Night Ledger Walker · 74 stories

Night Ledger, Seoul

I write about bars and unhurried evenings around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Shopping · Things to do · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Taiwanese food by Seongsu Station Exit 3: rice-bowl bao at Bao Seoul

Bao Seoul Seongsu is a Taiwanese restaurant on Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Seongsu Station. The writer ordered the classic bao, dongpo pork rice bowl (braised pork belly over rice) and Taiwanese beef noodle soup from a tablet menu, and found the classic bao tasted like a meat rice bowl tucked into a steamed bun, the dongpo pork melted in the mouth, and the beef noodle soup was crowd-pleasing and not too heavy on spices. Bao Seoul Seongsu is an easy Seongsu spot to sample all three dishes, even if Taiwanese food is new to you.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Poke takeout dinner in Seolleung: Super Protein & sriracha, Hola Poke

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is a poke and salad restaurant on the 2nd floor of 6-4 Seolleung-ro 86-gil, near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer ordered the signature Super Protein poke at the kiosk, added the sriracha sauce the staff recommended, and took it home for a light dinner. The Super Protein poke wasn't dry at all, and the spicy sriracha kept it enjoyable to the last bite.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station kalguksu house: early-winter octopus soup, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch (다선칼국수 교대직영점) is a kalguksu and bossam restaurant on the 1st and 2nd floors near Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a windy early-winter evening, the meal at Daseon Kalguksu was yeonpo-tang (clear octopus soup) with added noodles, kimchi dumplings, jang kalguksu and a small bossam, plus complimentary barley rice, and the bossam was so tender that ordering the small size felt like a mistake. Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch is a solid Gyodae Station dinner spot for sharing hot broth and bossam with a group.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop in Gwangjin for solo drinks: motsu, big karaage, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a solo visit the writer ordered motsu ramen (beef small intestine ramen), handmade karaage and a bottle of Sapporo beer; a large group order had already sold out the hormone daechang (beef large intestine), and other menu items were close to selling out. Mentsuru's motsu ramen was rich and nutty with no gamey smell, and the big, juicy karaage paired well with the beer for a satisfying solo meal and drink.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cheongdam hair salon tassel cut + split-bangs cowlick fix: Beorn Hair

Beorn Hair Cheongdam is a hair salon on Seolleung-ro in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Gangnam-gu Office Station. A semi-wavy bob that had turned frizzy in humid weather got a cut and volume magic straightening for a sharp, blunt tassel cut, and bangs that kept splitting to both sides got a cowlick correction to reset the root direction. Verdict: after Beorn Hair Cheongdam, the bangs curved onto the forehead with just a blow-dry, no flat iron, and the style held the next day even after drying it at home.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulThings to do

Seongsu LP café on a chilly day: grapefruit honey black tea at Wanita

Wanita Music Listening Room Seongsu is an LP listening room on the 3.5th floor of 5 Yeonmujang 17-gil in Seongsu, Seoul. On a chilly-day date, the writer paid the 16,500 won per person cover charge (one basic drink included), drank grapefruit honey black tea and apple cinnamon, picked LPs to play on a turntable and made song requests in the listening room. Wanita Music Listening Room is a calm, healing spot for couples who want quiet music and conversation instead of a noisy Seongsu café.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu dessert café: first bocado with 3 cream dips, Bocado Butter

Bocado Butter Seongsu Main Store (보카도버터 성수 본점) is a café on Yeonmujang 7-ga-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, that specializes in bocado, a butter dessert. Trying bocado for the first time, the writer ordered the bocado 10-piece set with three creams (coffee dipping cream, butter caramel dipping cream and fresh cream), and found the thin, crispy texture and buttery flavor tasted even better than the bocado looks. For first-timers, Bocado Butter is a good place to order all three creams and compare them side by side.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

No-break-time Seongsu burgers: fried eggplant vs mushrooms, bd Burger

bd Burger Seongsu is a handmade burger joint on the second floor of a back-alley building off Yeonmujang-gil, near Exits 3 and 4 of Seongsu Station in Seoul, and unusually for Seongsu it has no break time. On this visit the writer ordered the BD Grilled Shrimp Burger set with fried eggplant and the Double Cheese Burger set with the side swapped to fried mushrooms to compare the burgers and fried sides. Verdict: both the whole-shrimp burger and the juicy-patty burger at bd Burger Seongsu were satisfying, and the fried mushrooms beat the fried eggplant.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station BBQ slicing frozen pork at the table: Taejang Sikdang

Taejang Sikdang Suwon Station Branch is a retro-style frozen pork belly (naengsam) restaurant on Hyanggyo-ro in Paldal-gu, near Suwon Station in Suwon. Back for frozen pork belly for the first time in years, the writer ordered 3 servings of 4mm pork belly sliced right at the table, plus cheese steamed eggs, clam soft tofu stew and arrowroot cold noodles. Finishing by wrapping a slice of pork belly in the arrowroot cold noodles sealed it, and the writer strongly recommends Taejang Sikdang Suwon Station Branch.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon pizzeria with red curtains, daytime jamón burrata: The European

The European Haenggung Main Branch is a European-style wood-fired pizza restaurant in central Haenggung-dong (Namchang-dong), Suwon. On a daytime visit, the writer ate the signature arugula jamón burrata cheese pizza in a dark dining room with red curtains and chandeliers, and found the pizza mild rather than heavy, with the ingredients' own flavors coming through. For an exotic, European-feeling date or family meal near Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, The European Haenggung Main Branch is worth considering.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station Japanese restaurant, yakisoba I missed in Mullae: Jojo

Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a teppanyaki-style Japanese restaurant in the basement food court of AK Plaza, directly connected to Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. A longtime regular from Jojo's Mullae days finally ordered the yakisoba skipped back then, as a yakisoba set with mentaiko gyoza (pollock roe dumplings); the noodles stayed bouncy to the last bite and the gyoza beat expectations. Verdict: whatever main you pick at Jojo, add the mentaiko gyoza.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon Station café, decaf London Fog & coconut coffee: Jeong Ji-young

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters AK Plaza Suwon is a roastery café on the 3rd floor of AK Plaza, directly connected to Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. A regular who has visited more than 5 times ordered the signature coconut coffee and chose the London Fog milk tea as a caffeine-free drink. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters AK Plaza Suwon is a good pick for rich coconut coffee or a caffeine-free milk tea right at Suwon Station.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored