Sharing Spoon · 33 stories

Shared Spoon, Seoul

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang Japanese restaurant: perilla-leaf hitsumabushi, Bunko Dining

Bunko Dining Sadang is a wood-toned Japanese restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, a 4-minute walk from Sadang Station Exit 11. The writer started with a ginseng liquor aperitif, then ate the hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) set three ways: plain, mixed with wasabi, scallion, nori and perilla leaf, and as ochazuke with sea bream and eel-head broth; the perilla-leaf mix was the favorite. Bunko Dining Sadang is a little pricey, but the set and its quality justify it, making it a good pick for a date or a wedding-invitation meetup.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hannam sandwich shop, a regular's menu guide: Dance Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Hannam is a baguette sandwich and coffee shop near Hannam Ogeori (Hannam five-way intersection) in Yongsan, Seoul. A regular since the early days tried the summer-season corn tofu cream cheese sandwich and the chicken breast sandwich switched to ciabatta, then rounded up every other menu item tasted so far: the pistachio, jambon pistachio, choco tofu cream cheese, jambon jalapeño and honey butter baguette sandwiches. Thanks to its house-made tofu cream cheese and a baguette that is crisp outside and soft inside, Dance Dance Dance Hannam is worth recommending to anyone after a baguette sandwich that's out of the ordinary.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Gwanghwamun café: iced latte & lemon Earl Grey tart | Center Coffee

Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a specialty coffee café on B1 of Seoul Finance Center, right outside Exit 5 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. During a hot weekend outing in Gwanghwamun, the writer stopped at Center Coffee Gwanghwamun for an iced café latte and a lemon Earl Grey tart, and looked around the coffee bean aroma corner and the open, airy window tables. Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a coffee and dessert café worth recommending for a short break in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong cocktail bar for a quiet second round: Doran Honsul Bar

Doran Honsul Bar Hongdae Branch is a quiet honsul (solo-drinking) bar on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong Station. After a first round in Hongdae, the writer and a friend stopped at Doran Honsul Bar for a second round, ordered a Peach Crush and a Blue Hawaii, and because the weekday was quiet, the owner added a complimentary Lemon Drop. For an easygoing, reasonably priced second round away from the noise, Doran Honsul Bar Hongdae Branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Daehangno Korean pub with a fire show and whole octopus: Hyehwahwa

Hyehwahwa (혜화화) is a fusion Korean pub on the second floor at 29-3 Daemyeong-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Daehangno. Over dinner, the writer watched the owner's fire show and ordered Hyehwahwa's straw-fire seared cauldron knife-cut octopus and top-grade domestic yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) with aged kimchi egg gimbap (seaweed rice roll), enjoying the plump whole octopus, its subtle straw-fire aroma and how well the yukhoe pairs with the gimbap. Verdict: Hyehwahwa is a Daehangno bar with a great atmosphere, worth returning to for a date or a night out with friends.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station gyukatsu with Isigny butter and grilled mochi: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on B1 of the LG Building near Seoul Station, where each diner grills the cutlet on a personal brazier. The writer booked for 5pm, right after the break time ends, and ate the gyukatsu with Isigny butter and wasabi, plus shrimp tempura, grillable cheese and thin-sliced mochi from the review event. Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a fun pick when you want a meal near Seoul Station that is a little different from the usual.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeomdan, IncheonRestaurants

Geomdan tonkatsu, no weekend wait: tenderloin-cheese katsu at HOKATSU

HOKATSU is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Geomdan New Town, Incheon, reportedly selected for the 2026 Blue Ribbon Survey. Arriving on a weekend just as the break time ended, the writer walked into HOKATSU without a wait, tried the homemade pre-meal yogurt, then ordered the Popular 3-Katsu + Mini Curry set and the Tenderloin + Cheese Katsu. The tender tenderloin, the cheese katsu packed with cheese and the curry made it a dinner that beat expectations.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Quiet Haenggung-dong café, a latte for picky drinkers: Caffeine Focus

Caffeine Focus is a three-floor café in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, tucked into an alley a little off the main street, with views of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress wall. From a 3rd-floor window seat, the writer had an iced café latte and a vanilla bean Basque cheesecake, and even as someone picky about lattes found the Caffeine Focus latte smooth and delicious. For a quiet break away from the Haenggung-dong crowds, Caffeine Focus is a recommended stop.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station sandwich shop, corn tofu cream cheese ciabatta: Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a baguette sandwich shop on Basement 3 of Grand Central, right by Exit 4 of Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer, a regular, ordered the corn tofu cream cheese sandwich on ciabatta instead of baguette to eat on an early-morning KTX. The warm, crisp yet chewy ciabatta paired well with the mild tofu cream cheese and sweet corn. Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a good choice for a filling sandwich before a train.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Eel restaurant near DMC, Seoul: ginseng-topped eel and pot rice, Ryeok

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점) is a freshwater eel grill restaurant near Digital Media City (DMC) Station in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Two diners ordered salt-grilled eel, sauce-grilled eel and nutritious pot rice, and enjoyed about 8 banchan (side dishes), a complimentary fish roe soup, pre-grilled eel warmed over a charcoal grill, and nurungji (crispy scorched rice) from the pot rice. Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom is a good fit for a hearty, restorative meal on a chilly day or a company dinner in Sangam-dong.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Red-Haired Anne vs Valheim cocktails at Bitters, a Hongdae speakeasy

Bitters is a speakeasy cocktail bar on basement level 1 of a building on Hongik-ro in Mapo-gu, Seoul, entered by pushing a bookshelf door. On a return visit to Bitters, the writer ordered the signature Red-Haired Anne and Valheim cocktails with a melon jamón plate: Red-Haired Anne is fresh and fruit-forward, while Valheim is heavier, with herbal and savory notes. For a quiet second round after dinner in Hongdae, Bitters is a great fit.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Insadong gomtang restaurant, solo 3 PM meal and sogokju: Wolhadong

Wolhadong (월하동) is a hanok-style pork gomtang (pork soup) restaurant on Insadong 8-gil in Jongno, Seoul. Visiting alone around 3 PM, the writer ordered the Wolhagomtang for 12,000 won, a 5,000-won taster of cold jeyuk (chilled sliced pork) and sogokju (traditional Korean rice wine) for an afternoon drink, and found the broth clear and deep with no gamy smell. Wolhadong is a safe choice near Anguk Station and Insadong for a solo meal, lunch with parents or dinner with a friend from abroad.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored