Southwest Jotter · 59 stories

Seoul & Jeolla Notes

First-hand notes on things to do and places to eat in Seoul and Gwangju and Jeolla. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Stays

PlaceYeosu, JeonnamRestaurants

Yeosu shabu-shabu buffet weekend lunch, rice paper fen mozi: Tongkeun

Tongkeun Shabu is an all-you-can-eat beef shabu-shabu buffet with a self-serve bar on the 3rd floor of the Hana Bank building in front of Yeosu City Hall, Jeonnam. Over a weekend lunch at ₩26,900, the writer had beef chuck in a half basic, half mala broth, then worked through the self-serve bar's glutinous rice sweet-and-sour pork, mala xiang guo, sushi and affogato. Thanks to the self-serve bar's wide spread and quick refills, Tongkeun Shabu made a satisfying spot for a family meal out.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, GwangjuCafés

Yangnim-dong hanok café by day: mugwort waffle for 4, Hoyang Horim

Hoyang Horim (호양호림) is a hanok café on Uwolsun-gil in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, known for Korean desserts like injeolmi waffles (waffles coated in roasted soybean powder) and gaeseongjuak (fried glutinous rice cakes). A regular ordered the mugwort injeolmi waffle, gaeseongjuak, an Americano, a vanilla latte and a hibiscus lemonade, and found the mugwort injeolmi waffle big enough for 3 to 4 adults to share. For hanok charm in daytime sunlight, Hoyang Horim is a Yangnim-dong café worth returning to again and again.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Galma Station gopchang grill, kimchi noodles over fried rice: Uhwa

Uhwa Gopchang (우화곱창) is a beef intestine (gopchang) grill in the Dunsan-dong gopchang alley of Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Galma Station, with patio seating available. On an early-evening return visit, the writer ordered the Uhwa Mixed Platter for two and finished with cold kimchi noodles (naeng-kimchi somyeon) instead of fried rice. With free sides like tripe, tteokbokki and seaweed soup and staff who pre-grill and trim the platter, Uhwa Gopchang is a gopchang spot the writer wants to keep coming back to.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Pasta date by Daejeon City Hall Station: ₩37,900 set, Someday Romance

Someday Romance is a pizza and pasta restaurant on the 6th floor of Savezone in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, close to City Hall Station and popular for dates. In a dining room styled like a forest and a Southeast Asian resort, the writer had a grilled chicken salad and the 37,900 won set of Toowoomba pasta, bulgogi pizza and 2 drinks, with generous toppings and pizza dough tasty right to the crust. Verdict: Someday Romance is a Dunsan-dong Western-style date spot that makes an ordinary day feel special.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Dunsan-dong, Daejeon burger dinner: cheeseburger at Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Galleria Timeworld is a handmade burger restaurant in the B2 food court of Galleria Timeworld in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. After shopping, the writer and her boyfriend shared a crispy chicken burger set (13,800 won), a cheeseburger (7,800 won) and a jumbo mozzarella stick (3,800 won), and found the self-serve pickle bar and free drink refills convenient. For a solo meal or a light burger dinner near Daejeon City Hall and the Government Complex, Downtown Burger Galleria Timeworld is worth recommending.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju pho restaurant: brisket pho and chili shrimp at Saigonjang

Saigonjang (사이공장) is a brick-fronted Vietnamese restaurant in Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju. On a weekday late lunch there was no wait, and the order was brisket pho (pho bo), Singapore chili shrimp and the 5,000-won egg fried rice offered with the chili shrimp; the clean, non-greasy broth and plump shrimp stood out. Saigonjang is a pho spot worth recommending for a date in Dongmyeong-dong.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuncheon, JeonnamRestaurants

Date-night Korean BBQ in Suncheon: juicy pork neck at Goban Sikdang

Goban Sikdang Suncheon Jorye Branch is a charcoal-grill pork belly and pork neck restaurant in Jorye-dong, Suncheon. The writer and her boyfriend shared the Geunbon Mixed Platter (300g pork belly + 300g pork neck), which staff grilled from start to finish, and the pork neck she expected to be dry was especially tender and juicy. At Goban Sikdang Suncheon Jorye Branch, try the pork neck with wasabi and pollack roe garlic sauce, and finish with doenjang sulbap (rice simmered in soybean paste stew).

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonThings to do

Daejeon escape room on a hot day: no-horror Martian, Cube Escape

Cube Escape Daejeon Dunsan Branch is an escape room café in the Dunsan-dong food alley in Seo-gu, Daejeon, running six themes: Obsession, Titanic, Cinderella, Organ Trafficking, Martian and Catacomb. The writer booked online with her boyfriend and tried the level 5 Martian theme for ₩45,000 for two; they failed to escape, but the puzzles were a lot of fun with no horror at all. For couples who dislike scary rooms, the Martian theme at Cube Escape is a solid indoor date pick in Dunsan-dong.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukStays

Pack-light hanok guesthouse in Jeonju with a tea set: Haetsalgadeuk

Haetsalgadeuk is a hanok guesthouse on Hyanggyo-gil near Jeonju Hyanggyo (the old Confucian school) in Jeonju Hanok Village. The writer spent one night in Haetsalgadeuk's Mindeulle room, with fresh, fluffy bedding, a spotless bathroom, amenities including towels, shampoo and toothpaste, and a shared area with a water purifier and a tea set. Soundproofing isn't great, but Haetsalgadeuk is a solid pick for two travelers who want to pack light and enjoy a traditional hanok stay.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Korean restaurant, Honey Combo-like yukjeon & moju: Hanok Maeul

Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi (한옥마을물갈비) is a Korean restaurant on Dongmun-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village that serves only two dishes: galbi hot pot (spicy beef rib stew) and yukjeon (egg-battered pan-fried meat). The galbi hot pot set at lunch costs 22,000 won per person (250g hot pot plus 120g yukjeon) and brought a spicy stew with big bone-in ribs and glass noodles, alongside thick yukjeon that tastes like Kyochon's Honey Combo chicken. Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi suits a hearty meal before exploring Jeonju Hanok Village or an evening of drinks with moju.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Hanok Village dakgangjeong shop with a chubby cat: Mannyeon

Mannyeon Dakgangjeong Hanok Village Direct Store (만년닭강정 한옥마을직영점) is a takeout dakgangjeong (sweet, crispy Korean fried chicken) shop on Taejo-ro in Jeonju Hanok Village. The blogger watched the chubby cat in front of Mannyeon Dakgangjeong during a 15-minute wait for a soy and mild half-and-half order, ate it as a late-night snack at their lodging, and finished the leftovers cold the next morning. Crispy yet moist, Mannyeon Dakgangjeong is a Jeonju Hanok Village snack that people of all ages can enjoy.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukCafés

Jeonju Terminal café with ₩3,000 americano & churro financiers: Ppajak

Ppajak Financier Bar (빠작휘낭시에바) is a financier specialty dessert café on Beotkkot-ro in Jinbuk-dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, near Jeonju Terminal. On a weekday at 4 p.m., the writer ate in with an americano, a peach iced tea and yellow cheese, choco churro and coffee crunch financiers at 3,000 won each, and loved their crisp-outside, moist-inside texture. With cheap drinks and a wide range of financiers, Ppajak Financier Bar works well both for eating dessert in and for boxing up return gifts.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored