Back Burner Diner · 4 stories

Back Burner, Seoul Restaurants

Writes about small Seoul restaurants she visits after work, mostly ones tucked behind bigger streets. · Writes about: Restaurants

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak jokbal spot with codillo-style fried skin: Yeonnam Jokbal 1987

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch (연남족발1987 종각점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant on the Street of Youth near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul, known for its signature fried jokbal set (49,000 won). The writer walked in as the first customer right after the weekday break ended at 4 PM and ordered the fried jokbal set with makguksu (buckwheat noodles). The fried jokbal, lightly drizzled with a sweet-spicy fried chicken sauce, wasn't greasy at all, and even the writer, who normally skips jokbal skin, picked out the fried skin. The set made 3-4 servings for two women, so half went home in a takeout box, and Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 is a Jonggak jokbal spot worth returning to.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi taco spot by Ttukseom Station: uni yukhoe and Big Wave, Morimoly

Morimoly is a sushi taco restaurant in Seongsu, Seoul, near Seoulsup Station and Ttukseom Station, built on gimbugak (crispy fried seaweed) shells. On a solo weekday visit around 5 p.m., when many items were sold out, the uni yukhoe taco (sea urchin and spicy beef tartare, 16,900 won) and a Big Wave beer (12,000 won) were ordered by QR code; the palm-sized taco combined rice, spicy beef tartare, subtle sea urchin and crunchy seaweed. If you love both sushi and tacos, Morimoly offers a combination you won't find anywhere else.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi for one, 10-piece toro platter: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi platter restaurant in the basement of KT Tower, right outside Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. Returning after two months, the writer ate alone at Elephant Sushi on a rainy weekday afternoon and ordered a 10-piece fatty tuna toro platter (₩50,000), monkfish liver, sweet shrimp, a butter-grilled scallop and pepper ice cream. Verdict: when a full sushi course feels like too much but you still want high-quality sushi, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is well worth a return visit.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop by City Hall Station: 3:30pm spicy abura soba, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen shop in Jung-gu, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from City Hall Station Exit 10, open daily from 11am to 9:30pm with no break time and no regular closing day. On a weekday at 3:30pm during a heatwave, the writer and a friend ordered abura soba for ₩12,000 with extra spice for ₩500, shoyu ramen for ₩11,000 and fried gyoza for ₩5,000. With counter seats and basement seating, Mentsuru City Hall Branch is easy for solo diners and pairs alike, and the writer would very much return.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 4 stories