Thermos Lid Early Riser · 10 stories

First in Line, Seoul

Writes about a restaurant visit in Seoul, recalling what was ordered and how the meal felt. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu soufflé café above a bakery: terrace fig soufflé, 5to7

5to7 Seongsu Main Branch is a soufflé pancake café on Seoulsup 2-gil, near Seoulsup Station in Seongdong, Seoul. On a cool autumn outing with a close older friend, the writer first walked into the ground-floor bakery by mistake, then found 5to7 on floors 2 and 3 and shared a fig soufflé and two iced americanos on the terrace. The 5to7 fig soufflé was less sweet than expected with a fluffy texture, making it a dessert stop worth recommending after a Seoulsup walk.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Western restaurant in Hyehwa: partitioned window bar date at Omil

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is a Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in Daehangno, Jongno, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Hyehwa Station Exit 4. After seeing a play with her husband, the writer ordered salmon steak gnocchi (19,900 won), Halloween rubber duck omurice (16,900 won), a cherry ade and a pineapple ade, and finished both plates. With cute plating and partitioned window bar seats, Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is a good pick for a date meal in Daehangno.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae gukbap spot for cold-day beef soup and bowl-size jeon: Yukjeon

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch (육전국밥 서교점) is a 24-hour gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station. On a cold workday in Hongdae, the writer ordered spicy beef gukbap (₩10,000), which came loaded with meat and vegetables, and a small beef yukjeon (₩16,000), an egg-battered beef pancake cooked to order that was as big as a rice bowl. Open 24 hours with no break time and with solo seats, Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch is an easy Hongdae restaurant for eating alone.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon pork bone stew, sundae and soju on a chilly night: Somunnan

Somunnan Gamjatang (소문난감자탕) Junggye main branch is a 30-year-old gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant in Junggye-dong, Nowon, Seoul, near Sanggye Station. On a chilly night the writer and her husband ordered gamjatang and a plate of sundae (Korean blood sausage) with soju, and found plenty of meat on the pork bones and a rich yet clean broth made with perilla seed and peanut powder. For generous portions and a nutty broth, Somunnan Gamjatang Junggye main branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Naengmyeon spot in Suyu: hoe naengmyeon and 4+2 bulgogi, Iseol Myeonok

Iseol Myeonok Suyu Main Branch (Iseol Hamheung Naengmyeon) is a Korean restaurant on 4.19-ro in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk, Seoul, specialising in Hamheung-style cold noodles and Seoul-style old-fashioned bulgogi. The writer, a regular who has tried nearly the whole menu, paired hoe naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles with raw fish, ₩13,000) with Seoul-style bulgogi (₩19,000 per serving) and found the warm bulgogi and cold noodles a balanced, never greasy match. Iseol Myeonok Suyu Main Branch is a family dining spot where naengmyeon alone feels like a missed chance, so order the bulgogi too.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Japanese restaurant date: salt-grilled eel wins, Manmok

Manmok is a Kanto-style eel rice bowl restaurant near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekend date, the writer and her husband tried both seasoned and salt-grilled eel, along with chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg), acorn jelly salad and green tea ice cream; the eel bowl costs ₩26,000 for a half eel and ₩39,000 for a whole eel. The mild, nutty salt-grilled eel beat the seasoned version, and Manmok's wood-toned interior makes it worth revisiting for a date or a meal with parents.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Anguk Station solo pork gomtang with a squid salad taster: Wolhadong

Wolhadong is a hanok-style pork gomtang (clear pork soup) restaurant tucked into an Insa-dong alley in Jongno, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 5. Dining solo, the writer ordered by QR code the Wolha Gomtang for 12,000 won and a taster portion of spicy-sour squid salad (ojingeo chomuchim) for 10,000 won. The squid salad was generous enough to seem like a whole squid and paired well with the clear, mild gomtang. Wolhadong is worth recommending for a solo meal of light soup or a date meal in Insa-dong.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon Station diet restaurant, solo meal & takeout for husband

Prefers Diet Food Nowon Station branch is a diet food restaurant right by Exit 9 of Nowon Station in Nowon, Seoul. While running errands near Nowon Station, the writer ate a solo meal in the shop and took a second meal home for her husband: the Beef Plate with 42g of protein (₩12,900) and the Beef Salad Pasta with 50g of protein (₩13,900). Verdict: Prefers plates its food beautifully, and the mix of vegetables and protein makes a genuinely filling meal.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Mia brunch restaurant for a shopping date: mushroom gnocchi, 37.5 Mia

37.5 Signature Mia Branch is a brunch and Western restaurant in Seongbuk, Seoul, near Mia Hyundai Department Store and within walking distance of Gireum Station. The writer stopped by during a shopping date with her husband and ordered a salad with bacon, almonds and cheese, fried rice with meat and garlic chips, and gnocchi in mushroom cream sauce. With its clean interior and generous portions, 37.5 Signature Mia Branch is a solid pick for a date in Mia or Gireum.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Low-smoke Seoul Korean BBQ in Suyu with brisket stew: Suyu Daewang

Suyu Daewang Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (수유대왕솥뚜껑삼겹살) is a cauldron-lid Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 1 of Suyu Station in Gangbuk, Seoul, serving both beef and pork. The writer, who had been to Suyu Daewang for a team dinner before, returned during the day for a whole pork belly platter (600g) at 29,000 won. Good ventilation kept the smoke low, and the beef brisket doenjang stew and egg fried rice were generous. Suyu Daewang is worth considering near Suyu Station for plenty of meat and sides without worrying about smoke.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
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