabi kick. With only four bar seats inside, Dance Dance Dance Hannam is a Hannam-dong sandwich shop best visited with takeout in mind.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station sandwich café, solo lunch before noon: Dance Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a sandwich and brunch café on the third basement floor (B3) of Grand Central in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a day off, the writer visited alone before the noon lunch rush and ordered the chicken breast sandwich set (15,400 won) and the seasonal corn tofu cream cheese baguette (10,900 won). The café also gave a complimentary drip bag at the end. If shared tables at Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station feel uncomfortable, come before 12:00 or get your sandwich to go.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

8pm Jongno3-ga Korean BBQ with no wait: Cham Dwaejitgan

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 2-1, where staff grill the pork for you. On a return visit around 8pm there was no wait, and the meal was Jirisan black pork skin-on belly (19,000 won), doenjang (soybean paste) stew and Jirisan kudzu cold noodles, with a free milk thistle supplement brought out after ordering drinks. Cham Dwaejitgan is a good-value place to fill up before a date on the Jongno 3-ga pocha (street tent bar) street.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
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