Mangwon Bread Pilgrim · 83 stories

Small Days in Seoul

I write about simple things to do and everyday places around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Hapjeong restaurant for dates: seafood tartare at Hangil Bistro

Hangil Bistro Hapjeong is a dimly lit Western restaurant on Dongmak-ro near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend evening, a married couple booked ahead and ordered the abalone innards cream pasta, seafood tartare and truffle cream croquettes with draft beer. The rich, nutty abalone pasta with no fishy taste and the seafood tartare wrapped in seaweed stood out. Hangil Bistro Hapjeong is a good choice for a date dinner in a calm, unhurried setting.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Pre-show tonkatsu lunch in Hyehwa: jumbo set, cold soba, Maison Akai

Maison Akai Hyehwa is a wood-toned tonkatsu restaurant on the second floor of a building in an alley near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. Before a Daehak-ro play, the writer had lunch at Maison Akai Hyehwa: the jumbo tonkatsu set with sirloin, tenderloin and chicken breast katsu, cold soba, and an ice cream brûlée for dessert. The meat had no gamey smell and each cut had its own texture. Maison Akai Hyehwa is worth a stop for a filling, relaxed meal before a show in Daehak-ro.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok dessert shop: walnut caramel financier gift, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a dessert shop near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, selling financiers, madeleines and canelés. For a dessert-loving friend, the writer had 4 bakes gift-wrapped (a Nunettine financier, a Nutella madeleine, a chestnut madeleine and a walnut caramel financier) and bought a chestnut madeleine and a vanilla canelé separately to taste. Fluffy Bake Shop wraps each gift with real care, and its chestnut madeleine stands out, making it a good pick for birthday presents or thank-you gifts.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChuncheon, GangwonRestaurants

Chuncheon buckwheat spot, work-trip truffle pancake: Hyeondae Memil

Hyeondae Memil (현대메밀) is a buckwheat restaurant near Namchuncheon Station in Chuncheon, Gangwon. After finishing work in Chuncheon, a makguksu-loving couple ordered soy sauce makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles), bibim makguksu, memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe rolls) and a truffle potato pancake for lunch. The standout was the truffle potato pancake, crisp shredded potato topped with cheese and bacon. They came to Hyeondae Memil for the makguksu, but the potato pancake is what makes them want to go back.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jongno 3-ga pub for an after-work dinner: pomegranate juice at Poongi

Poongi Seosunra-gil branch is a gastropub on Seosunra-gil in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. After finishing work nearby, the blogger came for dinner and ordered the limited daily Shrimp Whopper Raised in Punggi-eup, the Spicy Ragu Pasta Made by My Texas Grandma, a lemonade and a pomegranate sunrise juice. Even for someone who can't drink soda, choosing drinks at Poongi was fun, and the crispy, juicy shrimp Whopper and addictively spicy ragu pasta made for a satisfying dinner.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Myeongdong after a Namsan walk: pork neck, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) is a pork belly and pork neck Korean BBQ restaurant on Myeongdong 8na-gil in Seoul, featured in the Blue Ribbon Survey and on the TV show Wednesday Foodie Talk. After walking the Namsan forest trail, four of us (my sister, her husband, my partner and I) ate 2 servings of pork neck, 2 servings of pork belly and kimchi stew on the quieter 2nd floor, and the thick, staff-grilled pork neck and freshly cooked rice stood out. Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is less about flash than solid basics, and it suits a calm dinner after a Namsan walk.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Munmak IC octopus restaurant, Wonju: work lunch, leftover fried rice

Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi is a restaurant near Munmak IC in Wonju, Gangwon, that has served stir-fried jjukkumi (baby octopus) and kodari (semi-dried pollock) naengmyeon since 2010. On a business trip, the writer had the spicy jjusamsae (baby octopus, pork belly and shrimp) for two at ₩36,000 and a kodari mul naengmyeon, enjoyed the complimentary muksabal (chilled jelly soup) and the banchan for mixing into rice, then took the leftover octopus home to make fried rice. Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi is a good stop when you need a filling meal on the highway.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station yogurt café: post-workout acai bowl—Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Gangnam is a Greek yogurt dessert café on Yeoksam-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Gangnam Station. The writer ordered an acai bowl and a Claire Single at Lazy Yogurt Gangnam: the acai bowl was fresh, not too sweet and generously portioned, and the Claire Single Greek yogurt was thick and nutty with no sourness. Lazy Yogurt Gangnam suits anyone near Gangnam Station looking for a post-workout meal replacement or a diet-friendly dessert.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin shabu-kalguksu for a gloomy day: flat noodle wraps, Yun Ujae

Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu Gogidong Branch is a shabu-kalguksu (shabu-shabu hot pot with knife-cut noodles) restaurant on Gogi-ro in Suji-gu, Yongin. On a cloudy day the writer ordered the red shabu-kalguksu at medium spice and the crispy seafood pajeon (savory pancake), wrapped the meat in flat noodles as staff suggested, then finished with kalguksu noodles and porridge. Broth, noodles and pajeon all impressed, making Yun Ujae a solid pick for a family meal on a chilly or rainy day.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station café, weekend strawberry matcha latte: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks is a large multi-floor culture café near Gangnam Station Exit 3 in Gangnam, Seoul, occupying an entire building. On a weekend errand with her daughter, the writer took a window seat at Selected Nicks and had a classic tiramisu (7.8), an iced americano and a strawberry matcha latte from the Matcha Selection season menu. Because every floor has its own mood, Selected Nicks is a Gangnam Station café where you can pick the right seat for studying, meetups or a dessert date.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang grill near Daerim Station with free liver and tripe: Gimga-ne

Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui Daerim Station Main Branch (김가네곱창구이 대림역본점) is a long-running gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant on Dorim-ro near Daerim Station in Guro, Seoul. The writer lives nearby and has been several times. She shared 2 servings of mixed gopchang with her husband and got free liver and tripe, with more on request. She also liked the odor-free beef gopchang, the makchang that was crispy outside and chewy inside, and the two dipping sauces, one sesame oil-based and one soy-based. Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui is less a destination worth a long trip than a friendly neighborhood gopchang spot for soju near Daerim Station.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jonggak yukhoe bar for an early dinner on a diet: Umi Hoegwan

Umi Hoegwan Jonggak Main Branch is a yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) bar and pub between Jonggak Station and Cheonggyecheon in Jongno, Seoul. The writer arrived around 5:30 p.m. for an early dinner and ordered yukhoe sashimi, perilla-oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and brisket ramen from the kiosk. The yukhoe sashimi at Umi Hoegwan is lightly seasoned, so the beef's own flavor comes through. Umi Hoegwan suits diners near Jonggak Station who want a protein-focused yukhoe dinner while dieting.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored