Brass Spoon Logger · 29 stories

Brass Spoon, Seoul

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup sashimi bar: aged platter by open windows, Daemul Hoepocha

Daemul Hoepocha (대물회포차) is a newly opened aged-sashimi restaurant on the 2nd floor near Exit 7 of Ttukseom Station in Seongdong, Seoul. After a picnic in Seoulsup, the writer stopped by Daemul Hoepocha early one evening and ordered the small Daemul sashimi platter of flatfish, mullet, salmon and flatfish fin. The thick aged sashimi came as a full spread with ankimo (monkfish liver), grilled fish and bean sprout soup. Daemul Hoepocha is a great Seoulsup spot for sashimi and soju on the open-window 2nd floor on a nice day.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongRestaurants

Solo sushi in Sejong: 16-piece set with aged sashimi at Sushi Resto

Sushi Resto Sejong Sodam Main Branch is a sushi restaurant on the 2nd floor of Icom Star City in Sodam-dong, Sejong. The writer went alone just before break time and had the Premium Sushi 16P: 12 pieces of sushi, 4 pieces of aged sashimi, a salad and mini soba, with thick slices of fish and just the right amount of rice. With bar seats and 2 hours of free parking, Sushi Resto Sejong Sodam Main Branch is an easy place for a solo sushi meal in Sodam-dong.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang hangover soup for one, seonji and all: Jeju Eunhui-ne

Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch is a restaurant specializing in haejangguk (hangover soup), naejangtang (offal soup) and dombe pork (sliced boiled pork), about a 5-minute walk from Starfield Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer went alone on a weekday afternoon, ordered Set 1 (hangover soup with 80g of dombe pork) and even finished the seonji (ox blood curd) they normally skip, because it had no smell and a springy bite. Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk is an easy solo pick when you want a hot bowl of soup near Starfield Goyang.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Bangbae pie café: sugar-free thank-you pie gift, Hodukkakki Brothers

Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch (호두까끼형제 방배점) is a sugar-free handmade pie café near Exit 8 of Naebang Station, on the edge of Bangbae Café Street in Seocho, Seoul. As a thank-you gift, the writer took home a box from Hodukkakki Brothers with two slices each of walnut, pecan, hazelnut cacao and macadamia cheese pie, packed in a sturdy paper box with detailed storage instructions. For a gift pie that adults and kids alike will enjoy, Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch is a good fit.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Open-door Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon: ribs with herring roe mayo, Sojei

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store (소제이 서울본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk down an alley from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3, known for LA-style flower ribs and braised oxtail. Arriving at the 5 p.m. opening, the writer ordered 500g of LA-style flower ribs and a tasting-size braised oxtail, and enjoyed the ribs grilled by staff on a cast-iron plate in an open-door, street-tent atmosphere with sauces like egg yolk soy, herring roe mayo and green onion cream. With complimentary yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and a table full of banchan, Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is a great pick for Korean BBQ on a team dinner or a date.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Gwangmyeong salon 7-year long hair chop + Rex clinic: Maple Hair

Maple Hair Gwangmyeong Sageori Station Branch is a second-floor hair salon in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gwangmyeong Sageori Station, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on trees. For summer, the writer cut 7-8 years of long hair short and added the 3-step inner-care Rex clinic, about 1.5 hours including the cut, and frizzy hair turned bouncy and glossy. The cut went shorter than expected at first, but the refreshing new look ended up even better than hoped.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songpa sashimi shop: icy mulhoe & seafood platter, Jangseong Susan

Jangseong Susan (장성수산) is a sashimi shop at Garak Market in Songpa, Seoul, on the 1st floor of Garak Mall Panmae-dong, unit C23. Its signature menus are the Jangseong omakase, which adds a full platter of seafood such as abalone, sea squirt and sea urchin to the sashimi, and the seasonal omakase. The writer phoned ahead for a small Jangseong omakase to go: a platter of sashimi, icy mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and a seafood platter, all generous and very fresh. For taking home a wide range of premium fish and seafood in one order at Garak Market, Jangseong Susan is a great choice.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Cheonho octopus restaurant, tough-day somaek & jjusam: Jjuksami

Jjuksami Cheonho Main Branch (쭉삼이 천호본점) is a baby octopus restaurant at the entrance to the Cheonho baby octopus alley in Gangdong, Seoul, about 5 minutes on foot from Cheonho Station Exit 6. After a hard weekday, the blogger ordered baby octopus and pork belly (jjusam) for 2 with somaek (soju mixed with beer) and finished with cheese fried rice. Jjuksami Cheonho Main Branch serves a sauce that is not sweet and only moderately spicy, plus free nurungji, steamed egg and corn cheese, making it a filling, generous dinner spot.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong shabu-shabu, truffle mayo & egg porridge: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a premium shabu-shabu restaurant on the second basement floor (B2) of Delight Square by Hapjeong Station Exit 8 in Mapo, Seoul, across from Mecenatpolis. On a booked weekday lunch with a friend, the writer had Prime Angus chuck eye and chuck flap in clear mushroom broth with truffle mayo, chili and yuzu soy sauces, then egg porridge made at the table and omija (five-flavor berry) tea. With its clean broth and upscale spread, Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a solid pick for lunch or for treating someone.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Doksan-dong hair salon for a layered C-curl setting perm: Aba Hair

Aba Hair Geumcheon-gu Office Station branch is a hair salon on the first floor of the Lotte Castle Gold Park Phase 2 shopping arcade in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. The writer had a layered cut and a C-curl setting perm on awkward shoulder-length hair in about 3 hours, with little damage and curls that bounce back even after a rough blow-dry. Aba Hair suits Doksan-dong locals who aren't handy with styling and want a low-maintenance perm.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

₩14,900 bossam & kalguksu lunch near Sindorim Technomart: Sambaekga

Sindorim Sambaekga (신도림삼백가) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters), bossam (boiled pork) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in the Sindorim Prugio 1st Complex arcade in Guro, Seoul, linked underground to Sindorim Station. After a stop at Sindorim Technomart, the writer had the kalguksu bossam set (₩14,900) for lunch, paid ₩1,000 more to switch to clam kalguksu, and enjoyed the moist bossam, the clear broth full of clams, the persimmon geotjeori (fresh kimchi) and the plum juice on the way out. For a filling lunch around ₩15,000 near Sindorim Station, the Sindorim Sambaekga kalguksu bossam set is a good choice.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon lamb BBQ with a friend: fresh chuck flap and loin, Ichiryu

Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch is a Sapporo-style Genghis Khan (jingisukan) lamb charcoal grill restaurant in the food alley behind Hyundai Department Store, near Bucheon City Hall Station. Instead of the usual lamb ribs, the writer and a friend took the staff's recommendation and tried premium fresh lamb chuck flap and fresh lamb loin, followed by soup curry made right at the table and lemon rice. The staff grill everything and the lamb had no gamey smell, so the writer rates Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch the best lamb they have eaten recently.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored