Waitlist Collector · 24 stories
I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Beauty products
Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro in Nowon, Seoul, near Hagye Station. On a dinner visit while dieting, the writer skipped rice for Norwegian raw salmon sashimi, then tried large flounder and salmon sushi, smoked duck, lamb chops and bead ice cream. Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is recommended for a dinner date when a couple's tastes differ, or for a family get-together.
Premium Spa L Gangnam is a reservation-only wellness spa with private single rooms on Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, near Eonju Station and Hakdong Station. For an anniversary, the writer left a note in the Naver booking. The visit included a shower before the treatment, a choice of 8 aroma oils and massage focused on the neck, shoulders and back, followed by dessert and an amenity gift box to take home. For couples looking for a high-end Gangnam massage to end an anniversary or date, Premium Spa L Gangnam felt like better value than a hotel staycation.
Jangheungjip Seongshin Women's University branch (장흥집 성신여대점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Seongshin Women's University Station in Seongbuk, Seoul, built around flash-frozen Korean pork (handon) belly. The writer grilled the pork belly with minari (water dropwort) and kimchi, then tried the minari Korean beef tartare, kimchi-mari guksu (noodles in cold kimchi broth) and fried rice topped with a fried egg. For thin, crispy frozen pork belly with a side of Korean beef tartare, Jangheungjip Seongshin Women's University branch is a good choice.
Muse Hair Salon Sangam Main Branch is a hair salon on the B1 floor of Nuri Kkum Square in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Muse Hair Salon, the writer had a layered cut, a long-hair layered perm, scalp care with a cooling scalp pack, and a hair treatment in one visit; even though her hair resists perms and was rolled on thin rods, the perm produced the thick curls she wanted. Verdict: a wash-and-dry layered perm that needs no curling iron.
Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch is a grilled eel restaurant on Myeonmok-ro in Jungnang, Seoul, near Sagajeong Station. The writer returned to Cheonsangae Jangeoga for a get-together with friends, ate eel grilled by the staff along with the snow mushroom that came with the set, and found the wide spacing between tables made it easy to talk for a long time. The verdict: don't order the eel alone at Cheonsangae Jangeoga, and be sure to add the snow mushroom.
Hallasan Cheongdam (한라산 청담점) is a private-room restaurant on Dosan-daero 81-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving sashimi and seafood courses. The ₩150,000 per person special course arrived in several rounds: sweet shrimp and sea urchin roe, wild-caught sashimi, nabe (Japanese hot pot), katsu sando, grilled silver cutlassfish, pot rice and fruit shaved ice. Hallasan Cheongdam suits an Apgujeong date or family gathering where you want a quiet room to talk and a generous meal.
Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch (천상애장어가 면목사가정점) is a grilled eel restaurant on Myeonmok-ro near Sagajeong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. The writer had the eel set for 2 at dinner for 79,000 won and notes that the same set costs 59,000 won at lunch. The writer also shares how to grill the snow mushrooms until crisp and warns that the nurungji (scorched rice) takes 15 minutes. Verdict: staff grill the eel and the seating is roomy, so Cheonsangae Jangeoga is a good eel restaurant to take your parents to.
Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼 김춘배 홍대숲길점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant beside the Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo, Seoul, where staff grill hanwoo (Korean beef) and handon (Korean pork) at your table. On a Hongdae date, the writer had the hanwoo and handon set for 2, plus kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles), and found that telling staff your preferred doneness when the first meat goes on gets everything grilled your way. For a Hongdae date where you want to focus on conversation, Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a great fit.
Gimgol Yeontanjip Bomun Station Branch is a briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 7 of Bomun Station in Seongbuk, Seoul, with the feel of an old neighborhood meat joint. A couple grilled pork belly and pork neck first, added gochujang briquette bulgogi, then finished with fried rice made with cheese and flying fish roe. For a relaxed retro date in Seoul over soju and easy conversation, Gimgol Yeontanjip Bomun Station Branch is well worth recommending.
Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (Japanese beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station, where every table has its own small brazier for grilling each piece of gyukatsu yourself. On this couple's date we ordered both steki and gyukatsu, added extra meat, and wrote a receipt review to get free shrimp tempura and grilling cheese melted right on the brazier. For a Gangnam date course with something hands-on to do, Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a solid pick.
Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch is a 1++ hanwoo beef and Jeju black pork BBQ restaurant on the ground floor along Gangnam-daero in Gangnam, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station. Staff grill the hanwoo buchaesal (flat iron steak), eopjinsal (brisket) and Jeju black pork geungogi (thick-cut pork) at the table from start to finish, and the meal ends with mul-naengmyeon and bibim-naengmyeon (cold noodles). The buchaesal melted in the mouth and nobody had to watch the grill, which makes Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang an easy pick for a Gangnam date or group dinner.
Moa Gangnam is a fusion Korean restaurant near Gangnam Station in Seoul. I tried brisket sundubu kalguksu, abalone mushroom butter pot rice, and spicy tomato Korean beef tteokgalbi in its warm, bright setting. Verdict: a satisfying choice for a food-focused Gangnam date.
