Gangnam Address Keeper · 62 stories

Seoul Address Book

I write about firsthand visits to restaurants and beauty spots in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour gukbap at Cheonho Station, samgyetang and bone soup: Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch (보승회관 천호역점) is a 24-hour gukbap (Korean rice soup) and hangover soup restaurant near Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. Having already tried the sundae soup, the writer ordered pork bone hangover soup (11,000 won) and samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup, 14,000 won). The bone soup had a rich, spicy broth and meat that came easily off the bone, and the samgyetang had a clean broth and chicken that wasn't dry. With a spacious, tidy dining room and table ordering, Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch is a good place for a filling meal near Cheonho Station at any hour.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Station sashimi restaurant: winter amberjack for two, Gogaebul

Gogaebul Gangnam Yeoksam Main Branch is a seafood fine-dining restaurant in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, open since 2002, where every seat is in a private room. Two people shared the small large-amberjack sashimi platter for ₩120,000, followed by seaweed soup and a dessert of fruit and chestnut yanggaeng (sweet bean jelly). Gogaebul is a good fit for a quiet winter amberjack dinner, company dinner or group gathering near Yeoksam Station and Gangnam Station.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Eel restaurant in Myeonmok for parents' 70th, 2-eel set: Cheonsangae

Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch is a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant on Myeonmok-ro in Jungnang, Seoul, near Sagajeong Station. We took our parents for the weekday lunch special, the Seolhwa Sansam eel set (2 eels, 59,000 won). The relaxed atmosphere, the 2-person, family and group seating, and a free eel for pregnant women and guests aged 80 and over left our parents very satisfied. Cheonsangae Jangeoga is an eel restaurant worth saving for family gatherings such as 60th and 70th birthdays.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Finance Center café: gâteau chocolat & tomato ade, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is a specialty café in Gangnam's office district, near Yeoksam Station and Gangnam Finance Center in Seoul. The writer tried three items: the Helsinki latte, the gâteau chocolat and the tomato ade. The Helsinki latte balanced coffee and milk well, and the gâteau chocolat had a chewy, brownie-like bottom worth ordering again. For anyone who wants good coffee with a chocolate dessert, the Helsinki latte and gâteau chocolat pairing at Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is the one to order.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam pollock restaurant, roe fried rice with parents: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Wolho-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, specializing in braised pollock (kodari jorim) and braised seafood. The writer found Appa Jjim while looking for a lunch spot in Misa, then came back for dinner with their parents and ordered a small siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock for 2 (35,000 won), plus Hyangmi pot rice, flying fish roe fried rice and nourishing kalguksu. With mild seasoning, a large parking lot and plenty of seating, Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a good choice for a family meal out with parents.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Dongdaemun warehouse vintage shop with free parking: Viva Trade

Viva Trade Eulji Dundaun Dongdaemun Branch is a 200-pyeong warehouse-style vintage shop on the 5th floor of the DUNDUN building on Euljiro in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer dropped into Viva Trade by chance while shopping in Dongdaemun and stayed far longer than planned, browsing everything from high-end labels to budget clothing. The buy-3-get-1-free deal, spend-based discounts and 2 hours of free parking stood out most. Viva Trade Eulji is worth adding to a Dongdaemun shopping route for vintage shoppers planning to buy several pieces.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Indian early dinner: butter chicken, tikka, lassi, Mandala

Mandala Indian Lounge is an Indian restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Dongmak-ro 3-gil in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. On a sudden curry craving, the writer stopped by for an early dinner and ordered butter chicken, chicken tikka, rice, plain lassi and plain naan for 38,000 won in total. With gently spiced flavors and an exotic, almost-on-vacation atmosphere, Mandala Indian Lounge is worth a return visit as an easy introduction to Indian food and as a Hapjeong date spot.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Korean BBQ dinner: ₩69,400 pork neck and belly spread, Gamdol

Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch (감골연탄집) is a briquette-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant near Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul. For dinner, the writer ordered 2 servings of jul-jul-i special pork neck, 1 serving of briquette rock-salt pork belly, hangover sundubu (soft tofu stew), yeolmu kimchi noodle soup, diced briquette fried rice and white rice for ₩69,400 in total, and enjoyed the briquette smoke flavor and the free summer plum slushie. With a ₩9,900 lunch special by day and briquette barbecue by night, Gamdol Yeontan Jip is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Daechi-dong hair salon: natural wave heat perm for limp hair, TONI&GUY

TONI&GUY Daechi is a hair salon in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, about 3 minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Hanti Station. The writer's hair was limp and lost its styling quickly, so designer Dohwa gave it a wave-style heat perm, and a consultation that covered hair condition and everyday styling habits produced soft, natural curls that weren't overdone. For easy waves that come back with just a blow-dry, TONI&GUY Daechi was a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Pho restaurant by Sinchon Station: TV-featured scallion pho, Kkua Ewha

Kkua Ewha (꾸아 이대점) is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on the 2nd floor at Ihwayeodae-gil in Seodaemun, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Ewha Womans Univ. Station, known for appearing on tvN's "Line Up Restaurant." At Kkua Ewha the writer had the scallion flame-grilled pho (10,500 won) and one serving of bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles, 14,000 won), and the rich Hanoi-style broth with its smoky, scallion-infused flavor stood out most. For pho that's different from the usual Sinchon and Ewha chains, Kkua Ewha's scallion flame-grilled pho is the dish to order first.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Boyfriend's go-to Korean BBQ in Moran: aged pork neck, Mat Chandeul

Mat Chandeul Wang Sogeum Gui Moran Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Moran Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, that serves domestic chilled pork aged 14 days or more. The writer's boyfriend often went to Mat Chandeul Wang Sogeum Gui with friends and for company dinners, so the couple ordered the A Set (47,000 won) with aged pork belly, aged pork neck and kimchi stew, and the pork neck stood out over the pork belly for being tender without any dryness. With a spacious dining room, group tables and floor seating, Mat Chandeul Wang Sogeum Gui Moran Branch is a safe choice for company dinners and family meals in Moran.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Gangnam Japanese restaurant: half eel bowl & Hanwoo nabe, Manmok

Manmok (만목) Seolleung is a Japanese restaurant specializing in eel rice bowls on Seolleung-ro 82-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Seolleung Station Exit 2. The writer ordered the half eel rice bowl and the Hanwoo (Korean beef) nabe (hot pot). The Kanto-style Gochang freshwater eel was soft and clean-tasting, and the rich nabe broth paired well with it. Manmok Seolleung is a quiet, versatile choice for solo meals, weekday lunches and company dinners.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored