Filter Cup Wanderer · 5 stories

At the Filter Bar

I write about cafés I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Shopping

Daehak-ro poke shop that won over a teen: brisket & steak, Sallering

Sallering Daehak-ro is a bibim poke salad shop on Daehak-ro 10-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Hyehwa Station and Marronnier Park. On a weekend when Daehak-ro restaurants were fully booked or had long queues, the writer stopped at Sallering Daehak-ro before a small-theater play for beef brisket bibim poke and flame-grilled steak bibim poke on a brown rice and barley base, and the food came out quickly enough to leave time to spare before the show. Tasty and filling enough that a high schooler who usually leaves salad behind cleaned the bowl, Sallering Daehak-ro is a good choice for a fast, healthy meal in Daehak-ro.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yangjae Station pie shop, presentation gift & Dubai pie: Hodu Kkakki

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a handmade pie shop in a Dogok-dong alley near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. As a gift for a loved one's presentation, the writer bought the Hodu Kkakki Brothers Premium Assorted Pie set, which holds 2 slices each of walnut, pecan, macadamia cheese and hazelnut cacao pie, plus 2 limited-quantity Dubai crispy pies. For a meaningful day when both taste and packaging matter, the Hodu Kkakki Brothers assorted pie set is a safe choice.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Pre-gym ramen at Lotte Incheon: dongpo double set, Menya Seoul

Menya Seoul Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is a Japanese-style ramen shop in the B1 restaurant floor of Lotte Department Store Incheon in Michuhol, Incheon. After May gift shopping and before a PT session at the gym, the writer had the mild-broth dongpo chashu ramen (braised pork belly ramen) double set with an extra ajitamago (marinated soft-boiled egg) and crispy gyoza. With two thick chunks of dongpo pork, jambon and a soft-boiled ajitamago in one bowl, Menya Seoul served a satisfying meal that felt like a trip to Japan.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Burger shop before a Gwanghwamun show: pastrami sandwich, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Euljiro is a handmade burger and sandwich shop near Euljiro 1-ga Station and City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Before a musical at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, two of us shared a bacon cheese burger and a pastrami sandwich, and the pastrami, said to be cured and smoked for over 80 hours, was the most memorable. For a filling meal before a show, the Daily Fix Euljiro pastrami sandwich is well worth trying.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Ikseon-dong bakery found by smell on a dawn walk: Munhwa Bakery

Munhwa Bakery is a takeaway-only bakery in Ikseon-dong, Jongno, Seoul, 200m from Exit 7 of Jongno 3-ga Station toward Changdeokgung Palace. On a 4-day Seoul trip with a friend visiting from Japan, the smell of baking bread on a dawn walk led to Munhwa Bakery, where the pair packed the signature garlic bread, coffee bread, walnut bread and maple cream cheese bread. The coffee bread was torn open right on the street, and the garlic bread with salad and bacon made a filling breakfast the next morning.

Written Sep 5, 2026Sponsored

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