First Spoon Log · 28 stories

First Bites, Seoul

I write about meals I have had at restaurants in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Kids & baby · Books & stationery · Cafés

PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pizza lunch in Wirye with QR ordering and Super Jackson: Jackson Pizza

Jackson Pizza Wirye Branch is an American-style pizza and oven spaghetti restaurant at 104 Wiryegwangjang-ro on Wirye Central Plaza in Seongnam. For lunch, the Jackson Couple Set (a Regular Super Jackson pizza and tomato cheese spaghetti) was ordered by QR code, and the generously topped Super Jackson stayed moist and tasty right to the crust end, a part usually left uneaten. Verdict: order the Super Jackson at Jackson Pizza in Large, not Regular.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Korean BBQ ₩99,000 hanwoo course with eopjinsal: Marblejeong

Marblejeong (마블정) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of 57 Seongsuil-ro in Seongdong, Seoul, near Ttukseom Station Exit 5. Marblejeong's Special A course costs ₩99,000 per person. It runs from salad, abalone porridge, yukhoe (beef tartare) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef) through three cuts of 1++ hanwoo (striploin, eopjinsal and brisket), butter-grilled abalone, fried shrimp, naengmyeon (cold noodles) and LA galbi to ice cream and omija tea, with a professional griller cooking the meat. With generous portions and plenty of variety, the Marblejeong Special A course is a solid pick for an anniversary date or a group dinner in Seongsu.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station rooftop café on a summer morning: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks is a large café on Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul, spread from the first basement floor up to a rooftop and known for handmade tiramisu and a city view in the heart of Gangnam. On an early midsummer morning, the writer ordered a classic tiramisu (7.8), an Americano (6.0) and a latte (6.5), enjoyed the city view from the Selected Nicks rooftop, and looked around the seating on each floor and the private rental room. Selected Nicks is a good Gangnam Station café for pairing a rooftop view with a soft tiramisu on a cool morning.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Station Korean BBQ lunch with Mom: snow-flake galbi, Raviok

Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in LA kkotgalbi (LA-cut beef short rib). The writer took a day off to visit Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch with her mom for a weekday lunch and ordered 3 servings of snow-flake galbi roast (nunkkot jingalbi roseu-gui, 29,000 won per serving), which the owner grilled at the table and finished with a fire show for smoky flavor. The verdict: for two women, 3 servings of Raviok's snow-flake galbi was filling and just right.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet: weekend window seat and meat sushi at Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of the Seoul Oncheon Building near Hagye Station in Nowon, Seoul, with a kids' playroom and group seating for up to 200, making it a go-to spot for family gatherings in Nowon. The writer visited at 3pm on a weekend, sat by the window, and tried raw salmon sashimi, the meat sushi and roll sushi zones, made-to-order jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), and en croute soup, and was pleased with the fresh raw fish and friendly staff. Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch suits families who want plenty of sushi variety, including meat and roll sushi.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Weekend eobok jaengban and naengmyeon in Bundang: Paljin Hoegwan

Paljin Hoegwan (팔진회관) is a 120-pyeong (about 400 m²) North Korean restaurant in Gumi-dong, Bundang, Seongnam. On a weekend, the writer booked ahead with her husband and ordered the Emperor Eobok Jaengban (a beef hot-pot platter), medium size, for 80,000 won and Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) for 16,000 won at a window table; the 1++ hanwoo eobok jaengban on a bed of crown daisy paired especially well with the mild, house-made Pyongyang naengmyeon. Paljin Hoegwan is a Bundang restaurant worth recommending for treating parents or honored guests.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Jeongja Chinese pub with yangjangpi and yogurt kaoliang: Sosogaek-jan

Sosogaek-jan Bundang Jeongja is a Chinese-style pub (a restaurant-bar serving dishes with drinks) near Exit 5 of Jeongja Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and a popular spot for company dinners and group gatherings. The writer ordered Guangdong dongpo pork (braised pork belly, limited to 10 a day), Gupum Soso yangjangpi (a cold Korean-Chinese platter with mustard sauce) and handmade fried dumplings with Tsingtao draft beer and yogurt kaoliang (sorghum liquor), and found the dongpo pork rich but not greasy. For a company dinner or date at a Chinese pub near Jeongja Station, Sosogaek-jan Bundang Jeongja comes highly recommended.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Heatwave Korean BBQ in Moran: grilled water kimchi, Mat Chandeul

Mat Chandeul Wang Sogeum Gui Moran Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Moran Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, serving premium pork belly and pork neck. On a 35°C weekend, a couple ordered the 47,000-won A Set with 400g of pork belly and doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). The staff grilled all the meat, and the couple ate comfortably with kimchi-mari muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup with kimchi) and grilled water kimchi. Staff-grilled meat and the staff-recommended grilled water kimchi pairing are why the couple keeps coming back to Mat Chandeul's Moran Branch.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Nonhyeon Station: gallery-style date night, Matbaegogi

Matbaegogi (맛배고기) is a hanwoo Korean BBQ restaurant at the Yeongdong Market entrance by Nonhyeon Station Exit 3 in Gangnam, Seoul, created as a collaboration between art director Jang Su-yeong, Korean cuisine master Lee Jeong-hyeon and Gangwon Hanwoo. The writer ordered the Matbae Special Assorted Set for two (300g), and a professional griller cooked the sirloin, scored chuck flap and flank, eaten with grilled pollock roe and wasabi. With quality beef, a gallery-like interior and friendly service, Matbaegogi is an easy recommendation for a Korean BBQ date near Nonhyeon Station.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Rice paper wrap buffet in Namwirye: peanut sauce, affogato, Dadam

Dadam Shabu Shabu & Wolnamssam Wirye Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and wolnamssam (Vietnamese-style rice paper wrap) restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Namwirye Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. At Dadam Shabu Shabu, beef belly (usamgyeop), beef chuck (umokshim), self-bar vegetables, peanut sauce, pineapple and rice paper are all unlimited, and the meal ended with affogato made by pouring espresso over cafeteria ice cream. With its mild broth and tender beef, Dadam Shabu Shabu Wirye Branch is worth recommending for a family gathering.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu open-kitchen restaurant, glass wine & ricotta salad

Billadeubeulleu Seongsu (빌라드블루 성수) is a blue-and-white Italian restaurant about 309m from Exit 5 of Seoul Forest Station in Seongdong, Seoul. From a seat facing the open kitchen, the meal was house ricotta salad at 12,000 won, aligot cheese lasagna at 22,000 won, Sicilian puttanesca pasta at 19,000 won, gnocchi fritti at 9,000 won and today's glass of wine at 12,000 won. For a Seoul Forest date or a Seongsu restaurant with a relaxed mood, Billadeubeulleu Seongsu is worth a look.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Terrace seating restaurant in Bangi-dong, Seoul: after-work Hope So

Hope So is a wood-fired pizza and draft beer restaurant on Wiryeseong-daero 18-gil, about 231m from Bangi Station Exit 4 in Songpa, Seoul. On the terrace after work, a Margherita at 22,000 won, cream jjamppong (creamy spicy seafood noodles) at 19,000 won and an apple mango ade at 6,000 won came to 47,000 won, and a small flame under the pizza plate kept every slice warm. With parking right in front of the restaurant and a wide draft beer lineup, Hope So is an easy pick for a drink after work.

Written Sep 23, 2026Sponsored