Anyang Commuter Diner · 49 stories

Receipts from Seoul

I write about restaurant meals I try around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gopchang BBQ in Bisan-dong, Anyang with grilled chive salad: Ilmigop

Ilmigop (일미곱) is a gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant in Bisan-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, in the shopping block across from Hyeongchon Xi I'Park apartments. On a weekend evening, a couple shared Ilmigop's mixed grill for two: the same-day-prepped gopchang and daechang (large intestine) were tender with no gamey smell, and the seasoned chive salad grilled alongside was good enough to refill twice. With baby chairs on hand, Ilmigop is a solid choice for a family dinner in Bisan-dong.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwacheon galbi with onion sauce near Seoul Grand Park: Najumyeonok

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch (나주면옥 과천점) is a hanok-style galbi and Korean set-meal restaurant on Chanumul-ro in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, near Seoul Grand Park. On a Saturday lunch, a couple grilled 2 servings of hwangchil king galbi (marinated ribs) themselves, dipped the meat in onion sauce, and finished with one bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) splashed with vinegar. With even the soy sauce crab among the free side dishes hitting the spot, Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch is worth recommending for a family lunch before or after a Seoul Grand Park outing.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Gukbap restaurant in Yeongdeungpo: couple's dinner with suyuk, Hantiok

Hantiok Lotte Department Store Yeongdeungpo branch (한티옥) is a Korean restaurant specializing in Andong gukbap (beef and rice soup) and Andong guksi (noodle soup) on the B1 floor of Lotte Department Store in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Friday evening, a couple shared Andong gukbap, glutinous barley chogye cold noodles and a side of suyuk (boiled meat), and found both the savory, deep Andong gukbap broth and the tangy chogye noodle broth satisfying. Hantiok pleased both the wife who loves gukbap and the husband who doesn't much care for it.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station poke at 10:30 opening: salmon + boiled egg, Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam (올라포케 강남점) is a poke restaurant in the Ssangyong Platinum Value building near Gangnam Station in Seoul, with bar seating that suits solo diners. The writer arrived right after the 10:30 a.m. weekday opening and ordered the raw salmon poke on an oat brown rice base with an extra boiled egg, plus button mushroom soup on the side. With a generous salmon portion and a tasty default sriracha mayo sauce, Ola Poke Gangnam's raw salmon poke is a solid solo lunch pick near Gangnam Station.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon bakery revisit: Golden Hour butter sand, Bakerist Brown

Bakerist Brown is a large bakery café on the café street between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, spread over basement 1 to the 3rd floor. On a return visit for its butter tteok (butter rice cake), salt bread and kouign-amann, the writer sat on the 2nd floor at weekday lunch and ordered the conch cream pastry (5,000 won), a salt cream coffee and a Golden Hour butter sand. Verdict: everything at Bakerist Brown was delicious again on a second visit, making it a go-to bakery near Sinnonhyeon Station.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour Seogyo-dong gukbap spot with a mild beef soup set: Yukjeon

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch (육전국밥 서교점) is a 24-hour Korean gukbap (rice soup) restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongik Univ. Station. Torn between makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and gukbap on a hot day, the writer ordered the beef gukbap set, which came with a mild, savory broth, 1 bowl of rice and 5 thick pieces of yukjeon (pan-fried beef). With solo seats and 24-hour hours, Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch suits anyone looking for a late solo meal near Hongik Univ. Station.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Korean restaurant: hanwoo rib & abalone pot rice, Huiyeol

Huiyeol Seocho Gyodae Branch is a Korean restaurant with private rooms, serving pot rice (sotbap) and beef on the B1 floor near the courthouse, between Gyodae Station and Seocho Station in Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer skipped the course menu and ordered à la carte: 2 servings of hanwoo (Korean beef) rib finger meat, which arrives already grilled on a hot plate, plus abalone pot rice and golden tilefish pot rice, which staff portion out before turning the rest into nurungji (scorched rice) with sungnyung (scorched rice tea). With rooms for groups of 2–4 up to 10 or more, Huiyeol Seocho Gyodae Branch is a solid pick for team dinners and business meals.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Noryangjin ramen shop: solo iekei ramen and salmon futomaki at Chome

Chome (초메) is a Japanese ramen and futomaki (thick sushi roll) restaurant in an alley in Noryangjin, Seoul, a 7–8 minute walk from Noryangjin Station. On a weekday around 2pm, the writer ate alone at Chome, ordering iekei ramen with extra nori and a 5-piece salmon futomaki for 8,500 won; the iekei ramen was not salty, making it a good first bowl, and the salmon futomaki beat expectations. Chome is a Noryangjin ramen shop where solo diners can enjoy ramen and futomaki together at the bar.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Galbi spot near Gwangmyeong Cave with grandma-style stew: Sodam Galbi

Sodam Galbi Gwangmyeong Soha Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant in Soha-dong, near Gwangmyeong Cave in Gyeonggi. On a weekday lunch, a couple grilled 2 servings of Sodam Galbi's handmade marinated galbi, then added sun-dried chili bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). The verdict: the marinade's gentle sweetness was a highlight, and the countryside grandma-style doenjang stew is a must-order at Sodam Galbi.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang beef gopchang with mustard-leaf kimchi and noodles: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch is a beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant right in front of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a Sunday around 6:30pm, the writer and her husband waited behind 2 groups, got in after 5 minutes, ate 2 servings of gopchang and 1 of daechang (large intestine), then ordered anchovy-broth janchi guksu (banquet noodles) after one bite of the homemade mustard-leaf kimchi. Odor-free, nutty Korean beef gopchang with minari pickled garlic sauce and homemade kimchi is why Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang is worth a return visit.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong donburi at the bar: weekend salmon belly & roe, Jongno

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam (종로돈부리 연남) is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant on a side street in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. Around 3 p.m. on a weekend, the writer ate alone at the bar table, ordering the salmon belly tarako-don (salmon and pollock roe rice bowl) with an added onsen egg. The bowl came generously topped with salmon, salmon belly and white pollock roe over seasoned rice, and the salmon-and-roe bite was the best. Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a great Yeonnam-dong sake-don spot for solo dining, and worth a return visit as a date.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Geumcheon Chinese restaurant: weekend dinner for 3 at Jinjin China

Jinjin China Geumcheon Siheung Branch is a Chinese restaurant on Siheung-daero in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, across from Siheung Distribution Industrial Complex, known for wok-fired jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Three diners visited on an early weekend evening and shared a large brisket jjamppong with a thick, smoky broth close to stir-fried jjamppong, a large clay-pot samseon ganjjajang (dry black bean noodles with seafood) and aged-dough tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) served with roasted soybean powder. Jinjin China Geumcheon Siheung Branch is a Chinese restaurant near Seoksu Station where even regular portions are filling enough without upsizing.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored