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

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ group tables near Yongsan Station: Jeokto Balhyo Gui

Jeokto Balhyo Gui Yongsan Branch is a fermented pork belly restaurant in Yongsan, Seoul, about 600m from Exit 1 of Yongsan Station. At the first-floor bar table I ordered one plate each of jeot-samgyeop (salted-fermented pork belly, 28,000 won) and balhyo-samgyeop (fermented pork belly, 18,000 won) with bibim-memil (spicy buckwheat noodles), and the sweet, savory depth of the jeot-samgyeop was the most memorable part. With free parking at Yongsan Tax Office and corkage-free service with no bottle limit, Jeokto Balhyo Gui also suits large group and wedding-invitation gatherings.

Written Sep 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong course menu restaurant with the Rose Set: Awesome Rose

Awesome Rose is a Western restaurant on the basement level of 40 Apgujeong-ro 10-gil in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul, a short walk from Sinsa Station Exit 8. The Rose Set course brings a rose salad, white rose pasta and Hanwoo rose steak plus two Bundaberg drinks in one order, valet parking in the alley in front of Awesome Rose costs 4,000 won for two hours, and a Naver reservation comes with a fresh rose. The Hanwoo rose steak, cooked to the right doneness and very tender, was the most memorable steak I have had in a long while.

Written Sep 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinsa Chinese restaurant mint seats and Hokkaido cream shrimp: Samsin

Samsin Garosu-gil is a Chinese restaurant on Garosu-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, a short walk from Sinsa Station Exit 8, where mint-colored seats and gold tableware set the tone. The writer ordered three dishes — galbi-jjim jajangmyeon, Hokkaido milk cream shrimp and Tebanaka meat jjamppong — and checked both the amount of meat and the springy bite of the cream shrimp. Valet parking is 5,000 won for two hours and private rooms are available, so Samsin Garosu-gil works for dates and group meals alike.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Live jazz dinner in Bangi-dong, Seoul: puttanesca at Allegro

Allegro is an Italian restaurant near Songpanaru Station in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, where dinner comes with a live jazz set. The writer ordered puttanesca, a seafood salad and a sous-vide pork collar steak while the Kim In-young Trio played just a few steps away. She came to Allegro for the jazz and left even more impressed by the food.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored
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