Modest Supper Maker · 10 stories

Small Dinners in Seoul

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

PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Rainy-day Nowon Korean BBQ, marinated vs plain galbi-sal: Junggye Gogi

Junggye Gogi Party Nowon Branch (중계고기파티 노원본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Junggye-ro 12-gil in Nowon, Seoul, specializing in grilled beef and pork. On a rainy day, a couple grilled 2 servings of flower chuck flap (kkotsal chisal, 26,000 won) medium rare, compared marinated and plain emperor galbi-sal (rib finger meat, 19,000 won each), then finished with beef doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice, 7,000 won). With roomy tables, a self-serve side dish corner and 3,000 won house red wine, Junggye Gogi Party Nowon Branch is a solid choice for family meals or group dinners in Junggye-dong.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sangbong Station baby octopus spot, midday meal with Mom: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant in the Sangbong Station food alley in Jungnang, Seoul. On a daytime visit with Mom, the writer ordered the Nunchi Jjukkumi set (₩18,900, ordered for two) with snowflake cheese added, then enjoyed sungnyung (scorched-rice tea), ₩4,000 fish roe fried rice, a dessert ice cream and an iced Americano from the review event. Plump baby octopus with no fishy smell and a satisfying fried rice finish make Joajukne Jjukkumi a high-satisfaction pick near Sangbong Station.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju yukgaejang spot after Danjong Festival: rib stew, Yukdaejang

Yukdaejang Dangye Musil-jeom (육대장 단계무실점) is a 24-hour yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on Roanokeu-ro near City Hall in Wonju, Gangwon. On the drive back to Seoul from the Danjong Cultural Festival in Yeongwol, the writer ordered spicy beef rib stew (50,000 won), fresh yukkal-myeon (spicy beef noodle soup, 12,000 won) and brisket cold noodles (10,000 won); the fall-off-the-bone ribs and the fresh-noodle broth stood out. With easy parking and friendly staff, Yukdaejang Dangye Musil-jeom is worth stopping at again when passing through Wonju.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang crab restaurant first thing in the morning: crab set, Gallilli

Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang (갈릴리대게회식당) is a snow crab and raw fish restaurant inside the crab-and-sashimi alley of Jukdo Market in Pohang. On a May holiday trip, a couple walked in as the first customers of the morning and ordered the Yeongdeok snow crab set for 2 (₩100,000), which came with abalone porridge, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), sashimi and sea squirt, plus crab-shell rice and a red crab ramen from a Naver coupon. The Yeongdeok crab at Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang was full of meat, making it a satisfying first meal in Pohang.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Nam-gu, Pohang pork BBQ: frozen pork belly and fried rice at Dwaejippa

Dwaejippa Hyoja Branch (돼지빠 포항효자점) is a pork barbecue restaurant on Hyoseong-ro in Nam-gu, Pohang. During a May holiday trip to Pohang, the writer, tired of seafood, ordered the old-style salt-grilled pork set (500g, ₩43,000), frozen pork belly, self-serve fried rice made with butter and a fried egg. The salt-grilled pork tasted best dipped in plain salt, and the Korean-grown kimchi, not too sour, beat expectations. Verdict: Dwaejippa Hyoja Branch is a solid pick when you crave meat instead of seafood in Pohang, or for a family get-together.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang crab restaurant: snow crab course for a couple, Dongnam Hoe

Dongnam Hoe Sikdang (동남회식당) is a sashimi and snow crab restaurant at the start of the sashimi and crab street in Jukdo Market, Pohang, with plenty of tables across two spacious floors. The writer and her husband ordered the snow crab set for 2 (₩100,000) and worked through a full course of sashimi, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), snow crab, seafood ramen and spicy fish stew, but ate so much of the crab-shell innards that there was nothing left for fried rice. For Pohang visitors who want a generous spread from side dishes to snow crab, Dongnam Hoe Sikdang is a satisfying choice.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam raw beef restaurant: mungtigi set for two, Guwol-ui Socheol

Guwol-ui Socheol (구월의 소철) is a restaurant specializing in mungtigi (thick-cut fresh raw beef), yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and salmon sashimi on the B1 level of Hakdong-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, connected to Gangnam-gu Office Station Exit 3. The writer and her husband ordered the 2-person set (59,000 won), orange yuringi (crispy fried chicken in a tangy sauce) and Hennessy and yuzu highballs, and were most impressed by the chewy mungtigi, said to be made from Hanwoo beef slaughtered the same day in Daegu, and by the Jeju stone-wall interior. With parking, group tables and private rooms, Guwol-ui Socheol is a safe pick for both a date and a company dinner.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Station chicken pub, 9 pm Sunday dinner for two: Gyeryugwan

Gyeryugwan is a pub and restaurant serving oak wood-fired whole chicken and other chicken dishes in the Jungang Market alley of Sindang-dong, near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer and her husband skipped the peak rush with a 9 pm Sunday visit and ordered, without makgeolli, the oak-fired chicken with neungi mushroom (22,000 won), the assorted chicken jeon (25,000 won) and fried chicken gizzards with green onion (15,000 won). Gyeryugwan stayed busy even late at night, and all three dishes were satisfying.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangdong hair salon keratin clinic for hair bleached 10 times: Juno

Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch is a hair salon on Cheonho Rodeo Street in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong, Seoul. The writer has semi-curly hair that had been bleached about 10 times and had not seen a salon in 2 years. At Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch the writer got a keratin repair clinic (application, wrap, about 15 minutes of heat, flat-iron press) plus an end trim, and the same-day before-and-after showed clearly more shine and swing. The writer expected little from bleached hair but liked the Juno Hair keratin clinic enough to want it again.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
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