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

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro pork soup restaurant with a 1 kg boiled pork platter: Baekok

Baekok Euljiro is a gomtang (slow-simmered meat soup) restaurant in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, newly opened by Baekok, which is known in Seongsu for its pork gomtang. After finishing work in Jongno one late evening, the writer ordered the special Donbok Tray (돈복쟁반), tasting the boiled pork by cut first and then simmering it with vegetables like a hot pot; with nearly 1 kg of meat alone, the Donbok Tray really needs 3 people. Cleanly boiled pork and a rich but mild broth make Baekok Euljiro's Donbok Tray work for both a meal and drinks.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Thai: low-sauce crab curry, chili pad thai, Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a Southeast Asian restaurant on B1 of Mecenatpolis Mall, directly connected to Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. Craving Thai food after a trip to Thailand, the blogger ordered Set A for two (59,000 won) at dinner: tod mun kung (fried shrimp cakes), poo pad pong curry (Thai stir-fried crab curry) and king prawn pad thai. The poo pad pong curry was the most satisfying dish, though there was slightly too little sauce to mix into rice. For trying classic Thai dishes in one go near Hapjeong Station, Set A at Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a solid choice.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHongcheon, GangwonCafés

Hongcheon hanok café in the rain with friends: window seats at Gil151

Gil151 Hanok Cafe is a large hanok café on about 1,800 pyeong of land in Nam-myeon, Hongcheon, Gangwon. On a day of heavy rain, the writer returned to Gil151 with a married couple they are friends with, sat by the window over a latte, the signature Autumn Road drink and pastries, and watched the rain-soaked yard and misty mountains. Verdict: Gil151 is a Hongcheon café where you can enjoy the scenery indoors and linger for hours, even on a rainy day.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Guro, Seoul: pork galbi and veggie shabu, Jin Galbi

Cheonsanghyeon National Certified Jin Galbi Guro Digital branch is a charcoal galbi restaurant near Namguro Station in Guro, Seoul, named after chef Cheon Sanghyeon from the show Culinary Class Wars. An order of 2 servings of pork galbi came with shabu broth at no extra cost, and vegetables and soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) from the self-bar turned the meal into grilled meat plus shabu-shabu. The pork galbi itself is not stunning, but the free shabu and generous self-bar make Cheonsanghyeon National Certified Jin Galbi a good pick for family meals and groups.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae date café with Potato Man chimney bread: Chimney Mansion

Chimney Mansion is an offbeat bakery café on Jandari-ro, between Hongdae and Hapjeong in Mapo, Seoul, whose signature is chimney bread, a reinterpretation of a Hungarian bread. The writer ordered the Potato Man chimney bread loaded with potato topping, the Egg Mayo chimney bread, an iced tea and a strawberry matcha latte, and loved the crisp-outside, chewy-inside texture and the European-style space across two floors plus outdoor seating. Chimney Mansion is a photogenic Hongdae date café with an unusual menu, well worth recommending.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangsu izakaya dinner for couples: sweet shrimp and mero at Ppaeret

Ppaeret is a Japanese pub (izakaya) serving handmade dishes in an alley between Hapjeong and Sangsu in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend evening, a married couple ordered sweet shrimp sashimi with fried shrimp heads, grilled mero (Chilean sea bass) and kkanpung enoki mushrooms (in a sweet-spicy Korean-Chinese glaze), then finished with mochi tofu received through an event. Ppaeret is a good place for quiet conversation over neat, carefully made bar snacks and a drink.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Shrimp avocado salad set at Mokushura Table, a Paju Heyri restaurant

Mokushura Table is a three-story European restaurant in Heyri Art Village, Paju, Gyeonggi. On a weekend trip to see a daughter who lives in Paju, the writer ordered the 66,000-won set for two with shrimp avocado salad, scallop oil pasta and margherita pizza, then explored each floor of Mokushura Table. The food is reliably satisfying, and the garden and greenhouse-style spaces make Mokushura Table more than just a meal.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Italian restaurant, truffle fries on salmon pizza: Pizzeria O

Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station (핏제리아오 합정역점) is an Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizza and pasta near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a dinner date, the writer ordered salmon pizza, ragu pasta and truffle oil fries, piled the fries onto the salmon pizza and dipped the pizza crust in the ragu sauce. With soft lighting and friendly service, Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station was a satisfying Hapjeong date-night restaurant.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Friday izakaya in Guro, Seoul: whole Spanish mackerel, roe stew, Sodam

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch is a Japanese-style robatayaki izakaya near Guro Digital Complex Station in Guro, Seoul. On a Friday evening, a couple returned and ordered whole grilled Spanish mackerel, roe stew and grilled pollock roe; the staff kindly regrilled the undercooked mackerel and added a free shrimp skewer. With its huge whole grilled Spanish mackerel and spicy roe stew, Robatayaki Sodam is a good spot for an after-work meal with drinks.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju Unjeong café with parents: latte, matcha financier, Pound Coffee

Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is a financier-focused dessert café in Unjeong, Paju, Gyeonggi. After a meal with my parents, we ordered a café latte, an Americano, an Aussie Summer Latte, a matcha streusel financier and a lemon madeleine; Mom especially loved the latte and Dad the hot Americano. Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is a go-to Unjeong spot for great lattes and baked sweets.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yadang Station BBQ with steamed-egg fried rice: Girin Samgyeopsal

Girin Samgyeopsal (기린삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi, decorated inside and out with a yellow giraffe character. After a late workday, the writer ordered 2 servings of fresh pork belly, 1 serving of pork neck, steamed egg and fried rice, and especially enjoyed the medium-thick pork belly, the grilled whole kimchi and the fried rice topped with steamed egg. Girin Samgyeopsal is a good place near Yadang Station for a hearty round of grilled meat on a tiring day.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gasan rib restaurant, whole cuttlefish on spicy ribs: Gim Myeongtae

Gim Myeongtae Spicy Braised Short Ribs Gasan Branch is a Korean restaurant near Gasan Digital Complex in Geumcheon, Seoul, specializing in spicy braised short ribs. The writer remembered the sauce from an earlier kimchi braised short rib meal and came back after work with her husband for the cuttlefish spicy braised short ribs, topped with a whole cuttlefish, adding self-bar bean sprouts, a glass noodle add-on and one bottle of soju. With a sauce spicier than Shin Ramyun but milder than Buldak noodles and springy cuttlefish, Gim Myeongtae Gasan is a very satisfying pick for anyone who loves spicy food.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored