Night Coaster · 43 stories

Coasters After Dark

Short notes on bars visited around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. salad shop: two sauces on chicken tofu noodles, Y-Stave

Y-Stave Diet Konkuk (와이스타브 다이어트 건대점) is a protein box shop near Exit 3 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer ate solo there, ordering the bestselling chicken tofu noodle protein box (484 kcal, 67g protein) with added salmon and two sauces, spicy teriyaki and yuzu dressing, and took a Greek yogurt to go. Verdict: for a tasty, filling high-protein meal while dieting, the Y-Stave Diet Konkuk chicken tofu noodle protein box is the answer.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Hwayo soju bar near Konkuk Univ.: yakiniku & yukhoe, Yukhoe Gongjakso

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a pub specializing in yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), salmon and beef yakiniku, near Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Under cherry blossom lights, the blogger paired a Hwayo set (25,000 won) with 2 servings of soy-marinated yakiniku, a yukhoe platter, iced pine fruits and green onion chicken skewers, and the food was so good they finished the Hwayo quickly and added soju. Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch is a good Konkuk Univ. bar for affordable Hwayo with yakiniku and fresh yukhoe.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu lunch in Seongsu: ranch mayo salad refills at Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), on the second floor of a building on Yeonmujang-gil near Exit 3 of Seongsu Station in Seongdong, Seoul. At lunch the writer ordered the tenderloin gyukatsu (₩24,000) and the Brie cheese omurice (₩23,000), grilled the beef on a personal grill topped with Isigny butter, and asked for a refill of the ranch mayo salad because it was so good. The omurice egg didn't get cut neatly, but the taste was excellent, and Gyuen Dang is a definite place to return to.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Soju bar at Sadang Station with beef belly kimchi nabe: Wonnang

Wonnang Sadang Jikyeongjeom (워낭 사당직영점) is a Korean pub 321m from Exit 7 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul, serving traditional Korean liquor, makgeolli (rice wine) and anju (drinking food). The writer ordered the beef belly kimchi nabe (hot pot) for 31,000 won with Jinro soju, and enjoyed both the strawberry makgeolli welcome drink and the spicy broth simmering on a tabletop gas burner. At Wonnang Sadang Jikyeongjeom, one pot of beef belly kimchi nabe covers both drinking snack and dinner, and it is hard to stop eating even when full.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Ttukseom Station Korean BBQ, alcohol-free with a friend: Marblejeong

Marblejeong is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving hanwoo (Korean beef) and Handon (Korean pork) on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, where staff grill all the meat. Taking a break from alcohol, the writer shared the 400g Handon set (pork belly, pork neck and a special cut with doenjang stew, steamed egg and dessert) with a friend, then finished a ₩7,000 bowl of mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles). After several company dinners and lunches at Marblejeong, the writer strongly recommends it again, even for the pork alone.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Gunja Station room pub for two: level-3 cheese bone grill, Saechamjip

Saechamjip is a Korean pub on the 2nd floor near Exit 5 of Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, known for its private rooms and stone-plate bone grill. On a weeknight, two friends at Saechamjip ordered the boneless stone-plate bone grill with aged white kimchi simmered for 48 hours at level 3 (buldak-level heat) with extra mozzarella (₩29,900 + ₩3,000), flying fish roe stone-plate fried rice and injeolmi silk-thread bingsu, and finished 6 bottles of soju. Verdict: Saechamjip is a good private-room pub at Gunja Station for a night of spicy food and serious drinking.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Post-hospital solo shank galbitang, Gwangjin: Achasan Tong Galbitang

Achasan Tong Galbitang (아차산통갈비탕) is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant near Exit 2 of Achasan Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. On a second solo visit, the writer ordered the Meat-Packed Arongsatae (beef shank) Galbitang for 19,000 won and was satisfied with the clear yet deep broth, the seemingly endless meat and the self-bar desserts of misugaru (roasted grain drink) and barley gangjeong (puffed barley snack). For a hearty, restorative meal on your own, the shank galbitang at Achasan Tong Galbitang is a sure choice.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulBars

Seongbuk soju bar in Seoul: dumpling egg soup and sherbet at Coco's

Coco's Sungshin Women's University branch is a spacious Korean pub near Exit 2 of Sungshin Women's University Station in Seongbuk, Seoul. On a weekend evening the writer and a friend sat at a window table in the main hall, paired handmade dumpling egg soup (11,900 won) and pineapple sherbet with soju, and finished 4 bottles between them, also enjoying the pub's two Welsh corgis and clean restroom. Coco's is a good Sungshin Women's University bar for soju over a light yet hearty soup.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. izakaya revisit: 6 charcoal skewers and merou at Haru

Haru Konkuk Branch is an izakaya on the second floor of a building near Exit 1 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Remembering a great sashimi meal seven months earlier, the writer returned and ordered the 6-skewer charcoal platter (19,500 won) and merou shioyaki, salt-grilled Chilean sea bass (27,000 won), with soju. After the sashimi last time, the skewers and grilled merou at Haru Konkuk Branch were just as satisfying, making it a Konkuk Univ. izakaya worth going back to.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ for group dinners in Wangsimni: Beom Set at Yukseong

Yukseong is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Sangwangsimni Station and Wangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul, where staff grill cross-aged meat over eco-friendly corn fuel. The writer and a friend shared the 480g Beom Set (prime pork neck, hanger steak and mushrooms, ₩57,000) with welcome red wine, beef radish soup and soju, and even the mushrooms grilled in the meat fat were a hit. Thanks to the friendly owner, the writer plans to return, and Yukseong is an easy recommendation for a Wangsimni group dinner or a Korean BBQ night out.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ on a diet, Jirisan black pork neck: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving black pork and Boseong Nokdon pork on the ground floor of Piccadilly CGV, right outside Exit 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. Around 7:30 PM on a weekday, the writer joined an 8-team Catch Table waitlist, got in 20 minutes later and had 2 servings of staff-grilled Jirisan black pork neck with dropwort and seasoned bean sprout wraps, potato wraps and ₩3,000 egg fried rice. For a lighter, clean-tasting meal, the black pork neck and dropwort combination at Cham Dwaejitgan makes it a very satisfying Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ spot.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

90s-vibe Nonhyeon seafood pub: aged sashimi platter on rice, Sanhocho

Sanhocho Nonhyeon is a seafood pub with a vintage 1980s–90s feel near Exit 3 of Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer ordered the ₩53,000 'direct-from-origin' aged sashimi platter with Saero soju, topped the included rice with sashimi to eat it like sushi, and paired it with seasoned minari (water dropwort) and white kimchi. Sanhocho Nonhyeon is a Nonhyeon Station pub worth recommending for aged sashimi with soju and a lively group atmosphere.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored