Third Barstool · 11 stories

Third Stool, Jeju and Gyeonggi

Writes about restaurants, bars, and cafes across Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Jeju, favoring quiet spots away from the main streets. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Fast sundaeguk lunch by Nogyang Station, Uijeongbu: Yetnal Gyeongseong

Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Nogyang Branch is a newly opened sundaeguk (Korean sausage and pork soup) restaurant on Dongil-ro in Nogyang-dong, Uijeongbu, where the soup comes out quickly at lunchtime and a large parking lot sits right out front. The writer added scallions, chives and a Cheongyang chili from the self-bar, then seasoned the milky broth with salted shrimp; the bowl held pisundae (blood sausage) rather than chapsundae (glutinous-rice sausage), along with plenty of meat. For a fast, filling sundaeguk lunch or a solo meal in Uijeongbu, Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Nogyang Branch is the right choice.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gukbap spot in Uijeongbu: ₩10,000 spicy beef offal soup, Hagane

Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang Uijeongbu Main Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gomtang and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant right in front of Eulji University Hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered one hanwoo gomtang (9,500 won) and two spicy beef offal soups, and found the yukgaejang-style offal soup rich and spicy, with tender offal that was not chewy. Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang's prices are low, but the portions are generous and the broth is deep, so there is no need to worry about a skimpy bowl.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu chicken & pizza chain: soy garlic weekday lunch, Mom's Touch

Mom's Touch Uijeongbu Haengbok-ro branch is a burger, chicken and pizza chain restaurant on the 2nd floor of 12 Haengbok-ro, on Uijeongbu's Rodeo Street in Gyeonggi. On a weekday lunch, the writer took home a Pi-Chi Set (soy garlic Big Thigh boneless chicken R, Kkwaktro Meat pizza M and Pepsi Zero) plus coleslaw, and loved the fire-grilled steak flavor of the Kkwaktro Meat pizza and the lightly fermented, tangy coleslaw. Mom's Touch Uijeongbu Haengbok-ro branch suits anyone who wants pizza and chicken in a single takeout order.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café, trip with Mom & pumpkin soup: Working Holiday

Working Holiday Millak is a brunch café with a Gwangan Bridge view on the 7th floor of the Badamaru building on Millaksubyeon-ro in Suyeong, Busan. On a weekday morning, day 3 of a Busan trip, the writer and Mom ordered a panuozzo and a chicken avocado sandwich with pumpkin soup and orange juice; the two praised the pumpkin soup about 10 times, and two sandwiches were enough to fill two people. For a Gwangalli brunch with both an ocean view and good food, Working Holiday Millak is a solid pick.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan hagfish grill, second try with Korean mint: Gyeongbuksan

Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo (경북산꼼장어) is a Blue Ribbon hagfish (kkomjangeo) restaurant on Choryang-ro in Dong-gu, Busan, run by the same family for three generations since 1963. Put off hagfish by its crunchy, chewy texture five years earlier, the writer tried again on a Busan trip with a medium half salt-grilled, half sauce-grilled plate, fried rice and Busan Galmaegi soju. The generous portions and the clean taste with bangaip (Korean mint) at Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo completely cured the writer's aversion to hagfish.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Aewol pork noodle shop with Mom: Naver-booked sea-view seat, Handam

Handam Guksu Gwakji Aewol Branch (한담국수 곽지애월점) is a pork noodle restaurant in Aewol, Jeju, right next to Randy's Donuts near Handam Beach. The writer and Mom booked through Naver, sat at a floor-to-ceiling ocean-view window seat, and ordered 2 bowls of pork noodles and 1 bowl of pork gukbap (pork and rice soup). The clean bone broth stood out, and Mom was still praising the kimchi back home. Handam Guksu Gwakji Aewol Branch delivers both good food and an ocean-view atmosphere in Aewol.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanBars

Gwangalli bar in Busan for low-fizz ginger highballs with mom: Moknal

Moknal (목날) is a retro-style Korean pub on the 3rd floor on Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, right in front of Gwangalli Beach in Busan, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Gwangan Bridge. On an evening walk from a Gwangalli stay, the blogger stopped at Moknal with a highball-loving mom for low-fizz Namonaki Earl Grey and ginger highballs, a half portion of mixed skewers and draft beer. For a quiet drink with a Gwangan Bridge night view, Moknal is a good second-round spot.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Hanok Korean restaurant in Gyeongju for lunch with Mom: Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Gyeongju (향택) is a Korean restaurant in a converted hanok on Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil in Hwangnidang-gil, Gyeongju. On a Gyeongju trip with her mom, the writer joined the Sunday lunch waitlist on the Tabling app, waited about 10 minutes, and wrapped Hyangtaek's mackerel gondre rice (rice cooked with Korean thistle), served with thick mackerel and a light soup, in fresh seaweed. Hyangtaek Gyeongju's mackerel gondre rice is mild rather than strongly seasoned, making it a good quiet meal to share with parents.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu Station Korean BBQ, LA galbi and pickled radish: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch is a charcoal-grill galbi restaurant near Uijeongbu Station and Uijeongbujungang Station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. On a repeat visit, the writer booked through Naver for a weekday lunch and ordered 2 servings of handmade LA galbi and 1 bowl of rice. The side dishes included yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), with complimentary bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and coffee to finish. The handmade LA galbi with pickled radish and white rice was the most memorable meal of the visit.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu Station galbi restaurant, 5th visit in a heatwave: Manpo

Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled marinated galbi (short rib) and LA galbi restaurant on Beomgol-ro near Uijeongbu Station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. On a fifth visit during a sweltering day, the writer ordered 1 serving of marinated pork galbi and 1 serving of handmade LA galbi, along with banchan (side dishes) that included yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and a free bowl of Hamhung-style naengmyeon (cold noodles, in broth or spicy mixed) per person. Thanks to the side dishes and the complimentary naengmyeon, Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch is a galbi restaurant worth recommending for family gatherings or team dinners in Uijeongbu.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Solo bar-table sushi near Nowon Station: 12 plates at Sushi Ianen

Sushi Ianen Nowon Station is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant on the third floor near Nowon Station in Seoul, where diners pick plates off the rail and ask the chef directly for anything that isn't circulating. On a weekday visit at 1:20pm, the writer waited about 10 minutes, took a seat at the solo bar table and worked through 12 plates, including egg shrimp, gamtae sweet shrimp with sea urchin, engawa (halibut fin) and salmon taco rolls, with a 300cc draft beer. With plenty of bar seating, Sushi Ianen Nowon Station is an easy place to eat sushi alone at weekday lunch.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
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