Waitlist Collector · 24 stories

At the Waiting Table

I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Beauty products

PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sangbong Station spicy baby octopus, snowflake cheese add-on: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant in the Sangbong food alley near Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. The writer took the bus there and found the stir-fried baby octopus spicier than expected, so added snowflake cheese, then finished the set's flat dumplings, fried rice and a dessert ice cream. Joajukne Jjukkumi will satisfy spice lovers, while spice-shy eaters should treat the cheese add-on as a must.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Salt-grilled eel BBQ in Sagajeong: 3 eels & 5 sushi, Cheonsangae

Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch is an eel BBQ restaurant near Sagajeong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. Two diners shared 3 eels and ordered 5 extra pieces of sushi to eat with the eel. Staff grilled all the eel, and a self-serve bar offered unlimited refills of wraps and sauces. With clean, salt-grilled eel and no fishy smell, Cheonsangae is a solid pick for family gatherings or a restorative meal.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Perfume workshop date in Bukchon, Seoul: blend top-to-base notes, UMTM

UMTM (움틈) is a perfume workshop at 2F, 29-1 Samcheong-ro 2-gil, tucked inside Bukchon Hanok Village in Jongno, Seoul. At UMTM, visitors choose a mood, then smell and pick top, middle and base notes to blend their own perfume, and they also take home a portable mini perfume. For a Bukchon date that needs no craft skills and leaves you with something to keep, UMTM is a great fit.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Bomun Station Korean BBQ for a couple, steak-cut pork neck: Gimgol

Gimgol Yeontanjip Bomun Station Branch (감골연탄집 보문역점) is a retro briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant right in front of Bomun Station in Seongbuk, Seoul. The writer and her husband grilled salt-seasoned pork belly, steak-cut pork neck and gochujang bulgogi over yeontan (coal briquettes), then added flat bibim noodles and fried rice that comes out ready-made. At Gimgol Yeontanjip Bomun Station Branch, the combo to order is smoky briquette-grilled fresh meat wrapped in flat bibim noodles.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong steakhouse date night: L-bone and wine at The Corner House

The Corner House (더코너하우스) is a wood-fire grill steakhouse on Dosan-daero 49-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At a window seat, the writer had dinner at The Corner House with house red wine, an L-bone steak picked after seeing the whole raw cut (about 550g, about 400g after trimming), onion soup, ricotta salad and a brownie with ice cream. The Corner House suits an Apgujeong date or special occasion when you want both atmosphere and quality steak.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ near Sagajeong: ₩20,000-a-head set for two, Daepan

Daepan Sotddukkeong Kimchi Samgyeopsal Myeonmok (대판 솥뚜껑 김치 삼겹살 면목점) is a kettle-lid kimchi pork belly restaurant in Jungnang, Seoul, between Myeonmok Station and Sagajeong Station. The writer ordered the two-person set of pork neck and pork belly with steamed egg, grilled cheese and doenjang (soybean paste) stew, used the free self-serve side dish and kimchi pancake corners, and ate their fill for about 20,000 won per person. Verdict: grilling a self-made kimchi pancake on the kettle lid a second time is the best way to enjoy Daepan Sotddukkeong Kimchi Samgyeopsal Myeonmok.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station gamjatang spot: boneless vs neungi herbal, Haeseonok

Haeseonok Seolleung Branch (해선옥) is a gamjatang (pork bone and potato stew) restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer ordered a boneless gamjatang with seafood pancake set and a bone-in neungi (hedgehog mushroom) herbal gamjatang to compare them, and especially liked the patty-shaped seafood pancakes added for ₩3,900 and the pickled onions, which they refilled. Haeseonok Seolleung Branch suits boneless gamjatang lovers who want an easy meal, and the neungi herbal version suits anyone who enjoys picking meat off the bone.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ with a hammer in the freezer: Simin Sikdang

Simin Sikdang Main Branch (시민식당 본점) is a pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on Donhwamun-ro 5-gil, near Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. The writer ordered the 29cm pork belly half-set, which came with pork belly, kimchi stew and fried rice with wagyu and snowflake cheese. The writer especially liked details such as the clothes styler and the freezer stocked with a hammer. Simin Sikdang Main Branch is a safe Jongno 3-ga pork belly pick for both company dinners and dates.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Myeongdong hotel massage with parking and hand-foot wrapping: Da Hanoi

Da Hanoi Foot & Body City Hall President Hotel Branch is a private VIP-room massage shop on the second basement floor (B2) of the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer booked the 60-minute Aroma Basic back massage for tight shoulders (₩130,000 non-member, ₩70,000 member). The session included a foot soak and a cream-and-plastic wrap for the hands and feet, and the writer's skin stayed moist long afterward. With hotel parking and a direct subway connection, Da Hanoi Foot & Body is an easy massage to fit into a Myeongdong or City Hall day.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno date-night Korean BBQ grilled by staff: Gogikkun Kim Chunbae

Gogikkun Kim Chunbae Jongno (고기꾼 김춘배 종로점), listed as Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang, is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant on the 5th floor of a building between Jonggak Station and Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. The writer ordered the recommended set for two, kkakdugi fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon. Staff grilled the meat at the table, which let the couple focus on conversation, and of the several Gogikkun Kim Chunbae branches the writer has visited, this directly run branch grilled best. With high-backed seats and warm lighting, Gogikkun Kim Chunbae Jongno is a date spot worth recommending before a Cheonggyecheon stroll.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga Korean restaurant: rib suyuk, kalguksu & porridge, Paldal

Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a Korean restaurant serving bone-in rib suyuk (boiled ribs), right outside Exit 8 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After the signature Paldal bone-in rib suyuk, the leftover broth went into kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and a nourishing rice porridge, making the meal as filling as a summer stamina dish. For meat, broth and a finishing course in one sitting, Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a solid pick.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ date with wood partitions and kkakttukbap: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station, where you can eat hanwoo (Korean beef) and handon (Korean pork) together. The writer ordered the hanwoo-handon set for two at dinner, with kkakttukbap (a rice side eaten topped with grilled meat) and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles), and found that the wood walls and partitions between tables made conversation easy and set a good mood for a date. Gogikkun Gim Chunbae is a Hongdae date-night Korean BBQ spot for couples with big appetites, where the sides are as memorable as the meat.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored